fomous Niniuie that bore the builders name His warlike wife Simeramis her husband being dead And sonne in nonage faining him she ruled in his stéede Delating in a males attire the Empire newe begonne The which his yeares admitting it she yealded to her sonne Thus Cham his broode did borgon first and held the world in awe But Iapheths Line to Iabans land from Assur doth me drawe Much praise is spoke of Thessalie and Pegasus his springs and how the nimphes of Moena in Tempe did great things And how that Cecrops and his seede did honour Athens so As that from thence are said the Springs of Sciences to flowe Not onlie artes but Cheualrie from Greece deriâ—e we may Whereof omitting manie things my muse alonlie say How Saturne Ioue and Hercules did fill the world with â—auie Of iustice prowesse and how they both men and Monsters tame And so from these deriue the meane how Brute to Albion came In Create did florish in those daies the first that florisht so Vranos he in wealth and wit all others did out-goe This took to Wife not then forbode his Sister Vesta faire The croked Titan did to him an comelie Saturne baer The elder of deformities in making and for minde with Parents and the people too did lesser liking finde The younger by the contraries gaue hansel in his prime Of manie vertues honouring their Owners â—lder time Away slips age death spareth none Vranos leaues the stage His bodie now depriu'd of pomp interâ—d the wormes doe gage Well may a rich mans Hearse want teares but heires he shal not misse To whom that he is dead at length no little ioy it is This errour notwithstanding did Vranos Sonnes lament Yet scarce the Fathers Ghost from graue to heauen or hell was sent But that his heires did fall at ods about the vacant Raine and Titan chafes disabled then the Scepter to sustaine Ech eye did follow Saturns forme ech heart applaudes his fame and to conclude with whole consent he winnes away the game Yet for because the Birth-right should inure to Titan stil In Mars his Church did Saturne vow his Issues Males to kill Not meanely glad was Saturne then his head possest of Crowne When of his building hee was Lord of manie a peopled Towne He giueth lawes his lawes are kept he â—ids and all obey and equallie beloud and feard he wealds a kinglie sway He teacheth men vntaught before to eare the lustie land and how to pearse the pathlesse aire with shaft from Bow-mans hand God Dâ—s did quaile to sée his gold so fast conuaid from hell fishes quakt 〈…〉 amidst their floods did dwel Who loues not 〈…〉 did not the king of Creat excel But what auaile or Townes or Lawes or what doe Subiects moue Sheaues Shafts or Ships or Gold or all king Saturne is in loue He loues and is beloud againâ— yet so might not suffice In former vow to Titan made his paine of pleasure lies But no man from the Monarke Louâ— by wealth or weapon flies Cybella faire Cybella is espoused to her brother and as doe Venus killing Birds so loue they one another In Coiture she doth conceaue 〈◊〉 sonne is borne and slaine And Saturne of the hansell hard doth malconsent remaine CHAP. II. THE Son had compast all the Signes Cybell brought to light Her second Bréed a smiling boy Iupiter he hight Together with the Quéene of Gods so Iunos stile wée wright The infant smiled at his birth but Cybell ioy bereft And Vesta whom Vranos had an heauie widdow left Did both lament for Saturne wild the new-borne Babe should die Both to acquit him of his vow and frustrate Destinie For at the Oracle he had his wife a sonne should beare That should expell him from his Realme his vow therefore and feare Did hasten on vnwillinglie the slaughter of his sonne For which his sorrowes graunting spéech his mone he thus begunne And want not stately crownes their cares With pomp haue Princes paine Ah die he must die he shal els may not Saturne raine Yet might a Septers want suffice I gladlie would resigne But sworne by Stix and wreakfull Mars at periuries repine Then far be it that they repine least I too late repent It doubles sinne if sinne by sinne we practise to preuent From this time foorth Melancholy for Sirname Saturne had No mirth could wrest from him a smile ech smile would make him sad His seruants feare his solome fits when if they ought recite Hée either answeres not at all or from the matter quite Unpeopled roomes and pathlesse wayes did fit his humour best And then he sighes and sheadeth teares when all things els did rest Who so could cite a Tragedie was formost in his credde For balking pleasant companie on sorowes did hee feede Death likes him that mislikes himselfe in gesture robes and all Hée shewes himselfe like to himelfe and hence it doth befall That men to Melancholie giuen we Saturnists doe â—all His wife and Sister kissing oft her Nephewe and her sonne For shée his Aunt and Mother was with Vesta seeke to shunne The voted fathers deadlie doome to kill so sweet a childe Their eies and verie soules abhorre who nothing so vnmilde doe wéeping kisse his laughing mouth in minde the Babe to saue Howbeit feare of Saturns wroth contrarie councell gaue But when in hast the Babe his heart was sent for by and by So Saturne wild so Cybell must and Vesta not denie It was a woe to heare their woe and death to see them die Unhollowed wretch