losse deplores Whilst waves with her do breaking weep in showrs Or else her stepdame plagues this noxious sea Lately transform'd a watry deitie This place befriends no mayds for hence did grow Poore Hâ—lles death and here I suffer too But Neptune if thy former flames thou mind Me thinkes no love should be impeacht by wind If bright Amimone and Tyro be No lying fables of thy love and thee Halcyone and Iphimâ—din faire Medusa then without her snakie haire Laodice Celaeno heaven re-inspheard And many more whose names I oft have heard All these and more as Poets sing would joyne In am'or ous sports their softer sides to thine Why then dost thou who oft loves power didst trye Seas wonted passage through thy rage deny Cruell forbeare and in the wide seas raigne Small is the streame that parts these lands in twain T'infest great ships were for thy state more meet Or fiercely to assault some mighty fleet What praise to thee can from a drownd youth rise Each pettie lake would scorne so poore a prize 'T is true he 's high and nobly borne yet he Descends from no Vlyssian progenie Cease then save two in one for though he swim Alone yet lyes my hope my life in him Meane while my taper for by one I write Crackles a signe some prosp'rous lucke should light Forthwith my nurse wine in the fire doth power Then drinks and cryes next morn we shall be more Come through the seas and make us more by one Oh thou beloved of my heart alone Come to thy campe then that thy love dost flye In empty bed why doe I lovely lye Thou need'st not feare love aids the bold essay The sea borne Goddesse will the seas allay Oft I my selfe could ev'n attempt the sea But that these waves mens friends not womens be Elle why when Phryxus first did passe the same Did Hâ—lle onely give the flood a name Perhaps your strength for to returne you feare And that you scarce the double taske should beare In mid-sea then let us together meet And with sweet kisses there each other greet That done turne backe againe though this be small Yet is it better farre then nought at all Would God our bashfull shame or tim'rous loue Might yeeld to some and knowne and open prove Ill joyn'd in us is love with shame 'twixt these My choise I doubt this seemely that doth please As soone as Iason reacht the Colchian shore Away with him the Phasiâ—n Dame he bore No sooner Paris Lacedaemon eyes But he returnes blest with his beauteous prize Oft as thou comst as oft thou leau'st thy love Behind and swimm'st when ships can hardly move But yet thou victor of the seas so care So scorne its rage as scorning still to feare Oft well wrought vessells in the flood doe saile And think'st thine arms can past their oares prevail Where thou desir'st stout seamen feare to tend In such attempts wrackt ships have found their end I would not yet perswade what I advise And may thy courage 'bove my counsels rise So thou in satetie come and on my breast At last thy wave dividing armes dost rest Yet still as I convert mine eyes to seas A chilling cold my daunted heart doth seaze No lesse I me troubled with my dreame last night Though expiated since with sacred rite In dawne of day my Taper almost out A time whe dreames are most devoyd of doubt From out my fingers fell my twisted thread And tow'rds my pillow I enclyn'd my head When straight me thought I really did see A Dol hin swimming in the windy sea Whom when the waves on soking sands had tost At once the wretch both life and water lost It s meaning much I dread scorne not my dreames Nor doe thou venter save in quiet streames If not thy selfe at least yet pitty me Whose onely well fare is deriv ' from thee There 's hope e're long 't will prove a peacefull tide Then thou the waves with earnest breast divide Meane time cause seas doe hinder thee thy way Let these my lines asswage thy lingring stay THE ARGVMENT OF Acontius his Epistle to Cydippe AContius hapning to be present at the sacrifice of Diana in Delos to whose Temple many virgins did resort amongst the rest espies and was surprized with the love of Cydippe a damsell of noble parentage But considering the disparitie of his birth durst not adventure openly to wooe her Wherefore on a faire and goodly apple he writes his device and subtilly entraps her in this rime By Dian's mysticke rites I vow to thee That I thy consort and thy spouse will be The fruit he trolls unto her Cydippe takes it up and reads and unawares bet othes her selfe unto him For what vowes soever were made in the presence of Diana were to be observed and not revoked Her father after this ignorant of his daughters contract promiseth her in marriage to another Meane while Cydippe is taken with a violent Feaver Acontius layes hold on the occasion and labours to