Diana of George of Montemayor Translated out of Spanish into English by Bartholomew Yong |
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| 2. | The second Booke of the second Part of Diana of George of Montemayor. |
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 | Diana of George of Montemayor |  |
The second Booke of the second Part of Diana of George of Montemayor.
[When I, poore wretch, of all men most accurst]
When
I, poore wretch, of all men most accurst,
That neuer durst aspire to sweete content,
In dolours spent, in miseries the first,
Liu'd most secure, to pleasure onely bent:
That neuer durst aspire to sweete content,
In dolours spent, in miseries the first,
Liu'd most secure, to pleasure onely bent:
Which to preuent, The traiterous God of Loue
With force did shoue into my carelesse brest
Cares and vnrest of things, which I aboue
All other things till then did scorne and iest:
With force did shoue into my carelesse brest
189
All other things till then did scorne and iest:
He thought (at lest) to be reueng'd of me,
When he did see, that I scorn'd him alone
Bicause that none should once presume to be
So stout, as mocke his might so tride and knowne,
When he did see, that I scorn'd him alone
Bicause that none should once presume to be
So stout, as mocke his might so tride and knowne,
Nor his high throne, nor his supreme estate:
The Elfe of late hath plaide a suttell part,
As with new art my ioies to ruinate:
For often as he had essaid my hart
The Elfe of late hath plaide a suttell part,
As with new art my ioies to ruinate:
For often as he had essaid my hart
With wounding dart of beautie to subdew,
And with the view (not long since) of a face,
Which tooke no place, for then in vaine he threw:
A faire and daintie hand he did vnbrace,
And with the view (not long since) of a face,
Which tooke no place, for then in vaine he threw:
A faire and daintie hand he did vnbrace,
With such a grace, and to mine eies did show,
And such a blowe he gaue me with the same,
That then with shame his power I did knowe,
For downe it threw me, my braue pride to tame.
And such a blowe he gaue me with the same,
That then with shame his power I did knowe,
For downe it threw me, my braue pride to tame.
Tell me, how came it thus (faire hand) to passe,
That so I was with such a blowe againe
Throwne downe amaine, (neuer to rise, alas)
By thee so fine and tender to be slaine?
That so I was with such a blowe againe
Throwne downe amaine, (neuer to rise, alas)
By thee so fine and tender to be slaine?
Alas, in vaine I tooke thee for a hand,
For can it stand that nature did thee frame?
Into the same, I thinke a mighty band
Of Cupids powers of late transformed came
For can it stand that nature did thee frame?
Into the same, I thinke a mighty band
Of Cupids powers of late transformed came
My hart to tame, and dire reuenge to take,
Since I did make so little of his powre:
If now each howre for this thou dost awake
Thy hawty force, my poore hart to deuoure:
Since I did make so little of his powre:
If now each howre for this thou dost awake
Thy hawty force, my poore hart to deuoure:
Be not so sowre, for pardon I doe craue,
The which to haue, I promise to obay
From day to day thy will, thy force and braue
Commaund, and also to confesse, and say,
The which to haue, I promise to obay
From day to day thy will, thy force and braue
Commaund, and also to confesse, and say,
That thou dost sway, more then the rest aboue,
O God of Loue: And if that any nill
Embrace thy will his follies to reprooue,
I will aduise him how thy wrath doth kill.
And euer will endeuour to reclame
The freest harts vnto thy louing flame.
O God of Loue: And if that any nill
Embrace thy will his follies to reprooue,
I will aduise him how thy wrath doth kill.
And euer will endeuour to reclame
The freest harts vnto thy louing flame.
190
[Cvpid was angrie with my merry face]
Cvpid was angrie with my merry face,
Bicause I euer laughed him to scorne,
And all his followers (haplesse and forlorne)
I mock't in publike and in priuate place:
Wherefore he arm'd himselfe (to my disgrace)
When time a fit occasion did suborne,
But naught I wreckt his flames, in vaine outworne.
Bicause I euer laughed him to scorne,
And all his followers (haplesse and forlorne)
I mock't in publike and in priuate place:
Wherefore he arm'd himselfe (to my disgrace)
When time a fit occasion did suborne,
But naught I wreckt his flames, in vaine outworne.
For Satyrlike I did not them imbrace:
Who seeing, that he built vpon the sand,
If by a face my life he would deuoure,
He shewed me then a fine and daintie hand,
Which once beheld, it lay not in my power
To be vnconquered Tyrantlike; nor would
Deliuer me from him although I could.
Who seeing, that he built vpon the sand,
If by a face my life he would deuoure,
He shewed me then a fine and daintie hand,
Which once beheld, it lay not in my power
To be vnconquered Tyrantlike; nor would
Deliuer me from him although I could.
[It is a signe of valour and of might]
It
is a signe of valour and of might,
A power, that in wonder doth increase,
For any king to win (and neuer fight)
A kingdome, and to enter it with peace.
A power, that in wonder doth increase,
For any king to win (and neuer fight)
A kingdome, and to enter it with peace.
191
Proper it is for Mars to wound with hand:
Mars woundes with hand, if angrie once he be:
But now behold, the matter thus doth stand,
That Cupid wounds with hand as well as he.
Mars woundes with hand, if angrie once he be:
But now behold, the matter thus doth stand,
That Cupid wounds with hand as well as he.
And my good hap, or ill would haue it thus,
That first of all my wofull hart should feele
This new Alarme, wherewith he feareth vs.
So with a hand, to which all harts may kneele,
My hart he hath transfixt to make me knowe,
His valour, strength, his wounding shaft, and bowe.
That first of all my wofull hart should feele
This new Alarme, wherewith he feareth vs.
So with a hand, to which all harts may kneele,
My hart he hath transfixt to make me knowe,
His valour, strength, his wounding shaft, and bowe.
194
[In each created thing]
In
each created thing
One motion onely, and of might,
Predominant continually is found.
Which still doth keepe and bring
The same, one way, and course aright,
That's alwaies like, and vniforme, and round.
And none can be vnbound
From this compacted order though he would,
None can againe the same forsake,
Or any other take,
And yet it would not though perhaps it could:
Thou Fortune art alone
Without it, in disorder onely one.
One motion onely, and of might,
Predominant continually is found.
Which still doth keepe and bring
The same, one way, and course aright,
That's alwaies like, and vniforme, and round.
And none can be vnbound
From this compacted order though he would,
None can againe the same forsake,
Or any other take,
And yet it would not though perhaps it could:
Thou Fortune art alone
Without it, in disorder onely one.
That first, and highest Sphere,
That mooues, and is not moou'd againe
Of any other heauen, that mooues one whit:
The which with his Careare,
And swiftest course doth turne amaine
The lowest heauens, and caries after it:
An order doth admit,
And doth maintaine, not erring in the lest:
For it doth cary them with speede,
And with more haste (indeede)
The nearest heauen to it, from East to West:
But rule thou dost disdaine,
And onely without order dost remaine.
That mooues, and is not moou'd againe
Of any other heauen, that mooues one whit:
The which with his Careare,
195
The lowest heauens, and caries after it:
An order doth admit,
And doth maintaine, not erring in the lest:
For it doth cary them with speede,
And with more haste (indeede)
The nearest heauen to it, from East to West:
But rule thou dost disdaine,
And onely without order dost remaine.
The circled Elements
Of qualities most opposite,
The fire, the aire, the sea, and earth belowe,
In motions not inuents
A nouell course, but mooue aright,
And euer keepe good order, as they goe:
None erreth, no.
The earth about his lowest Centre mooues,
The water next in circle wise,
The aire next that that lies,
And fire to that a gallant order prooues:
But Fortune in thy Spheare
Thou run'st, without good order, rule, or feare.
