Albions England A Continued Historie of the same Kingdome, from the Originals of the first Inhabitants thereof: With most the chiefe Alterations and Accidents theare hapning, vnto, and in the happie Raigne of our now most gracious Soueraigne, Queene Elizabeth: Not barren in varietie of inuentiue and historicall Intermixtures: First penned and published by William Warner: and now reuised, and newly inlarged by the same Author: Whereunto is also newly added an Epitome of the whole Historie of England |
 |
|
 | 1. |
| 2. |
| VII. |
| VIII. |
| IX. |
| X. |
| XI. |
CHAP. XI.
|
| XII. |
| XIII. |
| 3. |
| 4. |
| 5. |
| 6. |
| 7. |
| 8. |
| 9. |
| 10. |
| 11. |
| 12. |
| 13. |
 |
CHAP. XI.
Albions England |  |
49
CHAP. XI.
I speake not of the Argiue Nimph that had the ielious Syer,
To whome, shut vp in brasen Tower, Ioue passage had for hyer:
Nor of Europa, Semele, or Maia, will I dwell:
Not of your Foe his bastardie: or Lædas rape I tell:
Not of King Ceus Daughters faulte, or other freak of Ioue
Speake I: saue of th' Arcadian Nunne, with whom he thus did roue.
To whome, shut vp in brasen Tower, Ioue passage had for hyer:
Nor of Europa, Semele, or Maia, will I dwell:
Not of your Foe his bastardie: or Lædas rape I tell:
Not of King Ceus Daughters faulte, or other freak of Ioue
Speake I: saue of th' Arcadian Nunne, with whom he thus did roue.
Calisto was as faire a Maide, as faire as faire might bee,
Her father King Lycaon fled, Ioue chaunced her to see,
And seeing liked, liking lou'd, and louing made it knowne
To her (sweet Lasse) for fathers losse that maketh then her mone.
Take patience, wench, said Iupiter, with thee shall all be well,
Thy fathers deeds haue their deserts, but thou in peace shalt dwell.
I am his Victor, but thy selfe art Victoresse of mee:
Doe graunt me loue, my zeale is more than fatherly to thee.
The restlesse cloudes that mantling ride vpon the racking Skie,
The scouring windes that sightlesse in the sounding aire doe flie,
The thriftie Earth that bringeth out and broodeth vp her breed,
The shifting Seas whose swelling waues on shrinking shoores do feed,
Shall fall and faile ere I be false (Lycaons Impe) to thee:
Of hartie Loue this kisse (he kist) an happie hansell bee.
Her father King Lycaon fled, Ioue chaunced her to see,
And seeing liked, liking lou'd, and louing made it knowne
To her (sweet Lasse) for fathers losse that maketh then her mone.
Take patience, wench, said Iupiter, with thee shall all be well,
Thy fathers deeds haue their deserts, but thou in peace shalt dwell.
I am his Victor, but thy selfe art Victoresse of mee:
Doe graunt me loue, my zeale is more than fatherly to thee.
The restlesse cloudes that mantling ride vpon the racking Skie,
The scouring windes that sightlesse in the sounding aire doe flie,
The thriftie Earth that bringeth out and broodeth vp her breed,
The shifting Seas whose swelling waues on shrinking shoores do feed,
Shall fall and faile ere I be false (Lycaons Impe) to thee:
Of hartie Loue this kisse (he kist) an happie hansell bee.
But haplesse termes are these, quoth she, vnfitting to a thral:
Yeat, in respect of that I feele, I heare them not at all.
A friend (ah friendlesse name I Friend?) it being as it is,
A friend I say, much more a foe, and more, and worse than this,
The sonne of Saturne should, and shall, that speed and hearing misse.
Doe rid, ah rid mine eyes of teares, and set my hart at rest,
By taking life, not making Loue, the former likes me best.
Or, if that poore Calistos life shall lengthen to her wo,
Graunt that among Dianas Nunnes a Votarie I go:
For neither fits it now to loue, or euer shall it so.
Yeat, in respect of that I feele, I heare them not at all.