induce in her a beliefe that this sicknesse was inflicted on her by Diana for delaying to fulfill her promise And sirives to render him to whom her fâ—ther had affy'd her od ous in her thoughts by perswading her shâ—e could by no meanes attaine her health unlesse shâ— utterly reject him FEare not no more thou to thy love shalt sweare 'T's enough for me that you once promis'd were Peruse my lines so from thy limbs may part That paine made mine by thy induring smart Why blush you for I deeme a crimson staine Now dyes your cheekes as carst in Dians fane Wedlocke and plighted faith no crimes I move Nor as adultrer but just spouse I love Call but to minde the words ingrav'd that stand I' th' fruit by me throwne to thy virgin-hand There thou shalt finde thy promise to my plea Except with words thy faith forgotten be And that I fear'd Dians incenst yet thou And not the goddesse should'st have mark't thy vow Nay now the like I feare but more for loe Through lingring stay thy flames augmented grow So doth my love which never yet was small Fed by the hopes thou gav'st and time withall Thou gav'st me hope my love gave faith to thee Thou canst not Dian witnesse this denie She present was and noted every word And with mov'd tresse did her assent affoord So then report thou wert by fraud betrayd Whil'st love the cause of my deceit be sayd What drift had I save to be joyn'd with thee This thou do'st blame may our attonement bee Nor nature me nor art hath subtile made Trust me fair soul thou taughtst me first this trade If ought our art ingenuous love not I Prevaild and did the knot so firmly tie He the words prompted I the charme did frame And crafty through consulted love became Be I term'd subtile and this deed beare stile Of craft if what we love to winne be guile Behold againe I send intreaties write Complaine againe here
cliffes appeard in sight at last Which seene farre off why flyest thou me I cry'd As earst still float'st thou on the wandring tide I land and day now lent a dying gleame And Phoebus 'gan t'unyoke his purple teame Which soon as call'd to the next mornes uprise To combe my lâ—ckes my carefull mother hies With rings my hands my head with gold she trims And with rich vestures she adornes my limbes Then issuing forth to th'Island deities We wines â—nd od'rous incense sacrifice And whilst my mother doth the'Altars staine With votive bloud burns th' entrails of the slaine My busie nurse leads me another way And wondring through the sacred place we stray We walkt the spacious Tarras and there viewd The gifts of Kings and images that stood W'admir'd the horn-built Altar and no lesse The tree that helpt Latona in distresse And what besides for I not all doe beare In minde nor list to tell in Delâ—â— were And here thou first behedst me and from thence Sought'st to beâ—uile my easie innocence Backe to Diana's high rais'd phane we wâ—nâ— Then that what place could have more safetie lent Straight rowls a fruit that did these verses beare Woes me how neare was I againe to swearâ—â— Which soon my nurse took up lo here she sed Where I thy craft thou famous Poet read The name of marriage heard with shame abasht My virgin cheekes with glowing blushes flasht Mine eyes fast fixt upon my bosome bent Mine eyes the ministe's of thy intent Bad man why joy'st what glory hast thou wone Or praise that thus a virgin hast undone Arm'd with no Axe stood I nor moon-like shields As Penthesilea in the Trojan fields No Belt imbost with Amazonian gold Lost I as did Hyppolita of old Why so exults thou of this slight that I Poore soule am captiv'd by thy treachery As me an apple did Atlanta ceaze Thou' rt now become a new Hippomenes Better'thad been thou hadst the boy obay'd Whom thou report'st with burning shafts arayd By honest meanes not fraud thy hope t' have sought I should have been intreated and not caught Why didst not so professe thy love so sue As we might ev'n have done the like to you Why us wouldst rather have enforc't than wonne If we might yeeld upon condition What now avails hy formal oath that I Reading for witnesse call'd a Deitie 'T was with my tongue I swore not with my minde And that alone an oath can strictly binde The minde confirmes all bonds do serve for nought Nor can availe without consenting thought If e're to thee my selfe I promised Then take the dues of thy betrothed bed But if what then I spake my heart deny You but on uneffectuall words rely I swore nor onely did the words repeat Thou must not be my Spouse at such a rate Cheat otheâ— a so more oathes more apples send If these availe some misers riches rend Make Kings their Empires and their Crowns resigne And cause whats'ere the world containes be thine Trust mee far greater you than Dian