Of qualities most opposite,
The fire, the aire, the sea, and earth belowe,
In motions not inuents
A nouell course, but mooue aright,
And euer keepe good order, as they goe:
None erreth, no.
The earth about his lowest Centre mooues,
The water next in circle wise,
The aire next that that lies,
And fire to that a gallant order prooues:
But Fortune in thy Spheare
Thou run'st, without good order, rule, or feare.
The heauie fals downe right
(Vnlesse it haue impediment)
Vnto the Centre of his proper Spheare:
And that, which is but light,
If that it haue an open vent,
Mounts to his highest region euery where:
And so each thing doth beare
Good order, and good rule continually:
In generation it doth spring,
Corruption it doth bring,
In fine, all things by order liue and die:
Without it, thou dost range
(Fortune) that with disorder still dost change.
(Vnlesse it haue impediment)
Vnto the Centre of his proper Spheare:
And that, which is but light,
If that it haue an open vent,
Mounts to his highest region euery where:
And so each thing doth beare
Good order, and good rule continually:
In generation it doth spring,
Corruption it doth bring,
In fine, all things by order liue and die:
Without it, thou dost range
(Fortune) that with disorder still dost change.
In this world nothing is
(If out of order it be gone)
But ordred it may be in time againe:
Ther's nothing in blacke Dis
(Though there be all confusion)
Nor order kept (for there it were but vaine)
But may indeede remaine
In order, in their manner, forme, and kinde,
And may be call'd to order fit,
If we consider it:
Though nought but paines and plaintes are there assign'd.
Thou worse then hellish thought
In no point canst not be to order brought.
(If out of order it be gone)
But ordred it may be in time againe:
Ther's nothing in blacke Dis
(Though there be all confusion)
Nor order kept (for there it were but vaine)
But may indeede remaine
In order, in their manner, forme, and kinde,
And may be call'd to order fit,
If we consider it:
196
Thou worse then hellish thought
In no point canst not be to order brought.
Thy motion out of kinde
So far besides proportion lies,
That it can neuer be to order brought:
Swifter sometimes then winde,
With hastie speede so soone it flies,
That it is neuer seene, nor felt, nor thought:
The Parthian neuer wrought,
Nor sent an arrow out of steeled bowe
With such great haste and maine:
Sometimes with sloth againe,
Like to the snaile or Tortuse she doth goe:
Blinde Fortune thou dost reele,
And more doth he, that sits vpon thy wheele.
So far besides proportion lies,
That it can neuer be to order brought:
Swifter sometimes then winde,
With hastie speede so soone it flies,
That it is neuer seene, nor felt, nor thought:
The Parthian neuer wrought,
Nor sent an arrow out of steeled bowe
With such great haste and maine:
Sometimes with sloth againe,
Like to the snaile or Tortuse she doth goe:
Blinde Fortune thou dost reele,
And more doth he, that sits vpon thy wheele.
200
[That deluge of reuengement being past]
That
deluge of reuengement being past,
Determined that was by Gods aboue,
For guilt of wickednes of mortall men:
The earth of moisture yet remaining full,
Wherewith the heate of Titans beames conioyn'd,
Strange creatures did engender of the same:
Diuers in shape, proportion and in kinde.
Amongst the which a Serpent did arise,
Cruell, vntam'd, and greater then a hill,
In Thessalie, a Prouince of great fame;
That first put bridle to the horse his mouth.
This monstrous Serpent did deuoure, and waste
His natiue soile, and all the people there:
He spared not the corne (a sweete rewarde
And hope of him that did with labour sowe it)
He spared not the strong and painfull Oxe,
(The faithfull seruant of the countrey toyle)
As little spared he the harmlesse Calues,
Nor goates, nor kids, that skipt about the heathes.
He spared not the flockes of simple sheepe,
Nor gentle lambes, nor heards of grazing neate.
He spar'd no house, nor of the little Bee
The sweetest worke (the Mistresse of her art)
This cruell beast had no regarde of men,
For whose auaile each thing created was.
But as the supreme Gods would not consent,
With angrie hand to spoile the world anew:
They did prouide forthwith a speedie helpe,
Since humane skill and wit could not preuaile.
For God Apollo going foorth to hunt,
With bowe and quiuer full of wounding shaftes:
Onely on Buckes his cunning aime to trie,
On mountaine goates, wilde boares, and sauage beastes,
He did by chaunce encounter with this Serpent;
Which cruell monster when he did behold,
He by and by contemn'd his wonted chace,
To make his name eternall by his death.
For straight he bent his hardned bowe of steele,
And from his backe his golden quiuer tooke,
And drew thereout his shaftes with wounding heads;
Which dipt in poyson, he did shoote with force,
And nailed them betweene the Serpents skailes,
And there lay Python stretched on the ground.
(For this the cruell Serpent had to name)
Apollo haughty in his ioyfull minde,
For glory of so great an enterprise,
Remaining there, to view his noble spoiles,
Proude with himselfe he did triumph so much
For this great victory, that he did thinke
That heauen had not a God like to himselfe;
Which by his speeches he did manifest,
Speaking sometimes vnto the monstrous beast,
Sometimes vnto his quiuer, and his bowe;
With ioy and pride did vtter foorth these wordes.
Determined that was by Gods aboue,
For guilt of wickednes of mortall men:
The earth of moisture yet remaining full,
Wherewith the heate of Titans beames conioyn'd,
Strange creatures did engender of the same:
Diuers in shape, proportion and in kinde.
Amongst the which a Serpent did arise,
Cruell, vntam'd, and greater then a hill,
In Thessalie, a Prouince of great fame;
That first put bridle to the horse his mouth.
This monstrous Serpent did deuoure, and waste
His natiue soile, and all the people there:
He spared not the corne (a sweete rewarde
And hope of him that did with labour sowe it)
He spared not the strong and painfull Oxe,
(The faithfull seruant of the countrey toyle)
As little spared he the harmlesse Calues,
Nor goates, nor kids, that skipt about the heathes.
He spared not the flockes of simple sheepe,
Nor gentle lambes, nor heards of grazing neate.
201
The sweetest worke (the Mistresse of her art)
This cruell beast had no regarde of men,
For whose auaile each thing created was.
But as the supreme Gods would not consent,
With angrie hand to spoile the world anew:
They did prouide forthwith a speedie helpe,
Since humane skill and wit could not preuaile.
For God Apollo going foorth to hunt,
With bowe and quiuer full of wounding shaftes:
Onely on Buckes his cunning aime to trie,
On mountaine goates, wilde boares, and sauage beastes,
He did by chaunce encounter with this Serpent;
Which cruell monster when he did behold,
He by and by contemn'd his wonted chace,
To make his name eternall by his death.
For straight he bent his hardned bowe of steele,
And from his backe his golden quiuer tooke,
And drew thereout his shaftes with wounding heads;
Which dipt in poyson, he did shoote with force,
And nailed them betweene the Serpents skailes,
And there lay Python stretched on the ground.
(For this the cruell Serpent had to name)
Apollo haughty in his ioyfull minde,
For glory of so great an enterprise,
Remaining there, to view his noble spoiles,
Proude with himselfe he did triumph so much
For this great victory, that he did thinke
That heauen had not a God like to himselfe;
Which by his speeches he did manifest,
Speaking sometimes vnto the monstrous beast,
Sometimes vnto his quiuer, and his bowe;
With ioy and pride did vtter foorth these wordes.
Glorie of glories O most excellent,
Triumph of triumphes O the most esteemed,
Of victories O worthy victorie.
O deede, aboue all deedes in honour deemed:
O chance, then any chance more eminent:
O fame of fames the sole supremacie.
O happy war, whereby
My arme so fortunate
With power did abate
The fiercest Serpent that was euer bred:
O crowne most worthy for my conquering head.