50
A friend I say, much more a foe, and more, and worse than this,
The sonne of Saturne should, and shall, that speed and hearing misse.
Doe rid, ah rid mine eyes of teares, and set my hart at rest,
By taking life, not making Loue, the former likes me best.
Or, if that poore Calistos life shall lengthen to her wo,
Graunt that among Dianas Nunnes a Votarie I go:
For neither fits it now to loue, or euer shall it so.
What viewed Iupiter this while, not pleasing to his sight?
Or what vnuiewed did he gesse, not adding to delight?
Not excellent, but exquisite, was all to minde and eye:
Saue she, the hansell of this loue, did him of Loue denie.
It greeues that Natures Paragon in Cloister, not in Court,
Should loose the beautie of her youth, and he thereby his sport.
But constant in her chast pretence, he grants that would gain-say,
And, seated in religion now, with Phœbe did she stay.
Or what vnuiewed did he gesse, not adding to delight?
Not excellent, but exquisite, was all to minde and eye:
Saue she, the hansell of this loue, did him of Loue denie.
It greeues that Natures Paragon in Cloister, not in Court,
Should loose the beautie of her youth, and he thereby his sport.
But constant in her chast pretence, he grants that would gain-say,
And, seated in religion now, with Phœbe did she stay.
Blame Iupiter of other Loues, of this doe set him cleere:
It was his first, and first is firme, and toucheth verie neere.
He might forgoe, but not forget Calisto in her Cell,
When, setting higher thoughts apart, the Frithes did please him well:
He takes his Quiuer and his Bow, and wheare she hunts hunts hee,
And sacrificed to his eyes that day he did her see:
About the Chase, Toyles, Dogs and Bowes, the Stand, Quarrie and all
He vseth double diligence: so often did befall,
Not onely sight of her his Saint he got, but also talke,
Whilst thus for his Calistos loue, he haunted Phœbus walke.
But sight and talke accrew to loue, the substance must be had:
And for to bring his drift about, he virgin-like is clad.
His nonage kept his beard from bloome, no wench more faire thē he,
Whom at her Nunnerie a Nunne Diana takes to be,
And with his Sisters brotherly doo gesse him to agree.
Thus faines Lycaons Conqueror a Maid, to winne a Maid:
His hands to woll, and Arras worke, and womans Chares hee laid,
That not so much as by the tongue the Boy-wench was bewraid.
Yeat thought is free, he sees, and smiles, and longs perhaps for more:
No maruell, for that Sister-hood had goodlie Ladies store.
Scarce one for birth and beautie too was theare vnworthie him,
Yet chieflie to Calistos vaine he formed life and limme,
And Sisterlike they single oft, and chat of manye things,
But that Calisto mindeth loue no likelihood he wrings.
So Ioue not once durst mention Ioue, and force was sinne and shame:
But loue is hardie. Thus it hap: by long pursute of game,
She wearie resteth in the Thicks, wheare sitting all alone,
He seeing her, is resolute or now to end his mone,
Or for so sweete a bodies vse to leaue his soule in lone.
Nymph-like he sits him by the Nymph, that tooke him for no man,
And after smiles, with neerer signes of Loues assault began.
He feeleth oft her Iuorie breasts, nor maketh coy to kisse:
Yeat all was well, a Maiden to a Maiden might doe this.
Than ticks he vp her tucked Frocke, nor did Calisto blush,
Or thinke abuse: he tickles too, no blab she thinks the Bush.
Thus whilst she thinkes her Sister-Nunne to be a merrie Lasse,
The Wanton did disclose himselfe, and told her who he was.
It was his first, and first is firme, and toucheth verie neere.
He might forgoe, but not forget Calisto in her Cell,
When, setting higher thoughts apart, the Frithes did please him well:
He takes his Quiuer and his Bow, and wheare she hunts hunts hee,
And sacrificed to his eyes that day he did her see:
About the Chase, Toyles, Dogs and Bowes, the Stand, Quarrie and all
He vseth double diligence: so often did befall,
Not onely sight of her his Saint he got, but also talke,
Whilst thus for his Calistos loue, he haunted Phœbus walke.