are If that thy words such ample power doe beare Yet when I thus have said thus firme deny'd And have my breach of promise justify'd I must confesse I feare Diana's ire And deeme from thence proceeds my scorching fire Else why as oft as Nuptialls are addrest Languish my limbs with deadly paine opprest Thrice Hymens cheerefull noyse mine eares did greet Thrice he my threshold fled with nimble feer Scarce could he make his kindled taper blaze Which scarce though shooke a duskie flame would raise Oft precious sweets his rose crown'd haires bedew Oft cloathes himselfe in Roabes of saffron hue Approacht when cryes and dread of death he heares Things far from him and hatefull to his cares From his sad front his curious garland teares And wipes the unguents from his liquid haires A sham'd midst sadnesse to rejoyce alone As in his cheekes his garments die was showne Whilst feeble me my scorching feavers paine Scarce can my limbe my or'espread cloathes sustaine Whilst over me my grieved parents mourn And deaths dire brand for Hymens torch doth burne Oh spare thy patient quiver bearing mayd And lend thy health-restoring brothers ayd 'T is shame for thee he deadly ills should cure And thou the title of my death endure Did ever I unwarily mistooke Behold thee bathing in the shady brooke Were not thy altars still by me adorn'd Was e're thy mother by my mother scorn'd Faulty in nothing but in this alone In an unluckie distich skillfull growne And thou Acontius if you truely love Thy offrings bring my hurt my helpe may prove Oh why should she our plighted loves dis-joyn Who late seem'd angry cause I was not thine Whilst yet I live thou well mayst hope then why Me doth she life and thee thine hope deny Thinke not that hee to whom I am assyd Hath to my sickly limbs his ' hands apply'd True he sets by that 's all he 's favoured But still is mindfull of my virgin bed Nor do I know what â—â—â—ughts of me he beares For oft his cheâ—keâ— he baths with falling teares Bashfully courts me seldome takes a kisse And with a timerous voice he calls me his Nor mervaile I if he perceave my scorne Still when he comes away from him I turne Speake not with eyes shut seeme to sleepe and when My hand he touches pull it back agen He sighes and mourns and inly grieves to see With him I causlesse should offended be When thou more justly since thou joy dost showe And pleasure tak'st in my revealed woe Could I but use my tongue my spite should'st bear And have my scorn that thus hast wrought mysnare Thou writst that thou might'st come to see me here Far off thou art yet hurt'st sufficient there Oft why thou wert Acontius nam'd I muse Thou hast a sting can wounds from far infuse Scarce am I yet recovered of the blow Which thy slye rime did like a dart bestowe Why wouldst thou hither come thou canst but see Thy double spoyle awretched coarse of me My flesh consum'd face of a bloodlesse hue Such as I once did in thy apple view No rosie red in pallid cheekes appeares Such forme a new-wrought Marble statue beares Such is the silvers hue which oft we see In banquets pale with chilling waters bee Should'st see me now thou would'st denie'twere I And say this not deserves our art to trye Nay send me backe my plighted faith for feare And pray that Dian would forget it cleare Perhaps procure me to unsweare againe And wilt anew contrary letter faine Yet ne'rethelesse would God as thou dost sue Thou didst thy loves tormented limbs but view Though harder be thy breast then steele yet sure Thou wouldst a pardon for my fault procure And know to learne how we might this decline W'have sought the fate foretelling Delphieke shrine And he I know not but as rumor saith Complaines of breach of a recorded faith This th'God the prophet and my verse have said Thou
What time that I unto Eleusis went Would Gnossian land had kept me from th' intent Oh! then it was though thou before didst please Fierce love my quiet members did disease White were thy garments chaplets crown'd thy head And modest rednesse did thy cheekes o're-spread That visage which to others harsh did seeme I for a stout and valiant looke did deeme I hate your youths in womanish attires A manly feature little dresse requires Thee that thy sternnesse haires so loosly plac'd And dust-soyld cheekes became and sweetly grac'd When thou with rains dost cause thy Courser bound I'dmire to see thee nimbly ride the round Or when with ablearme thou throwst the dart Mine eyes are fixed on thy agile art Or when thy hunting Pole thou tak'st with bright Steel tipt whats'ere thou dost doth please my sight Thy harshnesse to the ridged woods bequeath Nor is it fit for thee I suffer death Why so in Cynthia's sports dost so delight And take from Venus all her