then Cybell said in wombe why did I beare This double Burthen happie Twins saue that my Twins they are So that my teeming with these throwes had ending well were I Or woulde I might not giue them life that liuing foorthwith dye Thy Scepter Saturne is not worth perfourmance of thy vowe Thy conscience doth a scruple holde that Goddes nor men alowe From Gods from men from brutish beastes from nature nought doth gro But fosters what it bringeth foorth thou onlie doest not so Thy sonnes alone for slaughters serue and I meane while their mother Am Saturnes wife lesse proude of it then that he is my brother Unhappie Cybell borne to beare and therefore borne to woe And fruitlesse fertill to a man that soweth not to moe Nowe teares had drowned further speech till shee as one bestrought Did crie that with a knife the Babe should to her bed be brought My selfe quoth shée will bée his death with whom my selfe will die For so may Saturne saue and shunne his vow and destenie But it did Vesta contermaund yet Saturns will must stande For Ioue must die or they not liue A Damsell there at hand Was then enforst to that charge Thrice toucht her knife his Skinne But thrice his smiles did cause her teares shée fourthlie did beginne And fourthlie ended as before Betide me death or life Liue still at least for mee shée saide and casting downe the knife Shée kist that
swéete and pretie mouth that laughed on her lippes And brings him backe to Cybels bed Her heart reuiued skips Reuiuing life where reckned death had wrought repentant teares The father fronted with a guile at length the damsell beares The infant vnto Oson towne and in her Ladies name Intreats Melissus daughters twaine to nourish vp the same Up to mountaine beare they him and in a secret Caue A mountaine Goat did giue him milke and so his life they saue His Nourses sounding Simbals once to drowne the Infants crie A manie Bées the Muses birdes into the Caue did flie Where making Honnie Saturnes sonne did long time liue thereby CHAP. III. IT doth remain of Iupiter as bow but then a lad From Epire to Pelasgis him the Lordes Epyrotes had To fetch their pledge Lycaon hild when time of truse had end Lycaon faining to consent that did not so intend Next day as though hee woulde dismisse the Legates with estate Did make to them a solemne feast when hauing slaine of late His noble pledge he brings his limmes and setteth them before His Countrimen to feed vpon in saused dishes store The Strangers and his Subiects too abhorring such a sight Sit gazing ech in others face bereft of speech and sprite Untill that lustie Iupiter a Stripling to behold Did take the limbes dismembred so and with a courage bold Did shew them through Pelasgis stréetes declaring by the way The murder of their blooddie king which did so much dismay The Citizens that euen they detesting such vnright Did rise in armes against their king where youthfull Ioue did fight So valiantlie that by his force Lyacon tooke his flight And after did by Roberies by blood and Rapines liue For which to him a Wooluish shape the Poets aptlie giue IN Fpyre and Pelasgis thus Ioue first his honour wonne But greater things vntouched are by this same Worthie donne And partlie in the monstrous warre that Titan and his Crue Did hold with Saturne when by search of Issues males he knewe The which his brother had aliue against their Couenant made When Tâ—tan Uictor fast in hold was vanquisht Saturne laid Together with his wife and friends where sorrow much they past Till Iupiter did vnderstand his parentage at last He therefore landing toke in Create with well prouided men And slewe his vncle Titan and the Giant Tiphan then With most part of the Titanoies and sets his father free By meanes whereof they reconcile and wel a while agree NOt brooking then Apollos fault in that he entertaind The Remnant of the Titanoies that after warres remainde Apollo was by Iupiter inforced for to flie His kingdome Paphos and to liue exilde in Thessalie Where loue but chieflie penurie constrained him to kéepe Untill he was restored home the king Admetus shéepe And for his Sonne disdainfullie enuied Ioue his praise Ioue was the same Phisitions death that dead to life could raise Whose fame grewe thus As Asculap an heardsman did espie That did with easie fight inforce a Basalique to flie Albeit naturally that beast doth murther with the eie Apollos sonne perceauing him with Garland on his head Imagins as it was in déed some hearbe such vertue bred And for a profe he caused him to cast the wreath away When strait the beast her onelie eies the sillie man did slay Then Asculap him selfe did take the wreath and puts it on And by that meanes he ouercame the Basalique anon In hearbs that déeper force is hid then Science may containe I finde said he an hearb by hearb into his mouth did straine That lay for dead an hearb at last reuiuing him again Henceforth meÌ„ thought him more theÌ„ man when by his wondrous skil He rendred life to many like so winning great good will But as he waxed famous thus he famous waxed proud Disdaining all yea Ioue him selfe for Peere he disaloud Untill that Saturns angrie sonne reuenged it by death Correcting iustly each abuse as Rector on the Earth THe Sonnes renound thus added grace vnto the Fathers