shall mend If Venus did not vainly things pretend And this though not his words his deeds exhort H' hath left his home lest he should spoyle our sport He could not have pickt out a time more fit To visit Creet oh man of monstrous wit Nay when he went saith he I charge you beare To this my Trojan guest respectfull care Yet thou neglect'st thy husbands kinde request Nor hast a care of thy commended guest And canst thou think this brainlesse wretch to bee One that doth throughly prize thy forme or thee No no he skills them not for did he know He ne're would trust them with a stranger so Though thee my love nor words do move yet see W' are urg'd unto 't by opportunitie We were stark fooles more void than hee of sence Should so secure a time passe idly hence With his owne hands he gave me unto thee Pray use the honest mans simplicitie In empty bed thou these long nights dost lye In empty bed so lye yet rest not I. Let mutuall joyes us to each other joyne Oh night that wilt the clearest day out-shine Then would I sweare by all the gods that bee And tye my selfe in sacred bands to thee Then if my stedfast faith do prove but true I 'le make thee quickly wish my countries view If feare or shame possesse thee lest thy fame Suffer in following me I 'le beare the blame Thy brothers deeds and Theseus I pursue Nor canst be mov'd with types more neare or true Thee Theseus rapt the two Leucippa they And I 'le the fourth be numbred in the fray My Fleet 's at hand well man'd with arm'd aray Whilst O ares and winde shall wing us out our way Queen-like shalt ride through each Dardanian town Whilst the rowt think some goddesse is come downe Wheres'ere thou tread'st shal odorous sents abound And slaughtred Victims strew the bloudied ground My brothers sisters mother sire shall bring Ilians all Troy to thee their Offering Alas I 've scarce spoke ought of what shall bee More than these lines can tell thou there shalt see Nor feare being rap't fierce war should us pursue Or that all Greece should rayse its force thereto Pray who ' mongst former rapes did armes regaine Believ 't all feares are in this case but vaine Orythia faire the Thracians forc't from farre And yet Bistonion coasts were free from warre Iason Medea in Tritonian keele Convay'd nor felt Thessalia Colchos steele He who rap't thee rap't Phaedra no Alarmes Made Minos yet nor rais'd his Creet to Armes Terrour in these exceeds the danger still Things to be fear'd to over-feare is ill Yet so thou please suppose a warre ensue Know I have force and wounding weapons too Nor is my Asia lesse in bounds or force Than Greece a land well stor'd with men and horse Nor yet Atrides Paris ought exceeds In manly courage or in warlike deeds Even but a boy from slaughtred foes I gain'd My by-driv'n heard and thence my name attain'd Ev'n but a boy I men in fight ore-threw Deiphobus Ilioneus too Nor thinke in hand-fight I have onely Art Full well from farre is fixt my thirled dart Nor canst thou say his youth did these fulfill Nor furnish thy Atrides with my skill Grant these yet Hector cann't his brother bee Who stands in stead of num'rous troopes to mee Thou know'st me not nor what 's my strength noâ— yet What kind of man thou for thy spouse shalt get Or by no warre thou shalt be sought in fine Or Doricke campes shall yeeld in Armes to mine Nor thinke I much to warre for such a wife Such great rewards may well maintaine a strife Nay thou should the whole world contend for thee To times eternall fresh in fame shalt bee Then gods still favouring boldly leave the land And with full faith my plighted vowes demand THE ARGVMENT OF HELLENS Epistle to PARIS HEllen having received and read the Trojans letter with much indignation reprehends and tannts her wanton guest and for the better maintaining of her honour labours to confute and withstand his reasonâ— and perswasions yet so that amidst her slighting her disdains there appeared some glimmering â—f her affection With cunning a long time shâ— discourseth sometimes she speakes him faire then cheâ—kes his hope now proâ—ises agaiâ—e eâ—ies now believes him anon she doubts Till â—t â—ength shâ—â—n part condescends to his desires and adviseth him in the further prosâ—cution oâ— his suit not by letter to solicite her but to impart bâ—t mind to Aethra and Clymene her companions both and of counsell with her in this designe SInce these thy lines have thus