O bowe, that from complaining didst deliuer
The people well nie dead,
O happy shaftes, O braue and blessed quiuer.
Triumph of triumphes O the most esteemed,
Of victories O worthy victorie.
O deede, aboue all deedes in honour deemed:
O chance, then any chance more eminent:
O fame of fames the sole supremacie.
O happy war, whereby
My arme so fortunate
With power did abate
The fiercest Serpent that was euer bred:
O crowne most worthy for my conquering head.
O bowe, that from complaining didst deliuer
The people well nie dead,
O happy shaftes, O braue and blessed quiuer.
202
Python for thee the ground was barren still,
Denying her increase, and wonted fruite,
For thee, the learned Bee did aie lament,
That she could not her sweetest worke salute:
For thee, the gentle Ewe her selfe did kill,
For griefe to see her lambe in peeces rent:
For thee out of his tent
The Shepherd durst not goe,
For cleerely he did knowe,
How much thy poysoned tooth and breath did harme:
For thee the husbandman within his Farme,
And Citizens within their wals for feare
(Did in their Cities swarme)
Of euerie shadow thinking thou wert there.
Denying her increase, and wonted fruite,
For thee, the learned Bee did aie lament,
That she could not her sweetest worke salute:
For thee, the gentle Ewe her selfe did kill,
For griefe to see her lambe in peeces rent:
For thee out of his tent
The Shepherd durst not goe,
For cleerely he did knowe,
How much thy poysoned tooth and breath did harme:
For thee the husbandman within his Farme,
And Citizens within their wals for feare
(Did in their Cities swarme)
Of euerie shadow thinking thou wert there.
What God deserues all the heauenly Quire
Incense in sacrifice as doth Apollo?
And what God by his skill and cunning art,
As many as the firmament so hollow
Containes, to such great titles doth aspire
With honours type, renown'd in euerie part?
For nature doth impart
Her gifts, and euerie grace
To me, their proper place.
I did inuent the art of medicine,
If any oze like prophet doth diuine,
I am the God, that answers and inspires,
My musicke passing fine
Doth answer that the heauens make in their gires.
Incense in sacrifice as doth Apollo?
And what God by his skill and cunning art,
As many as the firmament so hollow
Containes, to such great titles doth aspire
With honours type, renown'd in euerie part?
For nature doth impart
Her gifts, and euerie grace
To me, their proper place.
I did inuent the art of medicine,
If any oze like prophet doth diuine,
I am the God, that answers and inspires,
My musicke passing fine
Doth answer that the heauens make in their gires.
A famous Sirname I shall now obtaine,
O Serpent Python by thy mortall death:
And I will cause, that they shall celebrate
This libertie in neuer dying breath.
With solemne sports and feasting to maintaine
This glorie, in eternall time and state.
And that this golden date
In historie by fame,
That streight doth blaze the same,
And sparing such, as alwaies we do see,
Neuer in this may such a niggard be.
And though of others she doth prate too much,
And speaketh partially,
Not any lye herein, her toong shall touch.
O Serpent Python by thy mortall death:
And I will cause, that they shall celebrate
This libertie in neuer dying breath.
With solemne sports and feasting to maintaine
This glorie, in eternall time and state.
And that this golden date
In historie by fame,
That streight doth blaze the same,
And sparing such, as alwaies we do see,
Neuer in this may such a niggard be.
And though of others she doth prate too much,
And speaketh partially,
Not any lye herein, her toong shall touch.
He therefore being in this sort content,
By chaunce (and yet it may be to requite.
The gen'rall scorne he made of all the Gods)
The childe God Cupid passed by that way.
(A puissant and mightie Lord of loue)
A golden quiuer hung behinde his backe,
In his left hand he bare a bended bowe:
And in his right, two fine and prety shaftes.
By chaunce (and yet it may be to requite.
The gen'rall scorne he made of all the Gods)
203
(A puissant and mightie Lord of loue)
A golden quiuer hung behinde his backe,
In his left hand he bare a bended bowe:
And in his right, two fine and prety shaftes.
His eies were both bound with a silken string,
Whom, now as soone as God Apollo sawe,
Thinking that none, but he deseru'd to beare
A bowe, and shaftes, and quiuer at his backe:
In brauing sort these proud iniurious wordes,
And full of scorne he thus to him affordes.
Whom, now as soone as God Apollo sawe,
Thinking that none, but he deseru'd to beare
A bowe, and shaftes, and quiuer at his backe:
In brauing sort these proud iniurious wordes,
And full of scorne he thus to him affordes.
What's he so proude, and stoute that doth impute him
Worthy of those braue weapons in his hand?
What, knowes he not that they are due to me;
And none but I this honor may demand?
T'is Venus sonne, God Cupid, it is he,
So call'd, but heere he comes, I will salute him:
Infamous villaine, theefe and voide of shame,
And wicked robber of anothers fame.
Worthy of those braue weapons in his hand?
What, knowes he not that they are due to me;
And none but I this honor may demand?
T'is Venus sonne, God Cupid, it is he,
So call'd, but heere he comes, I will salute him:
Infamous villaine, theefe and voide of shame,
And wicked robber of anothers fame.
Be these thy tooles? Tell me, why dost weare them,
That art a wanton, far for thee vnfit?
Deliuer them, for these my hands diuine
Doe beautifie, and on my shoulders sit
With better grace, and honour then on thine,
That art not able halfe ynough to beare them.
Then little boy, leaue of with these to boast thee,
If not, in faith, full deerely they shall cost thee.
That art a wanton, far for thee vnfit?
Deliuer them, for these my hands diuine
Doe beautifie, and on my shoulders sit
With better grace, and honour then on thine,
That art not able halfe ynough to beare them.
Then little boy, leaue of with these to boast thee,
If not, in faith, full deerely they shall cost thee.
This furniture is proper to my might,
These shaftes, this quiuer, and this bended bowe:
With them I slew fell Python, that of sheepe
Whole stockes within his belly did bestowe.
And them to kill wilde beastes, and birdes I keepe,
For onely these belong to me of right.
With them (moreouer) if it be my will,
With mortall woundes mine enemies I kill.
These shaftes, this quiuer, and this bended bowe:
With them I slew fell Python, that of sheepe
Whole stockes within his belly did bestowe.
And them to kill wilde beastes, and birdes I keepe,
For onely these belong to me of right.
With them (moreouer) if it be my will,
With mortall woundes mine enemies I kill.
Thy fires and flames should well content thy minde,
With which (fond Loue) with loue thou giuest paine,
Ioine not thy sportes, nor thy dishonest brandes
With these braue weapons of my glorious gaine.
Leaue then this bowe, dishonoured by thy handes,
And see, if that thou canst, that art so blinde:
Thine eies are blinded with a silken string,
How canst thou then ayme right at any thing?
With which (fond Loue) with loue thou giuest paine,
Ioine not thy sportes, nor thy dishonest brandes
With these braue weapons of my glorious gaine.
Leaue then this bowe, dishonoured by thy handes,
And see, if that thou canst, that art so blinde:
Thine eies are blinded with a silken string,
How canst thou then ayme right at any thing?
204
Cupid at this waxt angrie and asham'd.
But yet with threats to his vnworthie scornes,
Nor with proude words in no wise would reply.
For mightie Loue, as he is verie wise,
And resolute of that he takes in hand,
Cares not to bragge it out with threatning words:
But doth performe it with most valiant deedes.
But yet bicause his follies he should know,
And how he was deceiued in his might,
Which all the Gods besides himselfe had knowen
(For yet Apollo neuer felt the paines,
Nor cruell torments that braue Cupid giues)
With gentle words proceeding from a minde,
Incensed more within, then outwardly,
To his braue termes this speech he did reply.