name But shadowes wait on substances and enuie followes fame Euen Saturne pompous Saturne ridde by Iupiter of Foes And feare of Titan did renewe his superstitious woes As touching former Oracle and hastis sommons sent Throughout his Realme to muster men in purpose to preuent By death of Ioue his destenie The men of Create repinde To put on armour to his ill whom they had found so kind But will they nill they so they must for so their king assignâ— And Saturne with his armed troupes into Arcadia went Where Iupiter forewarned of his fathers ill intent Intreated peace to him denide so that perforce he must Defend him from his froward Sier or rather foe vniust There might yee see king Saturne fight like to a Lion wood Whilst Iupiter did beare his blowes and spares his fathers blood and him that foo-like would him sley he friendlie did defend Desiring Saturne to retire till wordes were to no end The wilfull man pursuing blood Ioue ceaseth to persuade And rushing in amongst his foes so hot a skirmishâ—made That euerie blow sets blood on broch and so in little space Euen he who late he did intreate is followed now in chace By Arcas and his companie for Ioue refraind the flight Because against his countrimen hée had no will to fight Whilst lucklesse Saturn did escape by flight and fortune then And wandred long in vnquoth Seas depriude of wealth and men Uictorious Iupiter was crownde with glorie king of Create And Saturne now ariude at Troy for succour did intreate Ganymaedes king Trois sonne was sent in Saturns aid A worthie knight and valiant warre to Iupiter he made But hée and his were chased back euen to their Citie walles For who so stood with Iupiter by Iupiter he falles And there the Troyan Paragon Ganymides was taine Twixt whom and Iupiter thencefoorth sound friendship did remaine Then Saturne did the second time to Seas with shame retire And neuer after durst by warre against his sonne conspire But sayling into lower Realmes in Italie did dwell And hereof it is said his sonne did chase him into hell MEane while lesse ioyous of his fame then ielous of his freakes Her wrong Quéene Iuno on the Truls of Iupiter she wreakes Which was the cause that all too late he purposing returne To rescue Danae in whose loue he amorouslie did burne Was cast by stormes into the Seas that foorthwith tooke the name of him whom for his Piracies Ioue vanquisht in the same Yee might haue seene AEgaeon there with wreakfull wroth inflamâ— At sight of Ioue at whose decay he long in vaine had aimd And how that Ioue had now the worst and in a trise againe The Gyant with his twise thrée Barkes in hassard to be taine The Centaures shew them valerous so did Ixeon stout and braue Ganymaedes did deale his balefull dole about But when couragious Iupiter had beaten to the ground AEgaeon and in selfesame Chaines wherein he often bound The
his Sonne he sayd not quite forlorne am I Whose life hath had so much of gréefe thus graciously to dye Add more thy vertues glad my death yet two things gréeue among To leaue my Kingdome thus in Warres and thée for Warres so yong So may these troubles waer to none as thou doest wax I pray And so possesse thy fathers Seate that all approue thy Sway. Not to be made a King my Sonne is so to make thée proude For mildnes fitteth Maiestie high mynds are disaloude Sée me thy father now a King and by and by but earth Nor thinke that euery King hath happ to dye a happie death Let Nature for perfection mold a Paragon each way Yet Death at least on finest lumpes of liuing flesh will pray For Nature neuer framed it that neuer shall decay The brauest are as Blossomes and the longest Liuer dyes And dead the louelest Creature as the lothsomst Carrion lyes Then thinke not but that Kings are men and as the rest miscarrie Saue that their fame or infamie continually doth tarrie Déeme past Examples Sentences and which did fayle in me Make vse of those not now in vse for now will cease to be Attempt not things beyond thy reach ioyne Fortune to thy will Least Phaebus Chaire doe els surcharge rash Phaoton his skill If Fortune helpe whom thou would'st hurt freat not at it the more When Aiax stormed then from him the Prize Vlisses bore Trye friends by Touch a feeble friend may proue thy strongest Foe Great Pompeis head to Caesars hand it was betrayed so Admit thou hadst Pactolian waues to land thée Gold at will Knowe Craesus did to Cyrus knéele and thou maist spéede as ill Abandon lust if not for sinne yet to auoyde the shame So Hoggs of Ithacus his men the Latian Witch did frame Be not to modie in thy wrath but pause though Fist be bent Oft Phillips Sonne did rashly strike and leisurly repent Content thée with vnthreatned Meane and play not AEsops Dogg The Gold that gentell Bacchus gaue was gréedie Midas Clogg Be valiant not to venterous but fight to fight againe Euen Hercules did hold it ods for one to striue with twaine Be not ambiciously a King nor grudgingly decline One God did roote out Cis his stocke and raise vp Iesses line Iest not with edge tooles suffer Saincts let mightie Fooles be mad Note Seneca by Neros doome for Precepts pennance had Haue care to whom of whom and what to speake though spéech â—e trew That Misse made Phaebus contrary his Rauens Swan-like hew He frameth torments