abus'd my sight The glory of an answer seemes not slight And darâ—â—st thou then then lawes of nostage broke A spoused wives firme vowed faith provoke Was it for this that tost on boistrous seas Taenarian port at length did yeeld thee ease For this that though thou cam'st from regions farre Our palace gates did not thine entrance barre That thou such wrong for my desert shouldst shew Thou that thus cam'st wert thou a guest or foe I doubt not but my just complaint by thee Will be esteem'd full of rustieitie Rude let me seeme so not devoyd of shame And so my life knowes no foule blot nor blame Although my face no sad-fain'd looke doth heare Though on my front no wrinkled brow I weare Yet my fame 's cleare I 've liv'd without a staine No letcher yet of me could boast his gaine Which makes me more to wonder what gave head To thy rash boldnesse thus to hope my bed With me because once Theseus made a scape Am I deem'd worthy of a second rape Had I been wonne the fault on me might lye But being forc't what save to nill could I Nor did he yet attaine the fruit he sought And except feare it selfe I suffered nought A kisse or so strugling with much adoe The wretch obtain'd but ne're could further goe With these thy vilenesse would not sated be But heavens were kinde he was not like to thee Vntouch't he let me goe his milde intent Lessen'd his crime nay th'youth did sure repent Theseus repents that Paris might ensue For feare my fame should not be blaz'd enough Yet I 'me not wrath a lover who can chide If these thy flames no feigned slights doe hide And that I doubt not ' cause my faith is small Or that my face I doe mistrust at all But ' cause beliefe is oft a womans woe And mens words want of faith a gtaine or two Let others sinne though rarea chaste wife bee Who shall forbid that rare one to be me Because my mother seem'd soon wonne from thence Do'st think I 'le yeeld unto the like offence My mother may a just excuse assume For her misdeeds th adulterer lurk't in plume I cannot say I knew not nor call in An errour to lend shadow to my sin By th' authour well did she her crime redeeme But by what Iove shall I pray happy seeme Thou
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
For me 't was mooved oh let it cease for me May I thy cause and end of sorrow bee Nor thinke it scorne to yeeld unto my prayer Oenides tooke armes to please his faire I oft have heard it thou dost know 't and how His life his mother to hel's powers did vow Fierce was he in the wars yet he laid by His armes and did his country helpe deny Whom Ataâ—anta moov'd oh happy shee But my slight words las of no moment bee Nor thinke I much at it I ne're was thought Thy wife but to thy bed as servant brought Once me a captive Lady call'd said I That name 's a burthen to captivity Now by my husbands halfe toomb'd bones I sweare Of whom I still a reverend thought doe beare By my three brothers sacred soules who well For their lov'd country with their Country sell By both our heads we oft have joyn'd as one And by thy sword too dearely to me knowne That since my parture Agamemnon knew No bed of mine forsake me as 't is true Should I aske thee that question could'st denie That thou with any save with me did'st lye The Grecians think thou mourn'dst but thee soft straines Delight thy love thee in her lap retaines If any aske why thou denyest to fight Warr's harsh but night and musicke breed delight T is safer farre to sport with amorous fire Or nimblie warble on thy Thracian lyre Then for to wield a shield or shake a speare Or on thy smooth haire heavy Helmet beare Thee once farre better deeds then these did please And thou did'st love fame got by warre not ease Wert only stout when I was captive made Or with my country did thy courage fade The Gods forbid oh maist thou one day hide Thy Pelian javeline in sterne Hectors side Yee Greekes send me as legate to my Lord I with my words sweet kisses will afford Not Phaenix shall not slie Ulysses too Nor Teucers brother plead as I will doe T is much his necke t' embrace with these known armes And with my powerfull eye to tye loves charmes Though then the Sea lesse mercifull thou bee I mute my speaking teares shall worke on thee Nay now ev'n now so may thy aged sire Be blest with yeares and Pyrrhus fame acquire Be mindfull of me nor whilst ire beares sway Consume thy Briseis through thy long delay But if thy love