due her right What wants successive rest can ne're endure This cheeres the limbes and doth new strength procure Marke thou thy Delia's armes her shafts and Bow Which should it still stand bent would limber grow Famous was Cephalus in woods much game Fell by his hands inevitable aime Yet hee Aurora lov'd who oft would come To sport with him in aged Tythons roome Adonis oft and Cytherea faire Under some Okes large shade the grasse did beare Oenides did Atalanta love And by his spoyles did his affection prove Let us at length be numbred then with these Take love away and th'woods must needs displease I 'le thy companion be and follow o're Darke rockie groves nor feare the tusked Bore Two Seas their waves doe against Isthmos reare And the small earth dothboth their battries heare There in Traezena wee 'l together raigne I now for this my native soyle disdaine Theseus is hence long may he keepe away The young Perithous him forsooth doth stay Whom except we ' gainst truth opposers bee He before Phaedra doth preferre or thee Nor have I felt his injuries alone But both of us his wrongs have largely knowne My brothers bones with his three knotted Mace He broke and left my sister in diffâ—esse The chiefest ' mongst the Axe-arm'd mayds brought forth Thee to the world a parent full of worth Yet her the cruell Theseus slew nor was So great a son's brave-mother safe alas And that 'fore marriage lest thou mightst perchance Obtaine his kingdome as inheritance Brothers thou hadst by me too which not I I doe protest but he inforc'd to dye And may she oh thou fairest that doth minde To hinder thee death in her labour finde Why now doost reverence thy fathers bed Which he himselfe disclaimes and thence is fled Let not vaine names affâ—ight thy manly minde ' Cause I thy step dame am to thee so kinde That needlesse pietie was in Satarnes time Esteem'd but future yeares shall call 't a crime Saturne's now gone with him his lawes decay And Jove the world now rules then love obay Who hath ordain'd that just which doth delight And brothers may with sisters joyne as right That kindreds chaineâ— the surer link'd whose bands Venus herselfe tie with conjugall hands Nor need we cloke our love we 'l thrive from thence Our kindreds name shall smother our offence If our embraces should be seene each shall Commend and me a courteous stepdame call Nor need'st thou in the darke to ope my gate Or gull my Porterin thy coming late Wee in one house did in one house will live Thou gav'st knowne kisses shalt knowne kisses give With me thou shalt be safe and freely seene Layd in my bed nay prais'd for this thy sinne Oh! then delay not but let 's straightway joyne So may love spare thy breast which scorcheth mine Thou seest I scorne not humbly to intreat Where 's now my pride become my speeches great I once resolv'd not for to yeeld at all If in our loves we ought resolv'd may call Yet lo my princely armes are rais'd to thee ' Las lovers know not what things fitting be Foyld shame hath fled his colours oh thou faire Grant my just suit and to be coy forbeare What though my father rule a farre-stretcht sea And thunder-darting Iove great Grand-sire be What though my Grand-sire's front 's empall'd with rayes Who in his purple chariot guides the dayes Nobilitie submits to love encline To pitty then if not for me for mine I for my dowâ—e possesse Crect Ioves lov'd land There my whole Court shall be at thy command My mother mov'd a Savage Bull wilt thou Then fierce and stubborne beasts more cruell grow For Veuus sake thy Phaedrâ— not disdaine So mayst thou love and still be lov'd againe So may Diana ayd thee at thy will So may the woods yeeld store of game to kill So love the Satyrs and each turall Pane So may the Boare fall by thy Iaveline slaine So may the Nymphs though thou to maids art curst Bring thee cool streams to quench thy burning thirst To these I adde my teares doe thou surmise And read to see them falling from mine eyes THE ARGVMENT of OENONE'S Epistle to PARIS HEcuba the wise of Priam being with childe of Paris dream't that she was brought to bed of a Fire-brand Priam consults with his prophet who answers that the child she went with should prove the fatall instrument of Troy's destruction No sooner was it borne then Priam commands it to be exposed to the mercie of wilde beasts But the mother secretly conveyes it to mount Ida there to bee soslered by the shepheards where growne to mans estate hee fell in love with the Nymph Oenone and married her Not long after made judge in that contention of the goddesses about the golden apple and for his judgement on Venus side being by her promised the fairest of women at length knowne and acknowledged by his father hee sayled into Greece