to himselfe that feedes a Tyrants vayne Perillus was by Phalaris adiudg'd to selfe-taught payne Praise not the beautie of thy wife though she of forme be sped For Gyges moued so did graft on Candaules his head Shunne Ielosie that hart-breake Loue if Cat will goe to kinde Be sure that Io hath a meane that Argus shalbe blinde Commit not Treasure with thy Childe to greedie mynded men Thou leauest Polydor a Spoyle to Polymnestor then Occurrants giue occasions still of like in which be sure To serue thy God to saue thy selfe and well to all procure Be vertuous and assure thy selfe thou canst not then but thriue In only Uertue is it sayd that men themselues suruiue As for the vicious such they are as is the heedlesse Flye That killes it selfe and hurts his sight that hath her in his Eye Farewell my Sonne England farewell thy neuer happie Prince Doth take his leaue an happie leaue if taken so long since And Edmund burying not with me thy vertues nor my speech I blesse thee in his blessed name whom I of blesse beseech Sayd Egelred and shortly gaue a quiet gaspe or twayne And being dead his noble Sonne succeeded him in Rayne THis like himselfe euen knightlike and an English-man in deede Did quicken Englands quayling Prowes and Mars-like did proceed A brauer Captaine then was he not any Band might haue And yet a Mars did match this Mars Canutus was as braue These Wonders of that age for Armes and Dirij of those daies Did often battell equally to eithers losse and praies Now after many bloodie Fieldes when none might estimate The better or the worser parte a Knight that sawe the state Then present and by likelihoodes presaged what might fall Sayd hearing it the diffring Kings and Soldiours almost all We euer warre and neuer winne Edmund hath Fortitude Canutus Fortune neither thus of other is subdude Death feares not vs nor for their liues our Contraries doe crare It followes then that all must dye where all so despret are If all be slayne then who shall serue our Princes that suruiue Or fence out Forrens better one then none of both should thriue To thriue therefore were not a-misse that seeing one of twayne Will Owner all that only they the quarrell doe maintayne Or if Combattansie not please the Land is rich and large And they Coperciners may liue and vs of death discharge If Combate nor Partition be then will this Warre reuiue Till one suruiuing all of vs wants one with whom to striue This sayd the Kings did marke and make a profite of the same And did conclude by Combacie to loose or winne the Game Within a little Island nere round which the Armies stand The Kingly Champions trye their force by fighting hand to hand They spurre their Horses breake their Speares and beate at Barriars long And then dismounting did renewe a Battell braue and strong Whil'st either King thus Martially defends and did offend They breathing King Canutus sayd we both I see shall end Ere Empier shall begin to one then be it at thy choyce To fight or parte With it their Knights crye out with common voyce Deuide most valiant Kings deuide enough ye haue of sight And so the Champions did imbrace forgetting Mallice quight Partition equally was made betwixt these Princes twaine And brother-like they liue and loue till by a deulish traine Earle Edricus a Traytor to the Father and the Sonne Did murther Edmund and his head supposing to haue wonne The fauour of Canutus so presenting sayd O King For loue of thee I thus haue done Amazed at the thing Canutus sayd and for that thou hast headded him for mee Thy head aboue all English heads exalted it shall bee The Earle was headded and his head poolde vp for all to see Of England Danske and Norway then Canut was perfect Lord And in his triple Regment all with vertue did accord Harolde and Hardi-knought his Sonnes each did succeede Of either which small certen Fame of well or ill we reede Saue by their Raynes to English-men did gréeuous thraldome bréed But after Hardi-knought his death the Danes were chased hence Not intermedling with the State of England euer sence CHAP. XXII OF forsayd Egelred his Sonnes Alured and his brother Was Edward King for Goodwyns gile had made away that other Religious chaste wise fortunate stout franke and milde was he And from all Taxes wrongs and Foes did
harmelesse soules that crost those Seas himselfe in fetters lay Yée might haue said and truly said that then did end the fraie So manie were his high exploits whereof such wonder bread That for the same the Heathen folke doe deifie him dead Which since they are so manifold I many ouerpasse And though Amphitruo blush to heare how he deceiued was And that Alcmena pinch my tongue possest with bashfull shame Yea though that Iupiter himself my lauish tongue shall blame Yet since that iealous Iuno knowes alreadie of the same I dare not tell how Iupiter so cunninglie beguild his loue Alcmena that by him she traueld great with child Of Hercules whose famous acts I orderlie shall tell Whereof the first but not the least in Cradle-time be fell CHAP. IIII. QUéene Iuno not a little wroth against her husbands crime By whom shee was a Cockqueane made did therefore at the time In which Alcmena cride for helpe to bryng her fruite to light Thrée nights and dayes inchaunt her throwes and of a Diuelish