But yet with threats to his vnworthie scornes,
Nor with proude words in no wise would reply.
For mightie Loue, as he is verie wise,
And resolute of that he takes in hand,
Cares not to bragge it out with threatning words:
But doth performe it with most valiant deedes.
But yet bicause his follies he should know,
And how he was deceiued in his might,
Which all the Gods besides himselfe had knowen
(For yet Apollo neuer felt the paines,
Nor cruell torments that braue Cupid giues)
With gentle words proceeding from a minde,
Incensed more within, then outwardly,
To his braue termes this speech he did reply.
Too proud thou hast thy selfe (Apollo) showen
In speaking such vile words vnto my face.
Such rather I embrace
With honour, and I vse them not, but saying
Nothing at all in such a wrong full case,
I do such things as like were neuer none.
Hearke then how I am knowen
By word of mouth, and how much I am swaying.
After by deed, I will bring thee to obaying.
Neptune, and Ioue, and Vulcan I do keepe
Vnder my mightie will:
Few Gods there are, that with their skill,
Do free themselues, but vnto me do creepe.
The Goddesses do weepe
To heare my name, and yeeld with mere consent
Vnto my gouernment.
And Venus, though my louing mother be,
Cannot escape with partiall libertie.
In speaking such vile words vnto my face.
Such rather I embrace
With honour, and I vse them not, but saying
Nothing at all in such a wrong full case,
I do such things as like were neuer none.
Hearke then how I am knowen
By word of mouth, and how much I am swaying.
After by deed, I will bring thee to obaying.
Neptune, and Ioue, and Vulcan I do keepe
Vnder my mightie will:
Few Gods there are, that with their skill,
Do free themselues, but vnto me do creepe.
The Goddesses do weepe
To heare my name, and yeeld with mere consent
Vnto my gouernment.
And Venus, though my louing mother be,
Cannot escape with partiall libertie.
What man is he, neuer so strong in armes,
That hath escaped in my amorous field?
Here bootes not speare, nor sheeld,
Nor Mars his weapons, nor his strong defence.
In vaine he fights, whom I will haue to yeeld.
Learning and wisedome here procure but harmes,
And flie at my Alarmes,
And staying do imprint a deeper sence
Of louing passions, and with more offence.
Women (mine ornament) do euer hide
What neuer was concealed.
For flames are hardly vnreuealed.
The birds and sauage boastes my hands hath tide
Vnto my yoke, beside,
That Nature doth her selfe my chariot follow.
Then tell me now Apollo,
If that thou think'st to get such puissance,
As that with these thou shouldst not come to dance.
That hath escaped in my amorous field?
Here bootes not speare, nor sheeld,
Nor Mars his weapons, nor his strong defence.
In vaine he fights, whom I will haue to yeeld.
Learning and wisedome here procure but harmes,
And flie at my Alarmes,
And staying do imprint a deeper sence
Of louing passions, and with more offence.
Women (mine ornament) do euer hide
What neuer was concealed.
For flames are hardly vnreuealed.
The birds and sauage boastes my hands hath tide
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That Nature doth her selfe my chariot follow.
Then tell me now Apollo,
If that thou think'st to get such puissance,
As that with these thou shouldst not come to dance.
Thou dost reioice, bicause these armes are due
To thee, for killing of that monster fell.
But harke, and I will tell,
How these belong more iustly to my might,
Although thy shaft in wounding doth excell,
It neuer yet but beastes and venison slew,
Apollo, this is true.
But mine shall wound thy soule both day and night:
And thou shalt sweare, mine is the onely slight.
So that how much each beast, not me,
In mgiht thou dost exceede,
And gett'st most glory by this deede,
So much more famous shall my conquest be.
But now thy follies see,
In saying, that this quiuer, and this bowe
Did me dishonor so.
For thee, Apollo, better had it beene,
If with my selfe the same thou hadst not seene.
To thee, for killing of that monster fell.
But harke, and I will tell,
How these belong more iustly to my might,
Although thy shaft in wounding doth excell,
It neuer yet but beastes and venison slew,
Apollo, this is true.
But mine shall wound thy soule both day and night:
And thou shalt sweare, mine is the onely slight.
So that how much each beast, not me,
In mgiht thou dost exceede,
And gett'st most glory by this deede,
So much more famous shall my conquest be.
But now thy follies see,
In saying, that this quiuer, and this bowe
Did me dishonor so.
For thee, Apollo, better had it beene,
If with my selfe the same thou hadst not seene.
Thou saist I nill deserue this ornament,
Bicause mine eies are blinded with a band;
And therefore that my hand
Must needes shoote false bicause that I am blinde.
And yet, besides, I tell thee that they stand
Against all reason, and intendement.
Harke now, to what intent?
And how this comes so fitly to my minde.
Then tell me, if thou think'st it out of kinde,
For any God to burne in feruent loue
Of any woman heere?
That more his greefes, and paines appeere,
The more she should from him her liking mooue.
If blinde, such things I prooue,
And studie to reuenge me with my flight?
Tell me, were it not right?
Then take good heede, since thus my bowe doth kill:
And makes thy reason subiect to my will.
Bicause mine eies are blinded with a band;
And therefore that my hand
Must needes shoote false bicause that I am blinde.
And yet, besides, I tell thee that they stand
Against all reason, and intendement.
Harke now, to what intent?
And how this comes so fitly to my minde.
Then tell me, if thou think'st it out of kinde,
For any God to burne in feruent loue
Of any woman heere?
That more his greefes, and paines appeere,
The more she should from him her liking mooue.
If blinde, such things I prooue,
And studie to reuenge me with my flight?
Tell me, were it not right?
Then take good heede, since thus my bowe doth kill:
And makes thy reason subiect to my will.
This said, he would no longer with him stay,
Nor harken more to answeres nor replies:
Nor did Apollo care to answere him,
Esteeming nought his childish wordes, and threats.
But Cupid wounding with his golden wings
The loftie aire, that burned as he went,
Without delay he gaines the shadowed top
Of mount Parnasse, where looking round about
He staies, and waites the meanes to venge himselfe
At pleasure of Apollos proude contempt.
Wherefore out of his quiuer he doth take
Two wounding headed arrowes fatall both:
In colour diuers and in their effects,
For th' one procureth loue, with burning fire,
The other hate, with cold and frozen ice.
Golden is that, that causeth feruent loue,
Leaden is that, that causeth frozen hate:
And talking with them both, as though they did
Conceiue his wordes, in this sort he did say.
Nor harken more to answeres nor replies:
Nor did Apollo care to answere him,
Esteeming nought his childish wordes, and threats.
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The loftie aire, that burned as he went,
Without delay he gaines the shadowed top
Of mount Parnasse, where looking round about
He staies, and waites the meanes to venge himselfe
At pleasure of Apollos proude contempt.
Wherefore out of his quiuer he doth take
Two wounding headed arrowes fatall both:
In colour diuers and in their effects,
For th' one procureth loue, with burning fire,
The other hate, with cold and frozen ice.
Golden is that, that causeth feruent loue,
Leaden is that, that causeth frozen hate:
And talking with them both, as though they did
Conceiue his wordes, in this sort he did say.
Come speedy out (my louing friendes)
And shew your valour, and your force so high:
In you my trust, and hope doth lie,
That you will shew, whereon my strength depends.
Beate downe Apollos pride,
That heere our honour did deride:
That he may know, how well my words agree
With earnest deedes as shortly he shall see.
And shew your valour, and your force so high:
In you my trust, and hope doth lie,
That you will shew, whereon my strength depends.
Beate downe Apollos pride,
That heere our honour did deride:
That he may know, how well my words agree
With earnest deedes as shortly he shall see.