and from thence brought with him Helena the wife of Menclaus Of which when Oenone heard troubled at his unexpected change she wrote unto him this following Epistle wherein she indevours to recall him to her love againe layes open the perils that are like to ensue on this his rape And lastly perswades him to send back Helen and take her againe in whose love she affirmes her onely joy nay lise consisteth TO Paris hers though hers alas he scorne To be from Ida sends a Nymph for lorne Dost reade or thy new wife forbids yet doe No Mycenaan hand these letters drew Oenene fam'd through Phrygian woods and plaines Paris so thou permit of thee complaines What power what god did our chast loves disjoyne Or what 's my fault I should not stil be thine Ills justly merited we lightly beare But those that come desertlesse heavy are Thou wert not then so great when first I woo'd Thee for my spouse the off-spring of a flood Who now Priamides forsooth art prov'd Servant thou wert as servant thee
this man doe disagree Whom savage beasts whom Stheneleâ—an foe Nor Iuno could o'recome doth love o'rethrow Yet am I thought well match't ' cause Iove to mee 's Father in law and husband Hercules As different Steeres to draw do ill accord So a mean wife joyn'd to a greater Lord. No honour but a burthen 't is to me If well thou 'lt match match in thine owne degree To me my spouse a stranger is wilde beasts And monsters he with daily force infests Whilst I am busied with chaste prayers at home Lest by his direfull foes he be o'recome ' Mongst Serpents Boares and Lyons angry pawes I 'me tost on him me thinks dogges feast their jawes Beasts intrailes idle dreames of carefull night And ominous fancies doe my mind affright Each flickering breath of fame I catch at feare And hope like rule like sway in me doe beare Thy mother 's absent and lamenteth now She pleas'd a God thy Sire and Hyllus too Eurâ—stheus that fell Iuno's wrath doth move Enough I feele too long her ire doth prove But this is small strange love thou add'st to these By thee each one may mother be that please Not Auge in Parthenian vale defil'd Nor the base births of Astydamia milde Will I relate nor the Teuthrantian Quire Of which from thee none did a mayd retire That recent crime doth me the most upbraid By which to Lynus I am step-dame made Meander that in one redoubled course So often flowes and rowles his wheeling sourse Hath seene about thy neck a golden chaine That once did heavens faire starry vault sustaine Ah! didst not shame about thine armes t' enfold Rich bracelets set with glittring gemmes gold Those armes by which the Nemaean Lion dy'd Whose bristled skin in triumph grac'd thy side Dar'st thou more worthy farre of Poplar twine With a quaint tire crowne those harsh hairs of thine Didst thou not blush when in effeminate guise Meonian zone did thy vast wast comprize Thou thoughtst not sure of Diomedes then Who fed his pampred Steeds with flesh of men So drest had thee the fell Busiris seene He would have scorn'd by thee t' have conquerd been Let bold Antaeus loose those am'rous bands Lest he too grieve t' have fal'n by womanish hands 'T is sayd thou ' mongst Ionian maids didst set And balely spin fearing thy mistresse threat Nor dost refraine t' apply thy conquering hand To Osier maunds and like a Spinstresse stand Grosse threads thou draw'st with thy unweldy thumb And yield'st thy faire fac'd dame thy daily summe How oft hast thou through boistrous fingers stroke Thy course-spun-threads nay ev'n thy spindle broke And then for feare of rod and mistresse too Layd prostrate at her feet for mercie sue Besides which most of all thy glory soyles Thou brag'st and boast'st of thy triumphant spoyles How in thy render yeares with generous spright Thou overcam'st two horrid snakes in fight And the Tegaean Bore that wrought such ills On Cypresse-bearing Erimonthus hills Nor spar'â—st tâ—ou Diomedes doore nayld head Nor Steeds with humane flesh dire dainties fed The triform'd Geryon Natures prodigie Large heards possessing doth thy tale supply Nor silent lies the triple-headed hound Whose ugly jawes black hissing snakes surround The fertile serpent she whose num'rous store Encreast and still grew rich by being poore Antaeus with torne jawes the pond'rous weight Of thy broad side thou doest at large relate And troopes ill trusting to their double force Which thou o're steep â—hessalian hills didst course â—nd couldst thou clad in soft Sydonian vaile Tell these and shame not cause thy tongue to faile Whilst with thine armes the Jardan nymph adornes Her selfe anâ— makes them trophies of thy scornes Goe now and blaze thy facts thy glory scan 'T is she that 's now become the abler man To whom so sarre inferiour