spight Intended both the Ladies death and that wherewith shée went Till Galinthis vnwitching her did Iunos spells preuent Howbeit cankered Iuno still pursuing her intent Two poisned Serpents got by charmes into the chamber brought Where Hercules in cradle laie and thinking to haue wrought A Tragedie did let them lose who smelling out their praie skaerd Hercules his brother that in selfe same cradle lay But Hercules as Children vse with little whelpes to play Did dallie childishlie with them and no whit did dismay Untill at last his tender flesh did feele their smarting stings And then displeasd betwixt his handes the Snakes to death hée wrings Amphrituo an the Thebans all of this same wonder tell And yeeres permitting Hercules did with Euristeus dwell This King by spightfull Iunos meanes did set him taske on task But Hercules perfourmed more then both of them could aske Yea yet a good Lad for Actiuenes the world did lack his like To Wrestle Ride Run Caste or Shoote to Swim Shift or Strike As witnes his inuention first those solemne actiue Plaios That were on Mount Olimpus tride where he had pricke and praise For which his Nouell and himselfe in those not hauing Péeres The Graecians by th' Olimpides kept reckoning of their yéeres KIng Atlas daughters in the Isles of Hesperae did holde A manie Sheepe and Poets faine their fléeces were of Golde For rarenes then of Shéepe and Wooll in figures so they saw Euristeus pricks his Pople on this nouile Prize to gaine The Greekes applie their sweating Oares and sailing doe persist Until they reach the wished shoare where readie to resist their entrance to the closed Isles an armed Giant stayd Whose grim aspectes at first approch made Hercules afraide Now buckle they and boysterous bloes they giue and take among A cruell sight But Hercules had victorie ere long The Giant slaine Philoctes tooke the vanquisher in hand An harder taske had Hercules then pausing now to stand Most dreadfull was their doubtfull fight both lay about them round Philoctes held the harder fight by kéeping higher ground The Sonne of Ioue perceauing well that prowesse not auail'd Did faine to faint the other thought that he in deed had quaild And left th'aduantage of his ground and fearcely smites his Foe But Hercules whose pollecie was to contriue it so Renuing fight most eagerlye so strikes and strikes againe That to enduer the doubled force his valiant Foe had paine Who yealding to his Uictors will did finde in him such grace As Hercules did thenceforth vse his friendship in each place Hesperides the goodly Nimphes their Kéepers chaunce lament But Hercules did comfort them and cure their discontent And shipping thē of Rammes Ewes a parcel thence he went IN coasting back by new-built Troy he sawe a moneful sort of people clustering round about their yet vnconquered Port. He musing much and striking Saile did boldlie aske wherefore They made such dole Laomidon then standing on the Shoare Did tell the cause the cause was thus Laomedon ere than To reare the statelie walles of Troy a costly worke beganne And wanting pay to finish vp the worke he had begonne Of Neptunes and of Phoebus Priests the Goddes of Sea and Sonne He borowed money promising repaiment of the same by certaine time which therevnto he did expresly name The walles are built the time is come the Priests their money craue Laomedon forswares the debt and naughtie language gaue Forthwith the Sea the Deuill then did many wonders showe Began to swell and much of Troy with violence ouerfloe And therevpon the swealtie Sun the wastfull Sea retierd So vehementlie did shine vpon the Oesie plasshes myerd That thereof noisome vapours rose and of those vapours spread Such plagues as scarce the liuing might giue burial to the dad Repentant then their wrethed king to holy Delphos goes Where at the Oracle he knew his wrongs to cause suc wees And how the Godds of Sun and Seas offended doe require Each month a Uirgin to appease a seaish Monsters ire Wherefore to saue their common weale the Troyans did agrée One Uirgin as her Lot did light should pay that monthlie fée Now after manie murdred Maids for monthlie at one day The fearefull Monster at the Port expects his wonted pray The lot fell to Hesione the daughter of the king whom to the Port to be deuourd with teares the Troyans bring When Hercules thus vnderstood the hard occasion why The guiltles Ladie should haue died he purposing to trie his valiantnes for what was it that Hercules would flie Did aske the king what gift should gro to him that should both free His daughter and his kingdome of that monthly blooddie fee. The king whom now at doubted hope of profered helpe made glad made promise of two milk-white Steedes as chiefest gemmes he had Braue Hercules whose ventrous heart did only hunt for fame Accepts th'assumpsit and prepares the fiend like fish to tame Anone the dreadfull Diuell driues the Sea before his brest and spitting mightie waues abrode disgorgde from monstrous chest Liftst vp his vglie head aboue the toubled waues to catch The trembling Ladie for which pray his yaning iawes did watch But he whose strength exceeded sense with yron Club in fist Did bootelesse long with brusing wait the boistrous Whale resist The greater strokes the fiercer was the Monsters awlesse fight So that the Greekes and Troyans all misdoubt their dreadlesse knight Still Hercules did lay on load and hild the fight so long That in the end the Sea retired and left the fish among The bared sandes and so for want of water not of strength Good fortune honours Hercules with victorie at length Now when the king his Troyans and the Grecians had behild The substance of the vglie Shape euen dreadfull being kild they bring the Champion to the towne with triumphes giftes praise And who but hee belou'd in Troy whiles that in Troy he staies Alone the king a