Since thou, that art so sharpe and tride
With kindling fire in each louing brest,
Thou shalt Apollos hart molest,
That cruell paines, and smartes he may abide.
And thou that art of bluntie lead,
Strike thou some womans hart so dead
In cruell hate, that she shall neuer feele
The sense of loue, no more then stone, or steele.
With kindling fire in each louing brest,
Thou shalt Apollos hart molest,
That cruell paines, and smartes he may abide.
And thou that art of bluntie lead,
Strike thou some womans hart so dead
In cruell hate, that she shall neuer feele
The sense of loue, no more then stone, or steele.
Apollo there remained very glad,
Calling the heauens, the elements, and beastes,
The trees, the meades, the springs, the birdes, and fish
To ioy with him in his renowned spoile,
And victorie, by Pythons death he got:
For in this sort with ioyfull face he said.
Calling the heauens, the elements, and beastes,
The trees, the meades, the springs, the birdes, and fish
To ioy with him in his renowned spoile,
And victorie, by Pythons death he got:
For in this sort with ioyfull face he said.
O heauenly frame,
Whose course, and sweete accents
Giue earthly things their life, that ar
Of natures name.
You circled elements,
So contrarie in secret war,
You beastes, that far
And neere, in earth doe make your dwelling place,
You birdes, that in the skie
With hastie wing doe flie,
You fishes, that the christall streames imbrace,
For my braue deede
Come shew your selues content in ioies agreed.
You shadowed treene,
An ease of sweete delight,
And fence from Titans burning heate:
Faire meades and greene,
And waters sweete and bright,
This sorrest that with liquours weate:
Greene Iuies seate,
That liuest still, and dy'st not in thy kinde,
And wind'st about the tree,
That still vpholdeth thee:
For this braue deed,
Come shew your selues content in ioies agreed.
Whose course, and sweete accents
Giue earthly things their life, that ar
Of natures name.
You circled elements,
So contrarie in secret war,
You beastes, that far
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You birdes, that in the skie
With hastie wing doe flie,
You fishes, that the christall streames imbrace,
For my braue deede
Come shew your selues content in ioies agreed.
You shadowed treene,
An ease of sweete delight,
And fence from Titans burning heate:
Faire meades and greene,
And waters sweete and bright,
This sorrest that with liquours weate:
Greene Iuies seate,
That liuest still, and dy'st not in thy kinde,
And wind'st about the tree,
That still vpholdeth thee:
For this braue deed,
Come shew your selues content in ioies agreed.
Apollo being in this ioyfull moode,
Behold where comes a fine and tender Nymph,
And fairer then Aurora in her prime,
Laden with spoiles, she got by hunting late,
A Nymph endow'd with vertues high and rare
The father oft vnto his Daphne saide
(For so they say this fairest Nymph was call'd,
And Pene was her aged fathers name)
Daughter to me thou ow'st a sonne in lawe.
Daughter, to me some nephewes thou dost owe.
But with a teint, like the Vermillion Rose,
Bespred vpon her face as white as snowe,
To see her father would haue wedded her,
The chastest virgine with her tender armes
All Lilly white about the louing necke
Of her deere father sweetely then did hang:
Requesting him, that he would giue her leaue,
To leade her life in spotlesse chastitie,
And liue therein, as she had liu'd before.
Her louing father graunted her request.
But yet before to hinder her intent,
With graue aduise vnto her he did tell,
How heate of youth, and wealth, and beauties lure,
Were contrarie vnto the chastest minde.
And how that each of them alone is able
To worke the tender hart like melted wax.
How much more easie then, when all in one
Were found, as in faire Daphne they did raigne.
Yet though she did excell in all these giftes,
She would not leaue to put her chaste intent
In practise, and Dianas grace to serue.
And saying, it was true her father spake.
And said, if that she had such cause to vaunt
That she was rich, and faire, and nobly borne:
That it was tenfold deerer vnto her
To be accounted chaste of euerie one.
And that her chiefest honour did consist
In honest, pure, and vndefiled life.
Now therefore as the virgine did not know
(Bicause her minde was so on vertue bent)
What thing loue was, nor due of marriage rites,
To hunt it was her onely ioy, and sport.
Then hither came this gallant Nymph to chase,
Where proud Apollo went by chaunce to hunt:
Not thinking to finde out so farie a game.
Bicause his breast, free from the thoughts of loue,
Was onely bent in thinking of his spoile.
He was so glad and did triumphe so much
Within himselfe, that he did neuer thinke
Of any thing but this, till (to his harme)
He cast his wandring cies vnto the place,
Where he did spie faire Daphne in her chace.
Behold where comes a fine and tender Nymph,
And fairer then Aurora in her prime,
Laden with spoiles, she got by hunting late,
A Nymph endow'd with vertues high and rare
The father oft vnto his Daphne saide
(For so they say this fairest Nymph was call'd,
And Pene was her aged fathers name)
Daughter to me thou ow'st a sonne in lawe.
Daughter, to me some nephewes thou dost owe.
But with a teint, like the Vermillion Rose,
Bespred vpon her face as white as snowe,
To see her father would haue wedded her,
The chastest virgine with her tender armes
All Lilly white about the louing necke
Of her deere father sweetely then did hang:
Requesting him, that he would giue her leaue,
To leade her life in spotlesse chastitie,
And liue therein, as she had liu'd before.
Her louing father graunted her request.
But yet before to hinder her intent,
With graue aduise vnto her he did tell,
How heate of youth, and wealth, and beauties lure,
Were contrarie vnto the chastest minde.
And how that each of them alone is able
To worke the tender hart like melted wax.
How much more easie then, when all in one
Were found, as in faire Daphne they did raigne.
Yet though she did excell in all these giftes,
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In practise, and Dianas grace to serue.
And saying, it was true her father spake.
And said, if that she had such cause to vaunt
That she was rich, and faire, and nobly borne:
That it was tenfold deerer vnto her
To be accounted chaste of euerie one.
And that her chiefest honour did consist
In honest, pure, and vndefiled life.
Now therefore as the virgine did not know
(Bicause her minde was so on vertue bent)
What thing loue was, nor due of marriage rites,
To hunt it was her onely ioy, and sport.
Then hither came this gallant Nymph to chase,
Where proud Apollo went by chaunce to hunt:
Not thinking to finde out so farie a game.
Bicause his breast, free from the thoughts of loue,
Was onely bent in thinking of his spoile.
He was so glad and did triumphe so much
Within himselfe, that he did neuer thinke
Of any thing but this, till (to his harme)
He cast his wandring cies vnto the place,
Where he did spie faire Daphne in her chace.
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[Apollo being in this heauenly ioy]
Apollo being in this heauenly ioy,
For victorie by Pythons death obtain'd,
Lift vp by chaunce his eies, and spide the Nymphe
(The fairest Nymphe as euer he did see)
Whom at the first he onely did behold
With an impartiall eye (a common thing)
And onely markt her beautie, and her grace,
And with that common kinde of honest loue,
In praise of her these louing wordes did moue.
For victorie by Pythons death obtain'd,
Lift vp by chaunce his eies, and spide the Nymphe
(The fairest Nymphe as euer he did see)
Whom at the first he onely did behold
With an impartiall eye (a common thing)
And onely markt her beautie, and her grace,
And with that common kinde of honest loue,
In praise of her these louing wordes did moue.
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What Nymph might yonder be,
So fine with her dishieueled haire,
That in this forrest hunteth all alone?
I will goe neere to see,
If that she be indeed so faire,
As she doth seeme. Ah (Godheades) there is none
In all your heauenly throne,
No Goddesse, nor no power diuine,
With beautie, and good grace,
That nature doth imbrace,
Then this, in whom most cleerely shine
Her giftes, and chiefest art,
As many as to all she did impart.