thou art growne As thou' rt more great than those thou hast o'rethrown To her thy fame worth actions for feit are Give way for shee 's thy prayses lawfull heire Oh shame thy harsh and shaggy Lions hide Now vailes a womans smooth and nicer side Thou art deceiv'd those spoyles no Lions bee But thine the beast thou over cam'st she thee Nay she that scarce could distaffe rule before Now beares thy shafts dipt in Lernaean gore Teaching her hands to wield thy club grown bold And in her glasse doth thy fam'd Armes behold All this I heard yet scarce did credit fame Till through mine ears slie griefe my heart o'recame But now mine eyes the harlot have espy'd And such my griefe is I no more can hide Nor her conceal'st thou from me but iâ— spight Bring'st through the Citie to upbraid my sight Not with loose haires beneath a captives fate By her vaild face confessing her estate But most conspicuous in embroidered gold In such as Phrygia once did thee behold And lookes so stately on the following traine As though the raz'd Oechdlia stood againe Perhaps poore me divorc't thou meanst that she A harlots name layd by thy wife shall bee And guilty Hymen shall the hands combine Of Eurytaean Iöle with thine My mind 's astonisht at the ominous ill My hands faint cold doth all my members fill Yet once and with chast fires thou me didst love And in my cause didst twice thy courage prove Achelous sad his fronts rent ruines bore And shrunk his maim'd brow 'twixt the reedy shore The Contaure Nessus by thy shafts was slaine And with his crimson gore the streams did staine But wretchl what write I â— Fame report hath spred The shirt I sent thee hath thy torment bred Ah me what hath my rash love forc'd me try Why impious Deianeira doubt'st to dye Shall flames thy husbands flesh on Oeta rive And thou the cause of such an ill survive What shall I doe that to the world may prove I was thy wife my death shall shew my love And thou deare brother shalt in me descry A sister Deianeira straightway dye Oh cursed house the kingdome Agrius holds Deserted Oeneus feeble age enfolds One brother banisht strayes in forraigne land Th' other dy'd living in his fatall brand My mother fell by direfull steele then why O impious Deianeira doubt'st to dye Yet by our nuptiall rites I thee require Not to surmise I did thy death conspire For when thy shafts had pierc't the Centaures breast This bloud sayth he is with loves power possest A shirt I sent dipt in the poysonous dye Why impious Deianeira doubt'st to dye And now my Father Gorge and native soyle Deare brother banisht into sad exile And thou the latter light mine eyes shall view My spouse oh that thou wert and child adiew THE ARGVMENT OF ARIADNE'S Epistle to THESEVS MInos King of Creet having by sharpe warre revenged the death of his sonne Androgeus murthered by the Athenians enforc't them yet as tribute to send him every ninth yeare seven youths and as many virgines which be cast into the Labyrinth to be devoured of the Minotaur The lot at length
is another slight If what I love I hurt I shall so ever Thee I must seek and seeking still persever Others by sword their fancied loves have sought And shall a witty letter be my fault Would god more snares I could invent for thee That thy vow'd faith might on no side scape free There rests a thousand wayes in one we wade My love shall suffer nothing unessayd Thou shalt be captiv'd though thou now art free Gods know th' event but thou shalt captiv'd be Though some thou canst not all those nets evade Which love for thee more than thou think'st hath layd If arts will not avail then arms wee 'l move And to my longing bosome force thy love I not the fact of Paris reprehend Nor any such who so have sought their end Nay I but I forbeare though death ensues Thy rape wee 'l meet it 'fore I thee will loose Wer 't thou lesse faire I should more calmly sue Thy beauty makes me I thus boldly wooe Thou and those eyes to which bright stars appeare Like foyles of these my flames first causers were Thy golden hairs neck which pure white doth grace And armes which oh may once my limbs embrace Thy gracefull lookes not coy yet blushing faire And feer which may with Thetis selfe compare Blest could I praise the rest sure they agree All in a sweet proportion'd symmetrie No marvaile then if by such forme constrain'd I would of thee a verball pledge have gain'd Whilst by our Art you say you captive are Why doe you not the lawes of captiv'd be are I l'e suffer envy so I may obtaine Why should the fruit from such a crime be tane His love Achilles forc't his Telamon Yet they to love their ravishers were won Accuse me doe be angry too and coy So I may thee though angry but enjoy I that first caus'd it will thy wrath allay