But sight and talke accrew to loue, the substance must be had:
And for to bring his drift about, he virgin-like is clad.
His nonage kept his beard from bloome, no wench more faire thē he,
Whom at her Nunnerie a Nunne Diana takes to be,
And with his Sisters brotherly doo gesse him to agree.
51
His hands to woll, and Arras worke, and womans Chares hee laid,
That not so much as by the tongue the Boy-wench was bewraid.
Yeat thought is free, he sees, and smiles, and longs perhaps for more:
No maruell, for that Sister-hood had goodlie Ladies store.
Scarce one for birth and beautie too was theare vnworthie him,
Yet chieflie to Calistos vaine he formed life and limme,
And Sisterlike they single oft, and chat of manye things,
But that Calisto mindeth loue no likelihood he wrings.
So Ioue not once durst mention Ioue, and force was sinne and shame:
But loue is hardie. Thus it hap: by long pursute of game,
She wearie resteth in the Thicks, wheare sitting all alone,
He seeing her, is resolute or now to end his mone,
Or for so sweete a bodies vse to leaue his soule in lone.
Nymph-like he sits him by the Nymph, that tooke him for no man,
And after smiles, with neerer signes of Loues assault began.
He feeleth oft her Iuorie breasts, nor maketh coy to kisse:
Yeat all was well, a Maiden to a Maiden might doe this.
Than ticks he vp her tucked Frocke, nor did Calisto blush,
Or thinke abuse: he tickles too, no blab she thinks the Bush.
Thus whilst she thinkes her Sister-Nunne to be a merrie Lasse,
The Wanton did disclose himselfe, and told her who he was.
Away the Virgin would haue fled, whom he withhild by force:
Thy loue (sweet Nymph) hath vrg'd this shift, wel worthy thy remorse,
He said: nor scorne with me a King to ioyne thy selfe a Queene,
Or doe but loue and I will liue in Phœbus Celles vnseene:
And theare in beds, in bushes heere (My fainings fit so well)
We may enioy what loue enioynes, and none our scapes shall tell.
She would not loue, he could not leaue, she wrangleth, and he wooeth,
She did resist, he did persist, and sport denied dooeth.
That done, which could not be vndone, what booteth discontent?
As good bee pleas'd as not be eas'd: away Calisto went
To Cloyster, Iupiter to Court: nor much she did repent,
Vntill her growing wombe disclosed an ante-cedent fault,
Then in the Chapter house she told of Iupiters assault.
Thy loue (sweet Nymph) hath vrg'd this shift, wel worthy thy remorse,
He said: nor scorne with me a King to ioyne thy selfe a Queene,
Or doe but loue and I will liue in Phœbus Celles vnseene:
And theare in beds, in bushes heere (My fainings fit so well)
We may enioy what loue enioynes, and none our scapes shall tell.
She would not loue, he could not leaue, she wrangleth, and he wooeth,
She did resist, he did persist, and sport denied dooeth.
That done, which could not be vndone, what booteth discontent?
As good bee pleas'd as not be eas'd: away Calisto went
To Cloyster, Iupiter to Court: nor much she did repent,
52
Then in the Chapter house she told of Iupiters assault.
Diana and her virgines all, admiring that escape,
Did gird at her, maligning Ioue for such his subtill Rape.
And who more ready to controule then Athalanta was?
Whome shortly Meleager brought vnto the selfe same pas.
The Lady Abbesse did discharge Calisto from her Cell,
And (silly Nymph) she, great with child, some other wheare must dwell.
Pelasgis it was Iupiters, and he her cause of blame,
The King her father in exile, her selfe in this defame,
What then remain'd? euen secrecie, to hide her selfe from shame.
Keepe close (quoth she) frō world, ye woods, mine error, Ioue his crime:
And setling theare in simple Caue, did waite her childing tyme.
Did gird at her, maligning Ioue for such his subtill Rape.
And who more ready to controule then Athalanta was?
Whome shortly Meleager brought vnto the selfe same pas.
The Lady Abbesse did discharge Calisto from her Cell,
And (silly Nymph) she, great with child, some other wheare must dwell.