So fine with her dishieueled haire,
That in this forrest hunteth all alone?
I will goe neere to see,
If that she be indeed so faire,
As she doth seeme. Ah (Godheades) there is none
In all your heauenly throne,
No Goddesse, nor no power diuine,
With beautie, and good grace,
That nature doth imbrace,
Then this, in whom most cleerely shine
Her giftes, and chiefest art,
As many as to all she did impart.
But Cupid seeing her in such estate,
Thought it high time to punish the contempt,
And brauing words, that proud Apollo vs'd.
And now to be reuenged on his head
With more dishonor and with greater shame,
He did prepare him to assaile his foe
With those same weapons that were threatned him:
So, with his headed shaft of beaten gold
He smot his brest, and pass'd his carelesse hart;
Omitting not to wound faire Daphnes to
With that of hate, headed with heauie lead.
And so with this the Boy remayned glad,
And well did see, though blind what he had done.
And thus content in minde, he did depart,
Vpon some others to imploy his might.
O blinded Boy, of strong and mightie force,
Where none is found but onely in thy hands,
That more the one with feruent loue doth burne,
The more the other freezeth with disdaine.
And proud Apollo now thou shalt perceiue,
(That think'st no equall God to thee in heauen,
Nor celebrated in the earth beaneth
With such like honours, which thou claym'st alone)
That there is one that raignes in heauen and earth,
In hell, and euerie corner of the world,
More puissant then any other God.
Bicause thou art inuentor of the skill
Of phisicke, and of musickes sweetest art;
Bicause besides) thou tell'st with secret power,
Things that are past, and present, and to come,
Thou think'st thou raign'st alone as Soueraigne.
Now art thou subiect to a sillie maide,
Too base if she be paragon'd to thee:
And yet this greeues him not, but that the more
He loues this Nymph, the more doth she contemne
His mightie loue, and all his vainest suites.
Faire Daphnes hart is hardened and congealed
In loue of this great God of heauen aboue:
Apollos hart consumes with burning heat
In loue of this poore maide in earth beneath.
The God desireth to inioy her loue,
And after this desire commeth hope.
But here his Oracles deceiue him much:
For in these things diuining is but vaine.
So with this hope, which is but vaine, and false,
He doth maintaine and feede his barren loue.
And feeling with great paine his burning fire,
To Cupid in this sort he mildly spake:
Thought it high time to punish the contempt,
And brauing words, that proud Apollo vs'd.
And now to be reuenged on his head
With more dishonor and with greater shame,
He did prepare him to assaile his foe
With those same weapons that were threatned him:
So, with his headed shaft of beaten gold
He smot his brest, and pass'd his carelesse hart;
Omitting not to wound faire Daphnes to
With that of hate, headed with heauie lead.
And so with this the Boy remayned glad,
And well did see, though blind what he had done.
And thus content in minde, he did depart,
Vpon some others to imploy his might.
O blinded Boy, of strong and mightie force,
Where none is found but onely in thy hands,
That more the one with feruent loue doth burne,
The more the other freezeth with disdaine.
And proud Apollo now thou shalt perceiue,
(That think'st no equall God to thee in heauen,
Nor celebrated in the earth beaneth
With such like honours, which thou claym'st alone)
That there is one that raignes in heauen and earth,
In hell, and euerie corner of the world,
More puissant then any other God.
Bicause thou art inuentor of the skill
Of phisicke, and of musickes sweetest art;
Bicause besides) thou tell'st with secret power,
Things that are past, and present, and to come,
Thou think'st thou raign'st alone as Soueraigne.
Now art thou subiect to a sillie maide,
Too base if she be paragon'd to thee:
And yet this greeues him not, but that the more
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His mightie loue, and all his vainest suites.
Faire Daphnes hart is hardened and congealed
In loue of this great God of heauen aboue:
Apollos hart consumes with burning heat
In loue of this poore maide in earth beneath.
The God desireth to inioy her loue,
And after this desire commeth hope.
But here his Oracles deceiue him much:
For in these things diuining is but vaine.
So with this hope, which is but vaine, and false,
He doth maintaine and feede his barren loue.
And feeling with great paine his burning fire,
To Cupid in this sort he mildly spake:
What fire is it, that thus my breast doth tame,
And yet no flame, I see that's manifest?
Is this thy best reuenge, O Cupid tell,
Fierce God and fell, which on me thou dost take?
Hovv dost thou make the mightie Gods to bend,
And dost offend the rich, the proud, and vvise,
And dost despise and tame the great and small?
So easie shall not flaxe, nor tovv be burn'd,
Nor reeds be turned to fire laid thereby,
Alas as I vvith thy reuenging games
Do burne in flames: for thou hast made my hart
To feele the smart of loue, and vvith thy might
And golden flight, hast (cruell) vvounded it.
Which thou hast smit, and smitten, stolne avvay,
And made decaye of it vvithin my brest:
Where novv no rest nor vvonted ioyes do dvvell.
Then cruell tell the same vvhere hast thou put,
Where hast thou shut my hart of sorrovv? vvhat,
And is that, perhaps? O that it is.
And novv in this faire forrest do they vse,
Thus to abuse Gods harts, and steale and kill?
From hence I vvill (Cupid) make thee my mate,
And friend (though late) for euer thou shalt be,
Since linked me thou hast in such a chaine.
Her haire doth staine the golden Colchos fleece,
Which out of Greece, Iason shall saile to seeke.
Her face and cheeke enameled vvith red,
With vvhite be spread, passing the Roses gay
In moneth of May, that dare not come in place
To see her face, nor yet the Lillie vvhite
Approch in sight, vvhere her braue beautie shines.
Aurora pines in seeing her, and dyes.
Her tvvinkling eies, more then the heauenly lights
In frostie nights doe shine, where Cupid skips.
Her rubie lips with praise shall not be vouch't,
But onely touch't, and kist of mine againe:
Her necke so plaine, and smooth, nothing doth owe
Vnto the snowe, for pure vnspotted white.
What els (O spite) her wrongfull garments grudge
To shew, I iudge, that nature made each part
With such braue art, as neuer humane eies
Did see the like, or heauenly thought deuise.
And yet no flame, I see that's manifest?
Is this thy best reuenge, O Cupid tell,
Fierce God and fell, which on me thou dost take?
Hovv dost thou make the mightie Gods to bend,
And dost offend the rich, the proud, and vvise,
And dost despise and tame the great and small?
So easie shall not flaxe, nor tovv be burn'd,
Nor reeds be turned to fire laid thereby,
Alas as I vvith thy reuenging games
Do burne in flames: for thou hast made my hart
To feele the smart of loue, and vvith thy might
And golden flight, hast (cruell) vvounded it.
Which thou hast smit, and smitten, stolne avvay,
And made decaye of it vvithin my brest:
Where novv no rest nor vvonted ioyes do dvvell.
Then cruell tell the same vvhere hast thou put,
Where hast thou shut my hart of sorrovv? vvhat,
And is that, perhaps? O that it is.
And novv in this faire forrest do they vse,
Thus to abuse Gods harts, and steale and kill?
From hence I vvill (Cupid) make thee my mate,
And friend (though late) for euer thou shalt be,
Since linked me thou hast in such a chaine.
Her haire doth staine the golden Colchos fleece,
Which out of Greece, Iason shall saile to seeke.
Her face and cheeke enameled vvith red,
With vvhite be spread, passing the Roses gay
In moneth of May, that dare not come in place
To see her face, nor yet the Lillie vvhite
Approch in sight, vvhere her braue beautie shines.
Aurora pines in seeing her, and dyes.
Her tvvinkling eies, more then the heauenly lights
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Her rubie lips with praise shall not be vouch't,
But onely touch't, and kist of mine againe:
Her necke so plaine, and smooth, nothing doth owe
Vnto the snowe, for pure vnspotted white.