knights should thence depart away Pirithous to his wedding bids them all and names the day Wherein to meete at Thessalie to which did all consent and at the time concluded of at Thessalie conuent Amidst their chéere the solemne feast the Centaures did disquyet Whom by no meanes the nobles there the patience might intreate For they an hundred Giants strong with drinking whitteled well amongst their cups from wordes to blowes and worser dealings fell And too outragious at the last fierce Eurytis their Guide Unreurentlie they rauish thence Hippodame the Bride But Hercules not brooking it to arme himselfe begonne and all alone in rescue of the rapted Bride did rome By this time did Ixeons Seed stand still in battaile raie When he but one against them all began a blooddie fraie Ech arrow that with aiming hand from sturdie bow he sent Did answere by the death of one the Sender his intent Whilst Hercules with deadlie bow had store of Centaures slaine and wanting arrowes with their blood his valiant Club did staine The Bridegrome and the other knights came to the ceasing fight When all were foyld excepting twelue that saue their liues by flight Alonely Lycus yeelded him a prisoner and liues And liuing vnto Hercules much after sorowe giues But Nessus that escaped then in time him worser greeues CHAP. VI. THE glory of this high attepmt and sauing of the Bride They all ascribe to Hercules and whilst they here abide To exercise his Piracies as Pluto king of Hell Such was the lewdnes of his life and place where he die dwell That hee and it were titeled so lay houering neere the shore And saw the folke of Cicilie their Gods with rights adore This rouing king with armed Guardes of his disordered Crew did come a lande to make their Pray but for to outward view They faine deuotion none suspect the ill that did ensue Anon a wreathing Garlands sweet hard at her mothers side King Pluto saw Proserpine and liking whom he spide Concluding with his companie how to conuay her thence Betwixt his boistrous armes he tooke the faire and fearefull wench and doe what the Cicilians might he setteth her a boord and to his giltie Sailes the Aire did gentle Gaeles afoord A number eyes in Cicelie for her did weep in vaine For her her mother Ceres and her Loues-mate did complaine Her selfe swéet Ladie of her moane did finde no meane God wot Though Dis to please did say and giue what might be said or got Imbarked then with him his Harpe did woful Orpheus take and to Molossa Plutos Realme with speedie Sailes did make Where he vnknowne at gate of Hell did harp such Musicke sweete as lumpâ—sh Cerberus could not but shake his monstrous feete His foule and warpt ill fauoured face or â—huge with cole-black haires his Horslike teeth his â—olling lips his Doglike hanging cares His hooked nose his skowling eyes his filthie knotted Beard and what not in his vglie shape But presentlie appeard More milder than his common moode and lesser to be feard This hellish Porter deeming that such musicke would delight his weeping Mistris did conuay the harper to her sight Where Pulto swore by dreadfull Stix if Orpheus bid by play But make her laugh what so he askt he should receiue for pay Anon such heauenly Harmony on skilful Harpe he plaid That shée her husbands musicke knewe and ioyfull was shée made And Orpheus did a watch-word giue and she to laugh began And for reward to haue from thence his wife he asked than Although it galled Plutoes soule his swéet hart to forgoe Yet for to quit him of his oath he yeelds it shall be so With this condition that before they fully passed Hell He should not backwards looke on her what chaunce so'ere befell Now as they passe through blinde biwaies he fearing least per chaunce she err or lag returnes a looke and who should marke that glance but Cerberus that purposelie for such aduantage waites Who stil detaining her did shut her Husband out the gates When Ceres heard of this mischaunce she Cicil leaues anon And knowing all the Knightes of Grece to Thessalie were gone Shée thether goes in hope of helpe where presently she meetes with Thaeseus and Pirithous whose salutings shee regreetes they wondring what the noble Quéene of Cicill there should make Become inquisitiue thereof to whome sad Ceres spake first of Proserpine her gréef and then of Plutoes guile For her shée weepes of him shée railes and moueth them meane while The mother of false Dis his rape had more behinde vnsaid When AEgeus and Ixions Sonnes did iointly offer aide About the desart partes of Greece there is a valley lowe To which the roaring waters fall that from the Mountaines flâ—e So Rockes ouershadowe it that scarce a man may viewe the open