Pelasgis it was Iupiters, and he her cause of blame,
The King her father in exile, her selfe in this defame,
What then remain'd? euen secrecie, to hide her selfe from shame.
Keepe close (quoth she) frō world, ye woods, mine error, Ioue his crime:
And setling theare in simple Caue, did waite her childing tyme.
At length was hairy Arcas borne: no sooner could he go,
But that his wildnes eiked to his wretched Mothers wo:
No beast so strong that he would shunne, and man he neuer sawe,
Nor yeat his vexed mother could from fearcenes him withdrawe.
Long time (the daughter of a King) she liued thus in Caue,
Not wanting griefe, but wanting all that poorest wretches haue?
And (worst of all) her sauage sonne (whose manners did agree
Vnto his birth-place) howerly threats his mothers death to bee:
And angrie once, pursued her so long from place to place,
That euen into the Citie gates he followed her in chase.
The people when they did behold so faire a nimph in flight,
A Beare-like Arcas in pursute, for being naked quite,
His skinne was swart and hairie) they did wonder at the sight:
And some that would his passage stop, he rudely casteth downe,
And spares no spoile vntill the sight was noised through the towne.
Then out came Iupiter in armes, whom, when Calisto knewe,
Helpe Ioue (she cryde) for loe thy sonne his mother doth pursue.
He knewe his Leiman at the first, and ioyed of her sight:
Then kisse they, when the Sauage boy by force did leaue to fight.
Calisto liued Lady-like, yea, Ianos Riuall now,
And Arcas, nobly mannaged, such vertues him indow,
That (Ioue consenting) him for King Pelasgis did allow.
A Sonne well worthy such a Syer, and for his prowes and fame,
Pelasgis then, of Arcas tooke Arcadia name.
But that his wildnes eiked to his wretched Mothers wo:
No beast so strong that he would shunne, and man he neuer sawe,
Nor yeat his vexed mother could from fearcenes him withdrawe.
Long time (the daughter of a King) she liued thus in Caue,
Not wanting griefe, but wanting all that poorest wretches haue?
And (worst of all) her sauage sonne (whose manners did agree
Vnto his birth-place) howerly threats his mothers death to bee:
And angrie once, pursued her so long from place to place,
That euen into the Citie gates he followed her in chase.
The people when they did behold so faire a nimph in flight,
A Beare-like Arcas in pursute, for being naked quite,
His skinne was swart and hairie) they did wonder at the sight:
And some that would his passage stop, he rudely casteth downe,
And spares no spoile vntill the sight was noised through the towne.
Then out came Iupiter in armes, whom, when Calisto knewe,
Helpe Ioue (she cryde) for loe thy sonne his mother doth pursue.
He knewe his Leiman at the first, and ioyed of her sight:
Then kisse they, when the Sauage boy by force did leaue to fight.
53
And Arcas, nobly mannaged, such vertues him indow,
That (Ioue consenting) him for King Pelasgis did allow.
A Sonne well worthy such a Syer, and for his prowes and fame,
Pelasgis then, of Arcas tooke Arcadia name.
Bvt neither might these Ladies faire by any pleasant tale,
Or dazeling toye of mashing loue, (sweet Consorts to preuaile)
Disswade outragious Cacus from vnpatientnes of minde:
Who in his greatest tyrannies did chiefest pleasures finde.
He fleas the harmles Passengers, from eldest soule to childe,
He burnes and spoiles the neighbour parts, and women he defild:
And to his Caue (Troponius Caue) did bring the spoiles he gaines,
In which (except to doe more harme) he secretly remaynes.
Or dazeling toye of mashing loue, (sweet Consorts to preuaile)
Disswade outragious Cacus from vnpatientnes of minde:
Who in his greatest tyrannies did chiefest pleasures finde.
He fleas the harmles Passengers, from eldest soule to childe,
He burnes and spoiles the neighbour parts, and women he defild:
And to his Caue (Troponius Caue) did bring the spoiles he gaines,
In which (except to doe more harme) he secretly remaynes.
Whilst none did passe, that did repasse vnspoiled or vnkild
(None knowing how) all Italie with feare thereof was fild.