What els (O spite) her wrongfull garments grudge
To shew, I iudge, that nature made each part
With such braue art, as neuer humane eies
Did see the like, or heauenly thought deuise.
Whilste God Apollo wandreth in her praise,
Daphne with hastie foote doth flie away.
Which when he did perceiue, these wordes in vaine
(Continuing still his speech) to her did say.
Daphne with hastie foote doth flie away.
Which when he did perceiue, these wordes in vaine
(Continuing still his speech) to her did say.
O thou the skies that dost excell, stay, stay;
Fly not away so fast, thy friend I am:
So flies the lambe from rauening woolfe away,
The Hart againe, of cruell death afraid,
With hart dismaid doth from the Lion flie;
The doues doe hie them from their praying king
With trembling wing, so each thing here belowe
Flies from his foe: But Loue that burnes Apollo
Doth make him follow thee with friendly pace:
O see each place, whereon thy feete doe tread,
With thornes bespread, vnworthily to beare them.
The stones doe weare them like the slauing file:
Then stay a while, and haste not so I pray.
Sharpe is the way, and I for nothing would
My following should make thee (faire Nymph) to fall.
I pray thee, all I may, to moderate
Thy hastie gate, and I with milder pace,
To saue thy face from hurt, will follow thee.
Oh didst thou see, and know but who it is,
That mooueth his great liue vnto thee so,
Thou wouldst I knowe not flie, but tarie still
To knowe my will, and thinke that thou wert blest
To be possest of such a Lord so high.
I dwell not I, in this poore harren hill,
Though heere I kill wilde beastes for my delight:
I hold by right, as much as Tanais streames,
And Titans beames doe see, where they arise:
This I despise, but onely for thy sake,
Where thou didst take thy beauties first of all.
Which countrie shall be reard vnto the skies
In all mens eies, vvith fame and dignitie:
And lou'd of me more then th' Imperiall seate
Of heauen so great, from vvhence faire Nymph I came.
Neither I am a Shepherd, nor doe keepe
Cattell, or sheepe, but vvhat loue doth commend
To me to tend. In Delphos for mine honour,
Of vvhich the ovvnour I am, incense burnes.
Claros by turnes, and Tenedos likevvise
Burne sacrifice to me: The lands vvhich great
Xanthus doth vveat, vvherevvith such sudden voice
I doe reioice the harts of them, that craue
Ansvvers to haue by Oracle diuine.
Delphos is mine, and famous there I am.
Of birth I came more noble then the rest:
For (at the lest) the Gods are kinne to mee.
First in degree great Ioue my father is,
And she ywish that raignes in heauenly seate,
A Goddesse great (Latona) fairer then
Faire Titan, when in all his chiefest pride
Vnto his bride Aurora he doth hast:
By me things past, and those that present be
I know, and see, and things to come can tell:
I do excell in verse, and sweetest song:
With arme most strong I draw, my bow and flight:
Where it doth light, it hits with sure wound:
Yet haue I found, that Cupids certaine arrow
Doth hit more narrow in my wounded breast,
Where all my rest and pleasures it hath spent.
I did inuent the art of medicine.
My wit diuine found out the secret power
Of euerie flower, and herbs whose vertues still
Vnto my skill, and practise subiect bee.
But woe is me, that neither herbe nor pill,
Nor phisickes skill to loue no ease imparts.
Nor that those arts, that profit euery one,
Cannot helpe me their master all alone.
Fly not away so fast, thy friend I am:
So flies the lambe from rauening woolfe away,
The Hart againe, of cruell death afraid,
With hart dismaid doth from the Lion flie;
The doues doe hie them from their praying king
With trembling wing, so each thing here belowe
Flies from his foe: But Loue that burnes Apollo
Doth make him follow thee with friendly pace:
O see each place, whereon thy feete doe tread,
With thornes bespread, vnworthily to beare them.
The stones doe weare them like the slauing file:
Then stay a while, and haste not so I pray.
Sharpe is the way, and I for nothing would
My following should make thee (faire Nymph) to fall.
I pray thee, all I may, to moderate
Thy hastie gate, and I with milder pace,
To saue thy face from hurt, will follow thee.
Oh didst thou see, and know but who it is,
That mooueth his great liue vnto thee so,
Thou wouldst I knowe not flie, but tarie still
To knowe my will, and thinke that thou wert blest
To be possest of such a Lord so high.
I dwell not I, in this poore harren hill,
Though heere I kill wilde beastes for my delight:
I hold by right, as much as Tanais streames,
And Titans beames doe see, where they arise:
This I despise, but onely for thy sake,
Where thou didst take thy beauties first of all.
Which countrie shall be reard vnto the skies
In all mens eies, vvith fame and dignitie:
And lou'd of me more then th' Imperiall seate
Of heauen so great, from vvhence faire Nymph I came.
213
Cattell, or sheepe, but vvhat loue doth commend
To me to tend. In Delphos for mine honour,
Of vvhich the ovvnour I am, incense burnes.
Claros by turnes, and Tenedos likevvise
Burne sacrifice to me: The lands vvhich great
Xanthus doth vveat, vvherevvith such sudden voice
I doe reioice the harts of them, that craue
Ansvvers to haue by Oracle diuine.
Delphos is mine, and famous there I am.
Of birth I came more noble then the rest:
For (at the lest) the Gods are kinne to mee.
First in degree great Ioue my father is,
And she ywish that raignes in heauenly seate,
A Goddesse great (Latona) fairer then
Faire Titan, when in all his chiefest pride
Vnto his bride Aurora he doth hast:
By me things past, and those that present be
I know, and see, and things to come can tell:
I do excell in verse, and sweetest song:
With arme most strong I draw, my bow and flight:
Where it doth light, it hits with sure wound:
Yet haue I found, that Cupids certaine arrow
Doth hit more narrow in my wounded breast,
Where all my rest and pleasures it hath spent.
I did inuent the art of medicine.
My wit diuine found out the secret power
Of euerie flower, and herbs whose vertues still
Vnto my skill, and practise subiect bee.
But woe is me, that neither herbe nor pill,
Nor phisickes skill to loue no ease imparts.
Nor that those arts, that profit euery one,
Cannot helpe me their master all alone.
Now running fast away betweene them both,
Daphne to flie Apollos wanton vvill,
Apollo follovving chaste Daphnes loue,
Loue helpe Apollo vvith his speedy vvings,
And vnto Daphnes feete feare tyed her vvings.
And both sufficient fauours haue of both,
But loue in fine doth ouercome pale feare,
Bicause he is more forvvard, light and hot.
But vvhen the Nymph did see herselfe surpris'd,
And that the God embrac'd her in his armes:
Lifting her hands and eies vnto the heauens,
Succour she crau'd of all th' immortall Gods,
Forgetting not her father demy God.
And in this sort, besought their fauours all,
Helpe each immortall power,
For ioyntly all your helpes I do desire,
And humbly do your fauours all inuoke:
None I except out of the heauenly quire:
O saue my virgine flowre:
Be readie, else with force it will be broke.
O let the earth deuoure,
And swallow me within her hidden vaines
With furious paines.
Or else destroy my shape with thunder clap,
Since this mishap
It wrought. Helpe Pene now my father deere,
If deitie be in thy riuers cleere.
Daphne to flie Apollos wanton vvill,
Apollo follovving chaste Daphnes loue,
Loue helpe Apollo vvith his speedy vvings,
And vnto Daphnes feete feare tyed her vvings.
And both sufficient fauours haue of both,
But loue in fine doth ouercome pale feare,
Bicause he is more forvvard, light and hot.
