The Third part of the Countesse of Pembrokes Yuychurch Entituled, Amintas Dale. Wherein are the most conceited tales of the Pagan Gods in English Hexameters together with their auncient descriptions and Philosophicall explications. By Abraham Fravnce |
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[Scilla sate her down, then a mayd, now changd to a monster] |
 | The Third part of the Countesse of Pembrokes Yuychurch |  |
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[Scilla sate her down, then a mayd, now changd to a monster]
Scilla
sate her down, then a mayd, now changd to a monster,
Sate her down on a banck with sea-borne Dame Galathea,
Down on a flowring banck, not far from sulphurus Ætna.
And there gan to recount ten thousand wilie deuises,
Wherewith poore young youths in scornful sort she deluded.
Sate her down on a banck with sea-borne Dame Galathea,
Down on a flowring banck, not far from sulphurus Ætna.
And there gan to recount ten thousand wilie deuises,
Wherewith poore young youths in scornful sort she deluded.
Yea, but alas, sayd then, with a far-fet sigh Galathea,
They that seeke thy loue, yet suffer dayly repulses,
Beare mens face, mens heart, and so are safely repulsed.
But Galathea the wretch, (o woful wretch Galathea)
Could not auoyd leawd lust and rage of lout Polyphemus,
Capten of Ætna'es feends, but alas, but alas with a danger,
Nay with a death, ô death: and there grief stopt Galathea.
They that seeke thy loue, yet suffer dayly repulses,
Beare mens face, mens heart, and so are safely repulsed.
But Galathea the wretch, (o woful wretch Galathea)
Could not auoyd leawd lust and rage of lout Polyphemus,
Capten of Ætna'es feends, but alas, but alas with a danger,
Nay with a death, ô death: and there grief stopt Galathea.
At length, inward woe with weeping somwhat abated,
Thus, for Scillaes sake her dearlings death she remembred.
Thus, for Scillaes sake her dearlings death she remembred.
There was (woeworth was) was a fayre boy, beautiful Acis,
Acis, Faunus boy, and boy of louely Simethis,
Acis, Faunus ioy, and ioy of louely Simethis,
Best boy of Faunus, best boy of louely Simethis,
Most ioy of Faunus, most ioy of louely Simethis:
And yet better boy, and greater ioy by a thousand
Parts, to the blessed then, but now accurst Galathea,
Then to the syre Faunus, to the mother louely Simethis.
Acis, Faunus boy, and boy of louely Simethis,
Acis, Faunus ioy, and ioy of louely Simethis,
Best boy of Faunus, best boy of louely Simethis,
Most ioy of Faunus, most ioy of louely Simethis:
And yet better boy, and greater ioy by a thousand
Parts, to the blessed then, but now accurst Galathea,
Then to the syre Faunus, to the mother louely Simethis.
As Galathea thus did loue her beautiful Acis,
So Polyphemus alas did loue his lasse Galathea,
And Galathea still did loath that lusk Polyphemus.
So Polyphemus alas did loue his lasse Galathea,
And Galathea still did loath that lusk Polyphemus.
O deare Lady Venus, what a sou'raigne, mighty, triumphant,
And most imperious princesse art thou in Olympus?
This rude asse, brute beast, foule monster, sidebely Cyclops,
This Polyphemus loues: this grim Polyphemus, a mocker
Of both Gods and men: this blunt Polyphemus, a terror
Vnto the wildest beasts: this vast Polyphemus, a horror
Eu'n to the horrible hils and dens, where no man abideth,
This Polyphemus lou's, and doates, and wooes Galathea:
Forgoes his dungeons, forsakes his vnhospital harbors,
Leaues his sheepe and Goates, & frames himself to be finish,
Learns to be braue, forsooth, and seeks thereby to be pleasing,
Cuts his bristled beard with a syth, and combs with an Iron
Rake, his staring bush, and viewes himselfe in a fishpond;
And there frameth a face, and there composeth a countnance,
Face for a diu'ls good grace, & countnance fit for a hell-hound.
His bloodthirsting rage, for a while is somwhat abated,
His brutish wildenes transformd to a contrary mildenes:
Strangers come and goe, sail-bearing Ships by the Cyclops
Passe and safely repasse, and neuer feare any danger;
This Polyphemus now, is changd from that Polyphemus.