But, lo an helpe: when Hercules had slaughtered out-right
Tenne Giants, of Cremona Kings, and put th' eleauenth to flight,
From thence the worthie did ariue with his victorious band
At King Euanders Cittie, that by Auentin did stand.
Amongst a many richer Spoyles, though none to him so rare,
He brought a sort of Spanish kine: Euander taking care,
(Because the like misfortunes oft had hapned theare before,)
Least Hercules should loose his kyne, of which he made such store,
Gaue counsell that within the walles they might be kept all night:
And, better to approoue his words, with teares he did recite
The murthers, thefts, and cruelties, without compassion made
Vpon his subiects and their goods, by whom could not be said,
But that the Gods (for so they gesse) for sinne them so inuade.
I am resolu'd (quoth Hercules) wheare Gods do vengeance craue,
It is not strong or fensiue walles that any thing can saue:
My Kyne shall therefore grase abroad: if mortall man it be,
Then know a Tyrant is my taske, his blood the Taskers fee.
(None knowing how) all Italie with feare thereof was fild.
But, lo an helpe: when Hercules had slaughtered out-right
Tenne Giants, of Cremona Kings, and put th' eleauenth to flight,
From thence the worthie did ariue with his victorious band
At King Euanders Cittie, that by Auentin did stand.
Amongst a many richer Spoyles, though none to him so rare,
He brought a sort of Spanish kine: Euander taking care,
(Because the like misfortunes oft had hapned theare before,)
Least Hercules should loose his kyne, of which he made such store,
Gaue counsell that within the walles they might be kept all night:
And, better to approoue his words, with teares he did recite
The murthers, thefts, and cruelties, without compassion made
Vpon his subiects and their goods, by whom could not be said,
But that the Gods (for so they gesse) for sinne them so inuade.
I am resolu'd (quoth Hercules) wheare Gods do vengeance craue,
It is not strong or fensiue walles that any thing can saue:
My Kyne shall therefore grase abroad: if mortall man it be,
Then know a Tyrant is my taske, his blood the Taskers fee.
54
The Cattell grasing then abroad (as was his vse alwaies)
The Gyant left his cruell Denne to seeke his cursed praies.
The Moone not wanting of her light, the Kine he did espye,
And knowing them, he also knewe his feared Foe was nye.
And far much better feare had bin then malice at that tyde:
But hardly shunneth policie what destinies prouide:
He might haue lurkte a while in Denne, but of a peeuish spight,
Eight of the Kine with fastned cords, by pollicie and might,
He dragged backward by their tailes into his diuelish nest,
Then stopping vp the subtill hole, did laye him downe to rest.
Now Hercules (the rather prickt by King Euanders talke)
Into the fieldes to see his Kine by prime of day did walke:
Where missing eight, he could not gesse which way they should be gō:
A many therefore had in charge, to search them out anon.
The Searchers, following euery signe, great store of footings found
Descending from Mount Auentine into the lower ground:
But for the footings did descend, and not ascend, they thought
Of no such cunning as in deed in Auentine was wrought.
Alcæus Grand-sonne searching long the Thefts he could not finde,
Was much disquieted in himselfe, and angrie in his minde,
And chafing, when he should depart, he twise or thrise did shake
A Tree that grew on Auentine, which rooted vp, did make
So large a vent that one might view they hollow caue belowe,
And Cacus with his Leash of wiues they were disclosed so.
Whome, when the Greeke espied theare, O gracelesse King, he said,
Whose Tyrannies haue made the Realmes of Hespera afraid,
Whose cruelties haue been the cause of al the losse thou hast,
What moueth thee in Italie to prosecute such waste?
Thinkste thou, whom neither mightie Realmes, nor royal Gards of mē
Could late defend, now to escape, inclosed thus in den,
The iust reuengment of the Godds? no, no, the Heauens we see,
Haue brought to light a wretch so lewd, euen by a senceles Tree:
And since that neither wealth nor want to goodnes may thee win,
A greeuous death, condignly, shall cut off thy grounded sinne.