ayre no Sun shines there Amidst this darksome Mewe doth stand a Cittie to the same belongs one onely Gate But one at once may come thereto the entrance is so straite Cut out the rough maine stonie Rocke this Citie did belong to Pluto and because that he was euer doeing wrong And kept a Théeuish Rabell that in mischiefes did excell His Citizens were Diuels said and Cittie named Hell When to this Citties ruthlesse gate were come the friendly Knights Fierce Cerberus did rouse him selfe and scarcely barking bites He thought the worlde had lackt the man that thether durst repaire And troth to say not one till then to do the like did dare Now fiery sparkes from thundring strokes in darke did giue them light And Ceres Champions valiantlie maintaine their ventrous fight But stout Pirithous too too bold a deadlie wound he catcht And Theseus though Combattan-like he long the Helhound matcht Yet with his fellowe had he falne who flying feares to cope Expecting nothing lesse then life but hap exceeded hope For Hercules at Thessalie did feare so hard euent Whence lanching out he made in showe as if to Thaebes he went But with Philoctes all his traine and Licus home he sent And he himselfe to aide his friends did to Molossa goe Where like as did his minde presage he found it very so For euen as currish Cerberus with gorie bloes did chace the wounded and the wearie Knight came Hercules in place An vnexpected happie sight to Theseus at that tide Whome Cerberus forsaking then at Hercules he flide Upbraiding him with threatning words and like him selfe did raue And reacht him many a crabbed rap with his presumtious Glaue The Danter then of Trespasses perceauing Theseus drie his gréeuous wounds and at his féet Pirithous dead to lie Desirous to reuenge them both laies lustie lode about And with his still victorious Club did Cerberus so cloute That quite dismaid at such a match he réeling to the ground Did send from out his Doggish throat a loud and diuelish sound But when the victor suer enough the vanquished had bound He leauing Theseus weake without into the Cittie went Whereas he found the wicked King and
their sight the threatned Citie of the Foe his Tents did Affer pight And girts it with a sodaine Siedge The Giant then did shake his hideous head and vow'd reuenge yea sharpe reuenge to take But issuing out his Citie gates hee found the Foe so hot That notwithstanding such his bragges the worst Antaeus got For Hercules did canuase so his carkas that at length hée did retire himselfe and men as trustlesse of his strength His Libions slaine and hée not sound Antaeus Truse did craue For graunt whereof vnto his Foes meane time he victuals gaue And whilst the Month of Truse did last the Giant brused sore Did heale his wounds and to his part sollicites aiders more Meane while the Greeke to Mauritan did passe vnknowne of all and there in king Antaeus aide he found supplies not small And for he looked souldier-like they brought him to the king who offered payâ— not so quoth he I meane another thing Discharge these Bands or els I will discharge thee of thy breath That all alone to thée and thine opposâ— me to the death When Atlas knew him Hercules that conquered of late The Iland which his daughters held and brought to latest fate His Giant that defended them and captiuated then His friend Philoctes he twixt feare and fiercenesse waxed wanne And looke how fast the ratling haile vpon an house doth fall So fast they lay on Hercules that holdeth wag gainst all and as the Smith with Hammer beats his forged Mettall so he â—ubs his Club about their pates and fleas them on a roe And whilst not daring to looke downe by heaps on him they flie Some stumbling on the bodies dead are smoldred so and die Some sliding in the slipperie blood wherewith the place did swimme were strangled so some others whilst disorderedly at him They freat and soyne are crowded on by those that hindmost be and with their weapons spoile themselues and fellowes two or three Some others with the wounding points of broken weapons die and others daring with their Foe their bootles force to trie were in a moment slaine by him and thus in little space Without Resistants Hercules had Lordship of the place And maugre swords or studied Starres brought Atlas to the Seas whereas Philoctes did in time his pensiuenes appease And to his friend comemnds the Foe for bountie which at last himselfe did finde and when as time his griefe had ouerpast The same that for Astrologie the Skies Support was said In such his Science Hercules a perfect Artist made The Month of Truse by this had end and Hercules returnes To Affer that incamped at the Lybian walles soiournes A second battell then begonne Antaeus like a Baer Besâ—â—es himselfe amongst his Foes whilst Hercules did faer as roughlie with contrarie blooes till none to fight did daer But humblie all submitting them selues subdued by his might He gaue them grace and staied ther to doe them law and right Meane time Anteus lately fled returnes from Mauritain And with a mightie Troupe of Moores renewed fight againe And all the Fieldes with Carcases of mangled men were filde And nombers failed to the Moores that Hercules then kild But when Anteus saw his men to lessen more and more Resoluing or to win