And most imperious princesse art thou in Olympus?
This rude asse, brute beast, foule monster, sidebely Cyclops,
This Polyphemus loues: this grim Polyphemus, a mocker
Of both Gods and men: this blunt Polyphemus, a terror
Vnto the wildest beasts: this vast Polyphemus, a horror
Eu'n to the horrible hils and dens, where no man abideth,
This Polyphemus lou's, and doates, and wooes Galathea:
Forgoes his dungeons, forsakes his vnhospital harbors,
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Learns to be braue, forsooth, and seeks thereby to be pleasing,
Cuts his bristled beard with a syth, and combs with an Iron
Rake, his staring bush, and viewes himselfe in a fishpond;
And there frameth a face, and there composeth a countnance,
Face for a diu'ls good grace, & countnance fit for a hell-hound.
His bloodthirsting rage, for a while is somwhat abated,
His brutish wildenes transformd to a contrary mildenes:
Strangers come and goe, sail-bearing Ships by the Cyclops
Passe and safely repasse, and neuer feare any danger;
This Polyphemus now, is changd from that Polyphemus.
Telemus in meane time, as he sayld by Sicilian Ætna,
(Telemus in birds-flight had a passing singuler insight)
Came to the ougly Gyant, and said, that he should be depriued
Of that his one broad eie (which stood there filthily glooming
In middle forehead) by crafts-contriuer Vlysses.
Blinde foole, qd Polypheme, can a blinde man loose any eie-sight?
Poore Polypheme of his eye was by Galathea depriued
Long since, and cares not for crafts-contriuer Vlysses.
(Telemus in birds-flight had a passing singuler insight)
Came to the ougly Gyant, and said, that he should be depriued
Of that his one broad eie (which stood there filthily glooming
In middle forehead) by crafts-contriuer Vlysses.
Blinde foole, qd Polypheme, can a blinde man loose any eie-sight?
Poore Polypheme of his eye was by Galathea depriued
Long since, and cares not for crafts-contriuer Vlysses.
Thus contemning that which after proued a true-tale,
Either in hellish caues his diu'lish carkas he rouzeth,
Or, by the shaking shore and sea-side lazily stalketh,
Or, very rockes themselues with a lubbers burden he crusheth.
Either in hellish caues his diu'lish carkas he rouzeth,
Or, by the shaking shore and sea-side lazily stalketh,
Or, very rockes themselues with a lubbers burden he crusheth.
There was a hill, that stretcht with sharpned point to the sea-ward,
And had both his sides with Neptune dayly bedashed:
Hither he climes, and here his cart-load lims he reposeth,
Here his fellow Goates, and Rams, and Sheepe he beholdeth:
Then layes downe his staffe (his walking staffe was a Pine-tree,
One whole huge Pine-tree, that might wel serue for a main mast
Vnto an Armado) and after, takes vp a iarring
Pipe (fit for piper Polypheme, fit lute for a lowby)
Compact of fiue-score and fifteene reedes, with a clumsie
Fist, and scrapes, and blowes, and makes so shameful an out-cry.
That both lands and seas did groane with a deadly resounding,
Hearing this fowle Swad such rustical harmony making;
For there vnder a rock, as I lay, and leaned in Acis
Lap, this song I did heare, and beare with a heauy remembrance.
And had both his sides with Neptune dayly bedashed:
Hither he climes, and here his cart-load lims he reposeth,
Here his fellow Goates, and Rams, and Sheepe he beholdeth:
Then layes downe his staffe (his walking staffe was a Pine-tree,
One whole huge Pine-tree, that might wel serue for a main mast
Vnto an Armado) and after, takes vp a iarring
Pipe (fit for piper Polypheme, fit lute for a lowby)
Compact of fiue-score and fifteene reedes, with a clumsie
Fist, and scrapes, and blowes, and makes so shameful an out-cry.
That both lands and seas did groane with a deadly resounding,
Hearing this fowle Swad such rustical harmony making;
For there vnder a rock, as I lay, and leaned in Acis
Lap, this song I did heare, and beare with a heauy remembrance.