convert to hate whom thou Forcest without thee live to fate make bow And so thou dost my limbs and colour fade Yet hope of thee my parting soule hath staid Of which depriv'd unto my spouse I le hie And brothers worthy act to cause me die But why thus bid'st me die oh rather kill Me with thine owne hands I 've some blood left still And let that sword which had not Pallas stayd Had pierc't Atrides breast my breast invade No rather spare my life and to thy friend Contribute that thou to thy foe did'st lend Oh let the proud Neptun an Troy afford Thee foes and matter for thy Warlike sword And whether that thou mean'st to part or stay As my just Lord command me come away THE ARGVMENT of PHAEDRA'S Epistle to Hippolytus THESEVS the sonne of Aegeus having escaped the Labyrinth and returning homewards with his adjutrix Aâ—iadne axd her sister Phaedra the dâ—uâ—â—â—ers of Minos King of Creet in the way hee toâ—cted at the Island of Naxos where hee leaves Ariaduâ— and with Phaedra whom hee afâ—e wards marâ—â—a 〈◊〉 away But in processe of time Theseu being aâ—sâ—â—t Phaedra falles in love wâ—th Hippolytus the sonne of â—â—heseus by Hippolita Queene â—f the Amazonâ— But â—eem love rather with manly actions and Diaâ—â—â—'s sports than with women often frequenting the solitary woods herest her of all meanes to spâ—ake unto him The wily stepuame resolves to write and laying all motherly modeslie aside stung with unnaturall lust attempts the bashfull youth with this insinuating Epistle THe health she wants except the same thou lend Phaedra to thâ— Aâ—azonian youth doth send Pray read my letter how can it annoy Perhaps ther 's in it that may cause thy joy By these are secrets borne through seas and land And one foe reads what comes from th 'others hand Thrice did I strive to speake thrice my weak tongue Faild me and in my mouth my words still hung Oft I with shame did mixe my love too light But what I blusht to speake love bad me write What love commands wee ought not to despise Who rules and awes the powerfull Deities He first to me in doubt to write did say Phaedra write on thy love he shall obey Ayd me great Love and as thou rul'st in mee So cause in him a mutuall sympathie By no base sin I 'le breake my marriage vowes My fame shouldst thou enquire no stain yet knows Love comes more heavie through its sloath I hide Within me flames my breast doth wounds abide As the first yoake the tender Heifer paines As new backt Colt the curbing hit disdaines So rude so rawly love's by me indur'd Nor is my minde to the new load inur'd Full hard in giddy youth we learne loves Art But in our riper yeares with paine and smart â—ly fames first sacrifice shall be to thee And both of us alike will guiltie bee 'T is somthing from fraught boughs ripe fruit to cull And budding rose with nimble hand to pull Yet though my life hath hitherto been chast Nor by impurer spots or taints defac't I grieve not since I noble love embrace A foule adulterer makes his sin more base Should Iuno yeeld to me her thunderer I before Iove would Hippolite preferre Nay trust me I doe now delight in new And unknowne sports wilde beasts in chase pursue No goddesse now but Delia pleaseth mee Grac'd with her Bow I love I like as thee Darke groves I visit Deere to toyles constraine And cheer my full-mouth'd hounds o're empty plain The tremulous dart with arme advanc'd I shake Or on the grassie ground repose doe take And oft in winged chariots while I ride With curbing raines the swift-heeld coursers guide Now like th ' Eleides whom fury filâ— Or those who Tymbrels ring on Ida's hils Or like to them whom the strange uncouth sight Of Driad's or the horned Fawnes affright I madly run for when my fury 's ceast They tell me all close fires do scortch my bâ—east Perhaps by Fate we thus to love are bent And Venus tribute seekes from th' whole descent First Iove of faire Europa made a rape For thence we spring through Buls assumed shape My mother doting too on such a beast Foully her burthen and her crime encreast Faithlesse Aegides by a clew of thread And through my sisters ayd his prison fled And loe lest I should seeme degenerate Alike I yeeld unto my kindreds fate It is ordain'd our love thus crosse should prove I thee thy father did my sister love By thee and Theseuâ— are two sisters wonne Erect two Trophies of our house alone
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