Chaucer's ghoast Or, A Piece of antiquity. Containing twelve pleasant Fables of Ovid penn'd after the ancient manner of writing in England. Which makes them prove Mock-Poems to the present Poetry. With the History of Prince Corniger, and his Champion Sir Crucifrag, that run a tilt likewise at the present Historiographers |
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| I. |
| II. |
| III. |
| IV. |
| V. | [Nec si quæsieris odium Cyclopis amorne] |
| VI. |
| VII. |
| VIII. |
| IX. |
| X. |
| XI. |
| XII. |
 | Chaucer's ghoast |  |
[Nec si quæsieris odium Cyclopis amorne]
Arg. V.
How the Giant Polyphemus loved the Nymph Galatea.
Nec si quæsieris odium Cyclopis amorne
Acidis in nobis fucrit præstantior edam.
Ovid. l. xiij.
Acidis in nobis fucrit præstantior edam.
Ovid. l. xiij.
Great Polyphemus long since thought,
when that he Galate had besought
of Love, which he might not latch
that made him for to wait and watch
by all ways how she far'd,
till at last he knew and heard,
how that another had leave
to love the Nymph, which did him grieve;
so that he knaw none other rede,
as for to speak of any speed,
13
till he may see the chance befall,
that he her Love might grieve,
which he himself might not achieve.
This Galatea, saith the Poet,
above all others was most meet
of beauty, which then all men knew,
and had a lusty Love and true,
a Batchelour in high degree,
right such another as was she,
on which her heart was so fast set,
so that it might by naught be let.
This Knight Acis was very hot,
and she againward also hot
him loved onely, and no mo;
hereof was Polyphemus wo.
Through pure envy and ever spy'd,
and waited upon every side,
when he togyder might them see,
this young Acis with Galate.
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till at the last he found them two
in privy place whereas they stood
to speak, and have her words made good:
The place wherein he them did spie,
it was under a bank, nigh
the great Sea, and he above
stood and beheld the lusty Love
which each of them to other made
with goodly cheer, and words full glade.
So all his heart was set on fire
by pure envy and deadly ire;
and then he flew away, I trow,
as arrow flyeth out of bow;
as though he were for Love start mad,
when as he saw this sight so sad.
This Polypheme a Geaunt was,
and when he saw the soth o'th' cas
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and Acis to her Love did take;
his heart no longer might forbear,
but he roar'd out like any bear,
and ran Ætna the hill about,
where never yet the fire was out,
full fill'd with sorrow and disease,
'cause he saw Acis weil at ease;
till at the last he him bethought,
as he which all by envy sought,
and turned to the bank again;
where he with Galate had seen
young Acis, whom he thought to grieve,
though he himself might not relieve.
This Geaunt then with his rude might
part of the banck did throw out-right;
the which fell just on Acis pate,
and knockt him down (for 'twas his fate)
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but Galate did run away;
and as she fled along the Land,
Neptune took her by the hand,
and kept her in so fast a place
from Polypheme and his menace;
that he for all his false envy
might ne're enjoy her company.
| Chaucer's ghoast | |