More white then Lillies, then Primerose flowre Galathea,
More fresh then greene grasse, more slyke & smooththē a cockle
Shell, thats washt and worne by the sea, more coy then a wanton
Kyd, more brigt then glasse, more ioy to the heart then a winters
Sunne, or sommers shade, more fayre and seemly to looke on
Then straight vp-mounting plante-tree, more cleare then a Christall
Streame all froz'n, more woorth then a hoorde of melloed apples,
More sweete then ripe grapes, more soft then downe of a cignet,
And, (so that thou couldst accept poore woorme Polyphemus)
More deare then Diamond to the louing woorme Poylphemus.
More fresh then greene grasse, more slyke & smooththē a cockle
Shell, thats washt and worne by the sea, more coy then a wanton
Kyd, more brigt then glasse, more ioy to the heart then a winters
Sunne, or sommers shade, more fayre and seemly to looke on
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Streame all froz'n, more woorth then a hoorde of melloed apples,
More sweete then ripe grapes, more soft then downe of a cignet,
And, (so that thou couldst accept poore woorme Polyphemus)
More deare then Diamond to the louing woorme Poylphemus.
And yet more stubborne then an vntam'de Ox, Galathea,
More light then floating billowes, more hard then an aged
Oake, more rude then a rock, more tough then twig of a Willow,
More violent then streame of a brooke, more fierce then a wilde-fire,
More sharpe and pricking then thorns, more prowd then a Peacock,
More spiteful then a troaden snake, more curst then a whelping
Beare, more deafe then seaes, and (which most greeues Polyphemus)
More swift-pac't then a Hart, then winged windes, Galathea.
More light then floating billowes, more hard then an aged
Oake, more rude then a rock, more tough then twig of a Willow,
More violent then streame of a brooke, more fierce then a wilde-fire,
More sharpe and pricking then thorns, more prowd then a Peacock,
More spiteful then a troaden snake, more curst then a whelping
Beare, more deafe then seaes, and (which most greeues Polyphemus)
More swift-pac't then a Hart, then winged windes, Galathea.
O, but alas, run not, looke back, and know Polyphemus.
My bowre with maine rocks and mounts is mightily vawted,
That scalding sunbeames in summer neuer aproach it,
And blustring tempests in winter neuer anoy it:
My trees bend with fruite, my vines are euer abounding
With grapes, some like gold, some others like to the purple:
And both golden grapes, and purpled grapes be reserued
For my sweete purpled, my golden wench Galathea.
Thou with thine owne hands maist easily pluck fro the bushes
Blackbery, hipps, and hawes, and such fine knacks by the forrest,
Damsons, sloes, and nutts: and if thou wilt be my wedded
Wife, each tree and twig, and bush shall bring thee a present,
Euery bush, twig, tree, shall serue my wife Galathea.
All these sheepe be my owne, which quickly without any calling
Come and run to the pipe of their good Lord Polyphemus:
And many thousands more, which either range by the mountains,
Or feede in valleys, or keepe their places apointed
And stalls hard by my bowre: and if thou aske me the number
Of them, I know it not, for beggers vse to be telling
How-many sheepe they keepe, my goodes, Galathea, be endles,
My sheepe nomberles: yet among these so-many thousand
Flocks of sheepe, not a sheepe did I euer prooue to be fruitles.
Thou thy-self maist see my goates and sheepe to be stradling
With bagging vdders, thou maist see how-many lambkins,
And yong kyds I doe keepe, kyds and lambs both of a yeaning.
Milke I doe neuer want, and part I reserue to be drunken,
Part in curds and cheese, with thrift I prepare to be eaten.
My bowre with maine rocks and mounts is mightily vawted,
That scalding sunbeames in summer neuer aproach it,
And blustring tempests in winter neuer anoy it:
My trees bend with fruite, my vines are euer abounding
With grapes, some like gold, some others like to the purple:
And both golden grapes, and purpled grapes be reserued
For my sweete purpled, my golden wench Galathea.
Thou with thine owne hands maist easily pluck fro the bushes
Blackbery, hipps, and hawes, and such fine knacks by the forrest,
Damsons, sloes, and nutts: and if thou wilt be my wedded
Wife, each tree and twig, and bush shall bring thee a present,
Euery bush, twig, tree, shall serue my wife Galathea.