But vvhen the Nymph did see herselfe surpris'd,
And that the God embrac'd her in his armes:
Lifting her hands and eies vnto the heauens,
Succour she crau'd of all th' immortall Gods,
Forgetting not her father demy God.
And in this sort, besought their fauours all,
214
For ioyntly all your helpes I do desire,
And humbly do your fauours all inuoke:
None I except out of the heauenly quire:
O saue my virgine flowre:
Be readie, else with force it will be broke.
O let the earth deuoure,
And swallow me within her hidden vaines
With furious paines.
Or else destroy my shape with thunder clap,
Since this mishap
It wrought. Helpe Pene now my father deere,
If deitie be in thy riuers cleere.
Scarce had faire Daphne ended her request,
When by and by a trembling feare possest
Her bodie with each member of the same.
Hard barke did winde about her snow-white brest:
Her golden haire was turned to greene leaues,
Her armes into two long and branchie boughes:
Her nimble foote, which was of late so light,
Fastned remaind in rootes that could not stirre,
And such like shape remaind in euerie part.
Apollo deerely lou'd this Nymph in life,
And now he loues her turn'd into a tree:
Where thrusting his right hand into the barke
Felt, that transformed Daphnes hart did yet
Tremble, and quake vnder the same so new.
He doth imbrace those fine and tender boughes,
As though he would embrace her body yet,
The wood he kisseth, but the wood disdaines
His kisses, and doth seeme to bend away.
So in this sort Apollo stood a while
Speechlesse, and thinking of no other thing:
After like one, that is amazed in minde,
Not knowing whether he doth dreame or no,
Vpon the Gods, and heauen he doth exclaime
With angrie wordes of pitie and despite;
Bicause they vs'd such rigour to his loue.
For faine he vvould had Daphne to his vvife.
But vvhen he savv it could not come to passe,
He chose her for his tree and gaue to it
Great honours, as the like had neuer yet:
And in this great astonishment he said.
When by and by a trembling feare possest
Her bodie with each member of the same.
Hard barke did winde about her snow-white brest:
Her golden haire was turned to greene leaues,
Her armes into two long and branchie boughes:
Her nimble foote, which was of late so light,
Fastned remaind in rootes that could not stirre,
And such like shape remaind in euerie part.
Apollo deerely lou'd this Nymph in life,
And now he loues her turn'd into a tree:
Where thrusting his right hand into the barke
Felt, that transformed Daphnes hart did yet
Tremble, and quake vnder the same so new.
He doth imbrace those fine and tender boughes,
As though he would embrace her body yet,
The wood he kisseth, but the wood disdaines
His kisses, and doth seeme to bend away.
So in this sort Apollo stood a while
Speechlesse, and thinking of no other thing:
After like one, that is amazed in minde,
Not knowing whether he doth dreame or no,
Vpon the Gods, and heauen he doth exclaime
With angrie wordes of pitie and despite;
Bicause they vs'd such rigour to his loue.
For faine he vvould had Daphne to his vvife.
But vvhen he savv it could not come to passe,
He chose her for his tree and gaue to it
Great honours, as the like had neuer yet:
And in this great astonishment he said.
What thing is this, vvhich I do see,
Is it a dreame, or none? O that it vvere
A fansie, or some vaine deceite,
What, doe I erre?
Or is it night, or day, what might I be?
If it be true, I see a losse so great
With many harmes my burning soule will threat.
Is it a dreame, or none? O that it vvere
A fansie, or some vaine deceite,
215
Or is it night, or day, what might I be?
If it be true, I see a losse so great
With many harmes my burning soule will threat.
But yet awake I am, for in my right
Hand Python dead, and headlesse I doe beare,
And on my left arme weare
My bowe, and low my quiuer and my flight.
Why, this is Thessalie,
Which this fell beast did waste both day and night,
O woe, and after such a ioy so high,
Must such mishap my sweete content deny?
Hand Python dead, and headlesse I doe beare,
And on my left arme weare
My bowe, and low my quiuer and my flight.
Why, this is Thessalie,
Which this fell beast did waste both day and night,
O woe, and after such a ioy so high,
Must such mishap my sweete content deny?
What hard and cruell God is that,
That hath transform'd with enuie and despite
Her goodly figure, and her face,
Most perfect bright?
Me thinkes, he nill deserues to banquet at
The tables of the Gods, nor heauenly place,
Since he hath wronged nature in this case.
That hath transform'd with enuie and despite
Her goodly figure, and her face,
Most perfect bright?
Me thinkes, he nill deserues to banquet at
The tables of the Gods, nor heauenly place,
Since he hath wronged nature in this case.
My skill and powers beare not such a sway,
To change thee to thy former shape againe:
And that snowewhite,
And rosie face, which first did breede my paine:
The reason is, bicause that none
(Though neuer yet so learned any way,
And though they ioin'd their vertues all in one)
Can vndoe that, which one did doe alone.
To change thee to thy former shape againe:
And that snowewhite,
And rosie face, which first did breede my paine:
The reason is, bicause that none
(Though neuer yet so learned any way,
And though they ioin'd their vertues all in one)
Can vndoe that, which one did doe alone.
But now since all the fates so dire,
And wicked destinies this good forbid,
That thou my louing wife should'st be:
Yet though they did
With more despite against my will conspire,
Thou shalt for euer be my louing tree,
And I will neuer cease to honour thee.
And wicked destinies this good forbid,
That thou my louing wife should'st be:
Yet though they did
With more despite against my will conspire,
Thou shalt for euer be my louing tree,
And I will neuer cease to honour thee.
My yellow haire like shining threeds of golde,
To honour thee, thy leaues shall compasse round:
My harpe with siluer sound
Thou shalt adorne, and quiuer shalt vphold:
In all the world thy noble fame shall bide:
And when triumphantly
In honours chaire the Conquerour doth ride,
Before them they shall carry thee on high,
Lifting their conquest to the starrie skie.
To honour thee, thy leaues shall compasse round:
My harpe with siluer sound
Thou shalt adorne, and quiuer shalt vphold:
In all the world thy noble fame shall bide:
And when triumphantly
In honours chaire the Conquerour doth ride,
Before them they shall carry thee on high,
Lifting their conquest to the starrie skie.
216
And as my faire and youthfull head
Adorned is with lockes of dangling haires,
Whereon were neuer yet imploid
The little sheares:
Euen so thy leaues shall neuer be destroid.
And angry time thy honour shall not teare;
But euermore greene bowes and leaues shalt beare.
Adorned is with lockes of dangling haires,
Whereon were neuer yet imploid
The little sheares:
Euen so thy leaues shall neuer be destroid.
And angry time thy honour shall not teare;
But euermore greene bowes and leaues shalt beare.
The lightning, that all creatures doth offend,
And every thing of beauties pride bereaues,
Shall neuer touch thy leaues:
But be obedient to thee without end.
From lightning to defend
The okes, with them thy branches they shall reare,
And euery where
In honour of th' Imperiall palace gate,
On portals they shall place thee with great state.
And every thing of beauties pride bereaues,
Shall neuer touch thy leaues:
But be obedient to thee without end.
From lightning to defend
The okes, with them thy branches they shall reare,
And euery where
In honour of th' Imperiall palace gate,
On portals they shall place thee with great state.
This did Apollo speake vnto the tree,
And gratefully the Laurell bow'd her top,
In steed of moouing her new changed head:
And with her new and tender branches made
A signe that she with thankfull minde receiu'd
These giftes and fauours, which that God did giue
To her, while Laurell on the earth did liue.
And gratefully the Laurell bow'd her top,
In steed of moouing her new changed head:
And with her new and tender branches made
A signe that she with thankfull minde receiu'd
These giftes and fauours, which that God did giue
To her, while Laurell on the earth did liue.
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The end of the second booke.
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