 | Sicelides A Piscatory |  |
Scen. 4
Enter Perindus Allcippus.Per.
Bles't is that fisher swane that sancke i'th flood
Hee's food for them whom he would make his food.
But I most wretched, who so many yeares
Liue safe in waters to be drownd in feares.
In fire and sorrow like Titius is my life
A couerd table furnisht still for griefe.
Hell loue your paines, for all poore soules can proue
Is felt and spoke but thus carelesse I loue.
Enter Alcipyus.
Alcip.
Phæbus write thou this glorious victory
And graue it on thy shining axel-tree
That all may see a fisher hath done more
Then any age hereafter or before.
Per.
Alcippus what newes? me thinks I plaine descry
Ioy mixt with wonder in thy doubtfull eye.
Alcip.
Perindus most happy haue I found thee here
Per.
Is'st good ah tell me, yet my grounded feare
Pleads hope impossible.
Alcip.
Were you away
To the Ecco I had told it, as griefe, so ioy
Prest downe is burthensome, for now. I see
Ioy is no ioy if bard from company
Olinda by the Priests enchained-fast
Vnto the fatall rocke downe to the wast
Was naked left, which thus was better dreast
Beauty when most vncloth'd is clothed best:
And now the Priest all rites had finished
And those last words and hidden verses sayd
Then thus he loud proclaimes, who dare aduenture
And if he conquer by his bold endeauour
This goodly maid shall bee his prize foreuer
Straight was the monster loos'd, whose vgly sight
Strooke euery trembling heart with cold affright
Some sweate, some freeze, some shreike, some silent weare
The eye durst neyther winke nor see for feare:
Heauen hid his light, the fearefull sunne did shrow'd
His glorious eye vnder a ietty cloud.
Per.
Saw'st thou the Orke?
Alcip.
Yes, and my panting heart
To thinke I saw it in my brest doth start.
Per.
Can'st thou describe it?
Alcip.
Neuer tongue can tell
What to it selfe no thought can pourtray well.
More bigge then monstrous Python, whom men faine
By Phæbus first was bred, by Phæbus slaine.
His teeth thicke rankt in many a double band
Like to an armed battell ready stand
His eyes sunke in's head, more fearefull stood
Like bloodie flame or like to flaming blood
Not any eare vpon his head appeares,
No plaint nor prayer, no threat nor charme he feares,
In sea and land he liues and takes from both
Each monsters part which most we feare and loath,
Soone as he felt him loose, he shakes his crest
And hungry posteth to his ready feast
And as through seas his oares a passage teare
The thronging waues fly fast, and roare for feare.
Per.
Me thinks I see him and th' vnhappy louer
Strook through with fright.
Alcip.
In all their shreiks he smiles
Stretching his armes, to fight himselfe composes
And nothing fear'd his body enterposes
Shaking a dart the monster he defies
Who scorning such a foe to's banquet flyes
Which as the sender bad at's eye arriues.
And fixt in's hollow sight, deepe drenched stood
Quenching the bloody fire with fiery blood
The wounded monster lowdly gins to yell
If Hell doe speake such is the voyce of Hell,
And to reuenge his hurt he flies apace
The other dart met him i'th middle race
And as along he blindly fast doth post
His way and t'ther eye together lost
Thus blinde he quickly dies, and being dead
Leaues to his foe his spoiles, his pawes his head.
Per.
Hercules thy twelue works with this one conferd
This one before thy twelue might be preferd.
Alcip.
Perindus then mightst thou haue seene how loue
Is not more bold then fearefull, he that stroue
And conquered such a monster with a dart
To her faire eyes yeelds vp his heart
Ah hadst thou seene how fearefull modestie
Ioynd with chast loue did chide the hungry eye
Which hauing long abstaind and long time fasted
Some of those dainties now would faine haue tasted
Ah hast thou seene which such fit time he got
How loue to much remembring loue forgot
How th' eye which such a monster did outface
Durst not looke vp vpon her eie to gaze
How th' hand which such a bould fight vndertooke
When her it toucht as with a palsie shooke.
As all that saw it thou wouldst soone haue sayd
That neuer liu'd so fortunate a maid.
Most happy such a danger to recouer
More happy farre by hauing such a louer.
And harke the Fishers home the victor bringing
Chant lowd his conquest, his due praises singing.
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