All these sheepe be my owne, which quickly without any calling
Come and run to the pipe of their good Lord Polyphemus:
And many thousands more, which either range by the mountains,
Or feede in valleys, or keepe their places apointed
And stalls hard by my bowre: and if thou aske me the number
Of them, I know it not, for beggers vse to be telling
How-many sheepe they keepe, my goodes, Galathea, be endles,
My sheepe nomberles: yet among these so-many thousand
Flocks of sheepe, not a sheepe did I euer prooue to be fruitles.
Thou thy-self maist see my goates and sheepe to be stradling
With bagging vdders, thou maist see how-many lambkins,
And yong kyds I doe keepe, kyds and lambs both of a yeaning.
Milke I doe neuer want, and part I reserue to be drunken,
Part in curds and cheese, with thrift I prepare to be eaten.
Neither shall my loue Galathea be only presented
With birds neasts, kyds, doues, and such like paltery stale-stuffe,
And common loue-toyes, which easily may be aforded
By each carters swaine: Polyphemus found on a mountaine
Two braue yong Beare-whelps, either so like to an other,
That who marks not well, will soone take one for an other:
These did I finde of late, and these doe I keepe for a token,
For to be playfellowes for my bonilasse Galathea.
With birds neasts, kyds, doues, and such like paltery stale-stuffe,
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By each carters swaine: Polyphemus found on a mountaine
Two braue yong Beare-whelps, either so like to an other,
That who marks not well, will soone take one for an other:
These did I finde of late, and these doe I keepe for a token,
For to be playfellowes for my bonilasse Galathea.
O then scorne not me, scorne not my guiftes, Galathea;
This body shalbe thy spoyle, and this bloud shalbe thy bootie,
These sheepe shalbe thy goods, and these hills shalbe thy dowry.
Sweete pig, scorne not mee; for I know myselfe to be comely,
Often I looke in a lake, and set my selfe by a fishpond,
Making mine owne eyes of mine owne eyes the beholders,
And when I see my face, I delite my face to be seeing.
Looke how big I doe looke, how strong and stordily squared,
Mark how mighty I am: no thundring Ioue in Olympus,
(You fooles tell many tales of a thundring Ioue in Olympus)
No great thundring Ioue is greater then Polyphemus.
See what a swinging bush giues cou'ring vnto my countnance,
And, as a thickset groaue, makes dreadful shade to my shoulders.
My Flesh's hard indeede, all ouer-grown with a bristled
Hyde, and rugged skin; but that's but a signe of a mans hart,
And is no-more shame to the strong and stowt Polyphemus,
Then broade leaues to a tree, then faire long mane to a foming
Steede, then fynnes to a fish, then feathers vnto a flying
Fowle, or woolle to a sheepe. One eye stands steedily pitched
In my front: but an eye, yet an eye as broade as a buckler.
And what, I pray you, hath this sunne any more but his one eye?
And yet he sees all things, and all things only with one eye.
This body shalbe thy spoyle, and this bloud shalbe thy bootie,
These sheepe shalbe thy goods, and these hills shalbe thy dowry.
Sweete pig, scorne not mee; for I know myselfe to be comely,
Often I looke in a lake, and set my selfe by a fishpond,
Making mine owne eyes of mine owne eyes the beholders,
And when I see my face, I delite my face to be seeing.
Looke how big I doe looke, how strong and stordily squared,
Mark how mighty I am: no thundring Ioue in Olympus,
(You fooles tell many tales of a thundring Ioue in Olympus)
No great thundring Ioue is greater then Polyphemus.
See what a swinging bush giues cou'ring vnto my countnance,
And, as a thickset groaue, makes dreadful shade to my shoulders.
My Flesh's hard indeede, all ouer-grown with a bristled
Hyde, and rugged skin; but that's but a signe of a mans hart,
And is no-more shame to the strong and stowt Polyphemus,
Then broade leaues to a tree, then faire long mane to a foming
Steede, then fynnes to a fish, then feathers vnto a flying
Fowle, or woolle to a sheepe. One eye stands steedily pitched
In my front: but an eye, yet an eye as broade as a buckler.