If thou 'st but give me ne're so little way Weeping before thy face let me a peare And at each word I speake let fall a teare Like slaves that feare severer chastisement My hands unto thy feet for mercie bent Why am I absent blam'd assume thy right Command me as a Mrs plead in sight Then though thou proudly teare my haire or raze In scornefull manner with thy nayles my face I 'le suffer all and onely fearfull stand Lest my rude body hurt thy tender hand Thou need'st not chaines on me or fettets try Thy love will me stronger than fetters cie As thou shalt say when once thy wrath is spent How firme is he in love how patient And vow when how I suffer thou shalt see Who serves so well sure shall my servant bee Why am I guilt esse then condemn'd through hate My just cause lost wanting an advocate The verse love bade me write is all my blame Nor canst object ought else against my fame With me yet Delia ought not couzin'd be Keepe promise then with her if not with me She saw thee when intrapt thou blush'st was there And layd thy words up in her mindfull eare Forbid it heav'ns yet there is none than she More fierce gainst those that scorne her deitie Witnesse the Boare she sent unknowne to none Althea no lesse cruell to her sonne Witnesse Actaeon chang'd t' a Hart and made A prey for those that earst on wild beasts Pray'd Proud Niobe whose corps in marble pent In Migdon stands a weeping monument Ah me Cydippe I the truth restraine Lest in my cause thou thinkst I idly faine Yet speake I must this is it trust me why At poynt of marriage thou thus sicke dost lye The goddesse seekes thy good not perjurie And would by saving of thy saith save thee Hence 't is as oft you with your oath dispense That she as oft doth punish your offence Cease then t' incense the sterne Viragâ—es ire Whose wrath if thou 'st obey will soone expire Preserve those tender limbs from Feavers free Oh spare that face to be enjoy'd by me Spare spare those lookes made for our loves delight And cheekes inameld with pure red and white Who seekes our loves contracted to dis joyne May he as I for thy affliction pine I know not which my greatest crosse would prove To see thee sick or made anothers love Sometimes I vex and thinke I cause thy paine So that thou griefe dost through my craft sustaine And wish upon my head thy perjury Might light and thou from punishment be free Oft I with troubled thoughts about thy gare Make needlesse walks to understand thy state And foll'wing of thy man or mayd intreat By stealth to know how thou dost sleepe or eate Woes me I not the Doctors roome supply Nor fitting on thy bed thy pulse doe try But more unhappy whilst I being hence He 's there whom I doe chiefly wish from thence He takes thee by the hand and sets by thee A hated person to the gods and me Whilst on thy beating veine his thumbe he holds And by that meanes thy whiter armes infolds Thy breast oft touches perhaps kisses too A blest reward and farre beyond his due Pray who to reap our harvest gave thee leave Or shewd thee how thou mightst our hopes deceive Those breasts thou feel'st kisses thou tak'st are mine Wretch from her body take those hands of thine Remove thy hands she 's mine should'st do the same Henceforth thou l't merit an adultrers name Chuse one whom none can claime one that is free To tell you true this onely is for me Believ'st me not the contract heare or let Her read it lest thou think it counterfeit Be gone to thee this can no harbour lend What right canst thou t'anothers bed pretend Suppose thou promis'd wert she should be thine Yet is thy cause farr farre unlike to mine I by her selfe byh'r sire you promis'd were But to her selfe than father shee 's more neere Her sire thee promis'd but she swore to me He men attested she a Deitle He but of word she breach of oath doth feare Of these think'st which the greatest sin will beare Last to discern't to the event but looke Hee 's well in health she is with sicknesse strooke Then in our mindes unequall strifes we beare Nor is our hope alike unlike our feare Indifferent thou Repulse my death would prove In present I what you perhaps may love If care of equity or right you weigh You needs must to my lawfull flames give way Since then thy love â—njustly he doth sue What good Cydippe will my letter doe 'T is he thy paine and Dians hate hath wrought Barre him thy house if thou wilt wise be thought He did the hazard of thy life procure Would he that caus'd them might thy paines endure Him if thou leave nor love whom Dian hates We both shall then enjoy our healthfull states Feare not thou shalt enjoy thy health sweet mayd But conscious Dian must be first obayd Not in a sacrifice the gods delight But in a faith that is sincere and right