To it did Cacus answere thus: doest thou pursue me still,
Who onely art the chiefest cause of these my doings ill?
Not suffering me to liue the rest of mine vnhappie daies
Among the fruitlesse Rocks, a wretch in miserie alwaies,
Cease further prate: said Hercules, in troth it greeueth much
To see a King in this Distresse, but since thy life is such
As neither in aduersitie, nor prosperous estate
Thou canst affoord one iot of good, I purpose to rebate
Thy wicked daies by worthy death, prepare therefore to dye.
The Gyant left his cruell Denne to seeke his cursed praies.
The Moone not wanting of her light, the Kine he did espye,
And knowing them, he also knewe his feared Foe was nye.
And far much better feare had bin then malice at that tyde:
But hardly shunneth policie what destinies prouide:
He might haue lurkte a while in Denne, but of a peeuish spight,
Eight of the Kine with fastned cords, by pollicie and might,
He dragged backward by their tailes into his diuelish nest,
Then stopping vp the subtill hole, did laye him downe to rest.
Now Hercules (the rather prickt by King Euanders talke)
Into the fieldes to see his Kine by prime of day did walke:
Where missing eight, he could not gesse which way they should be gō:
A many therefore had in charge, to search them out anon.
The Searchers, following euery signe, great store of footings found
Descending from Mount Auentine into the lower ground:
But for the footings did descend, and not ascend, they thought
Of no such cunning as in deed in Auentine was wrought.
Alcæus Grand-sonne searching long the Thefts he could not finde,
Was much disquieted in himselfe, and angrie in his minde,
And chafing, when he should depart, he twise or thrise did shake
A Tree that grew on Auentine, which rooted vp, did make
So large a vent that one might view they hollow caue belowe,
And Cacus with his Leash of wiues they were disclosed so.
Whome, when the Greeke espied theare, O gracelesse King, he said,
Whose Tyrannies haue made the Realmes of Hespera afraid,
Whose cruelties haue been the cause of al the losse thou hast,
What moueth thee in Italie to prosecute such waste?
Thinkste thou, whom neither mightie Realmes, nor royal Gards of mē
Could late defend, now to escape, inclosed thus in den,
The iust reuengment of the Godds? no, no, the Heauens we see,
Haue brought to light a wretch so lewd, euen by a senceles Tree:
And since that neither wealth nor want to goodnes may thee win,
55
To it did Cacus answere thus: doest thou pursue me still,
Who onely art the chiefest cause of these my doings ill?
Not suffering me to liue the rest of mine vnhappie daies
Among the fruitlesse Rocks, a wretch in miserie alwaies,
Cease further prate: said Hercules, in troth it greeueth much
To see a King in this Distresse, but since thy life is such
As neither in aduersitie, nor prosperous estate
Thou canst affoord one iot of good, I purpose to rebate
Thy wicked daies by worthy death, prepare therefore to dye.
When Cacus saw he must perforce so hard a combate trye,
He by inchanted flames againe indeuoured to flye.
But Hercules, deluded once by that deuise before,
Had learned now for being so deceiued any more:
And, casting feare aside, did leape into the flaming Caue,
And theare by Arte did conquer Arte, The Gyant then to saue
Himselfe did take his Axe in hand, wheare Hercules and he
Couragiously bestirre themselues, vntill they did agree
To trye it out in open ayre. So doubtfull was their fight,
That Lookers on could not discerne to whether best should light.
The frighted Ladies did their best to helpe their fighting friend:
But Hercules had victorie, and Cacus had his end.
He by inchanted flames againe indeuoured to flye.
But Hercules, deluded once by that deuise before,
Had learned now for being so deceiued any more:
And, casting feare aside, did leape into the flaming Caue,
And theare by Arte did conquer Arte, The Gyant then to saue
Himselfe did take his Axe in hand, wheare Hercules and he
Couragiously bestirre themselues, vntill they did agree
To trye it out in open ayre. So doubtfull was their fight,
That Lookers on could not discerne to whether best should light.
The frighted Ladies did their best to helpe their fighting friend:
But Hercules had victorie, and Cacus had his end.
|
CHAP. XI.
Albions England | |