And what, I pray you, hath this sunne any more but his one eye?
And yet he sees all things, and all things only with one eye.
Lastly, my syre Neptune with threeforckt mace, as a sou'raigne
Rul's in Sea's: and so shall sea-borne dame Galathea
By taking Polypheme, best ympe of Seaes, for a husband,
Haue also Neptune, chiefe Lord of Seaes, for a father,
Earth-shaking Neptune, that stroue with mighty Minerua
For the renowned Athens (as he often towld me his own-selfe)
And raisd vp Troy walls with threatning towres to the heauens:
With whose rage both Lands and seaes are fearefuly trembling,
At whose beck springs, wels, floods, brooks, pooles, lakes be obeying,
As soone as they heare his Triton mightily sounding.
Then, Galathea relent, and yeeld to thy owne Polyphemus,
Sith Polyphemus yeelds himselfe to his owne Galathea,
Sith Polyphemus yeelds: who cares not a rush for a thundring
Heu'n, and heauens King: thy frowning's worse then a thousand
Lightnings and thunders. Yet I could forbeare thee the better.
If thou didst aswell scorne others, as Polyphemus.
But why should Galathea refuse well growne Polyphemus,
And yet like and loue and wooe, effœminat Acis?
Whome if I catch, Ile make him know, that great Polyphemus
Arm's as strong as great. Ile paunce that paltery princox,
Trayle his gutts by the fields, and teare his flesh in a thousand
Gobbets, yea ile powre his bloud, hart-bloud to the waters:
Eu'n thine owne waters, if I euer take Galathea
Dealing with that boy, dwarfe Acis, dandiprat Acis,
Elfe Acis: for I boyle with most outragius anger
And most raging loue: me thinkes whole sulphurus Ætna.
Ætna with all his flames in my brest makes his abiding,
And yet neither loue nor wrath can moue Galathea.
Rul's in Sea's: and so shall sea-borne dame Galathea
By taking Polypheme, best ympe of Seaes, for a husband,
Haue also Neptune, chiefe Lord of Seaes, for a father,
Earth-shaking Neptune, that stroue with mighty Minerua
For the renowned Athens (as he often towld me his own-selfe)
And raisd vp Troy walls with threatning towres to the heauens:
With whose rage both Lands and seaes are fearefuly trembling,
At whose beck springs, wels, floods, brooks, pooles, lakes be obeying,
As soone as they heare his Triton mightily sounding.
Then, Galathea relent, and yeeld to thy owne Polyphemus,
Sith Polyphemus yeelds himselfe to his owne Galathea,
Sith Polyphemus yeelds: who cares not a rush for a thundring
Heu'n, and heauens King: thy frowning's worse then a thousand
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If thou didst aswell scorne others, as Polyphemus.
But why should Galathea refuse well growne Polyphemus,
And yet like and loue and wooe, effœminat Acis?
Whome if I catch, Ile make him know, that great Polyphemus
Arm's as strong as great. Ile paunce that paltery princox,
Trayle his gutts by the fields, and teare his flesh in a thousand
Gobbets, yea ile powre his bloud, hart-bloud to the waters:
Eu'n thine owne waters, if I euer take Galathea
Dealing with that boy, dwarfe Acis, dandiprat Acis,
Elfe Acis: for I boyle with most outragius anger
And most raging loue: me thinkes whole sulphurus Ætna.
Ætna with all his flames in my brest makes his abiding,
And yet neither loue nor wrath can moue Galathea.
Thus when he had this sweete loues lamentation ended,
Vp-gets th' one eyde feende, and rangeth abroade by the forrest,
Roaring out, as a bull, driu'n back with force from a heyfar:
And at length spies out vs two there downe in a valley,
Mee and Acis alas vnawares; and cries in a fury,
Endles griefe and shame confound forelorne Polyphemus.
If that I make not now your louetoyes all, to be ended.
This did he roare, but he roarde this with so hellish an outcry,
That mount Ætna with eccho resounds, and griesly Typhoeus
Groanes for feare, and breaths foorth flashing flames to the heauens,
Vulcan starts fro the forge, and Brontes runs fro the Anuile,
And swelting Steropes, with barlegd ougly Pyracmon
Leaue their Iron tooles: yea Pluto the prince of Auernus
Heard this yelling feende, and feared, least that his owne hound
Cerberus had broke loose with three-throate iawes to the heauens.
Vp-gets th' one eyde feende, and rangeth abroade by the forrest,
Roaring out, as a bull, driu'n back with force from a heyfar:
And at length spies out vs two there downe in a valley,
Mee and Acis alas vnawares; and cries in a fury,
Endles griefe and shame confound forelorne Polyphemus.
If that I make not now your louetoyes all, to be ended.
This did he roare, but he roarde this with so hellish an outcry,
That mount Ætna with eccho resounds, and griesly Typhoeus
Groanes for feare, and breaths foorth flashing flames to the heauens,
Vulcan starts fro the forge, and Brontes runs fro the Anuile,
And swelting Steropes, with barlegd ougly Pyracmon
Leaue their Iron tooles: yea Pluto the prince of Auernus
Heard this yelling feende, and feared, least that his owne hound
Cerberus had broke loose with three-throate iawes to the heauens.
Here I alas for feare, dopt vnderneath the reflowing
Waues, and poore Acis sled back, and cride, Galathea,
Helpe, Galathea, help; and let thy boy be receaued
In thy watery boures, Polyphemus murdereth Acis.
Waues, and poore Acis sled back, and cride, Galathea,
Helpe, Galathea, help; and let thy boy be receaued
In thy watery boures, Polyphemus murdereth Acis.
Cyclops runs to a rock in a rage, and teares in a fury
One greate peece, as big as a mount, and hurl's it at Acis:
And but a litle peece thereof tutcht bewtiful Acis,
Yet that litle peece orewhelmd whole bewtiful Acis.
One greate peece, as big as a mount, and hurl's it at Acis:
And but a litle peece thereof tutcht bewtiful Acis,
Yet that litle peece orewhelmd whole bewtiful Acis.
Here I alas, poore wretch, wrought all that desteny suffred
For to be wrought, and causd his strength to be freshly renued,
His life eu'n by a death now more and more to be lengthned,
And his dearest name and fame to be dayly remembred,
And my selfe and him, by a heauy diuorce, to be ioyned.
For to be wrought, and causd his strength to be freshly renued,
His life eu'n by a death now more and more to be lengthned,
And his dearest name and fame to be dayly remembred,
And my selfe and him, by a heauy diuorce, to be ioyned.
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His blood sprang fro the lumpe; his blood first cherefuly purpled,
Then by degrees it changd, and rednes somewhat abated,
And lookt like to a poole troubled with raine from Olympus,
Afterwards, it clearde: then lumpe cloaue, and fro the cleauing,
Flowring reades sprang forth, and bubling water abounded.
Beutiful Acis thus was then transformd to a horned
Brooke; and yet this brooke tooke name of bewtiful Acis.
Acis a louing streame, runs downe with a louely resounding,
Downe to the great sou'raigne of seaes with speedy reflowing,
There, his yearely tribute to the three-forckt God to be paying.
And there, his Galathea for euermore to be meeting.
Then by degrees it changd, and rednes somewhat abated,
And lookt like to a poole troubled with raine from Olympus,
Afterwards, it clearde: then lumpe cloaue, and fro the cleauing,
Flowring reades sprang forth, and bubling water abounded.
Beutiful Acis thus was then transformd to a horned
Brooke; and yet this brooke tooke name of bewtiful Acis.
Acis a louing streame, runs downe with a louely resounding,
Downe to the great sou'raigne of seaes with speedy reflowing,
There, his yearely tribute to the three-forckt God to be paying.
And there, his Galathea for euermore to be meeting.
Here Galathea did ende: and coy dame Scylla departed:
Whom sea-God Glaucus (new God, late made of a fisher)
Lou'd, but vnhappily lou'd: and wept, when he saw her a monster.
Whom sea-God Glaucus (new God, late made of a fisher)
Lou'd, but vnhappily lou'd: and wept, when he saw her a monster.
| The Third part of the Countesse of Pembrokes Yuychurch | |