the Spurres or lose him selfe therefore He makes a blodie path vntill the Thaebane he espide And finding him bestowe on me thy blowes the Giant cried That am both able to enduer and to repay the same A Flie is not an Eagles praie nor Mouse a Lions game My death might countenance thy deedes if that it so would be But make account that I anon will triumph ouer thee In saying which hee smites his Foe perfourming wondrous might And bodie vnto bodie they with equal dammage fight But Hercules disdaining that so long Antaeus standes with him in combat griping him betwixt his angrie handes Did crush his Carkasse in the aire that life did leaue him so And thus did reape a Monarchie and rid a mightie Foe Then Hercules Antaeus dead with ease he ouercame all Libea with the Prouinces Kingdomes of the same And maketh Affer King of al that beares the doers name IN expedition of which warre when Hercules would dwell no longer time but purposed to bid his friends farewâ—ll A warlike Wench an Amazon salutes him by his name And said knowe Hercules if it thou knowest not by fame how that the Scythian Ladies late eâ—peld their natiue Land by King of Egipt haue contriu'd amongst themselues a bande And with the same haue conquered all Asia Egipt and all Capadocia Now that for we Uictors vnderstand the Africanes are our Allies and minding to procéed In further conquests tendring them thus is therefore decréed That you two Champions shall elect and they will also send two Ladies that for victorie shall with your Knights contend And if your Champions vanquish ours then we wil tribute pay And if that ours doe vanquish yours then you shall vs obay But hope not so more profite giues our bountie then our blowes And vninforced tribute may procure you friendlie Foes Then Hercules admiring much the Chalengers did yeeld two aduerse Knights the morrow next shoulde méet them in the field And mounted well on Corsers twaine next light by dawne of day Into the Liestes came Hercules and Theseus Mid the way vpon a brace of milke white Séedes the two Viragoes méete the Knights and each the other did with ciuill Congies gréete Then either parte retiring backe began to make their race And coutching well their valiant Speares did run a wondrous pace With Menalippe Hercules the sight did vndertake And Theseus with Hippolite did his Encounter make They méeting either part both horse and load to ground were cast Whereat the Africanes did muse and Scythians weare agast Unhorsed thus disdainfully each Knight defendant tooke it And either Ladie so disgrac'd as scornefullie did brooke it Then settle they to handy Armes the which was long and fierce And with their cutting weapons did both Helms and Harnes pierce But Hercules though neuer matcht so hardlie in his life Disarmes at length his Scithian Task and ended was their strife But Theseus with his Combattesse in doubtfull battell fights Till blushing at the Maidens blowes he checks his mending sprits And laid so hardlie to her charge not able to sustaine his fresh-got force that he also the second Prize did gaine Antiope a third vnto those warlike Sisters twaine Beholding how sinisterly the double fight had past Makes sorrow whilst the Africanes reioise for it as fast The Scythians to the Africanes did Homage then and pray their Ladies might be raunsomed Which sute did Theseus stay For he through Lance his Foe through loue went Uanquisher away And ther-fore when th' Athenian Knight and Amazon were matcht in mariage Menelippe then from Durance was dispacht And Hercules then which to him no greater Prize could be had Quéene Antiope her Bealt and Armour for his fâ—e And sets the Dames of Thermodon
from other ransome free And Theseus with Hippolite at Athens landing takes And Hercules to Calidon a Desmalâ— vsage makes THere did King Oeneus bounteously receaue so great a Guest Where scarcely had he any time from pâ—ssed toiles to rest But that proud Achelous sent Ambassidors to knowe If that King Oeneus on him his daughter would bestowe If not to threaten wreakfull warres which much abasht the King Till Hercules who then was come about the selfe same thing For loue to Deianira both Compettitors did bring Expelled feare by offring aide to backe him from the Foe By meanes whereof vnsatisfide away the Legats goe The Tyrant Achelous then with all Epirus force inuades the bounds of Calidon and spoile without remorse But Hercules he leading forth his Armie got the day And well was he amongst his Foes that fastest ran away They their King with hard escape inmure them selues at length within a Castle néere the Sea a Hold of wondrous strength The Thaebans then as resolute to spoile both Foe and Fort Did burne his Foes forsaken shippes left riding in the Porte And with a fewe beset the Holde When Achelous he so slender watch about the walles of Enemies did see He scorned that so weake a siedge should pen him vp so straight He hauing ten for one of them did issue out the Gate against the Greekes that willinglie his comming did awaite Espying Hercules he cride lo yond same diuell is he that droue vs out of Calidon who so of mine he be that slaieth him shall be inritcht with great rewards by me But he that made sâ—ch offers large did offer them in vaine For when his men sawe Hercules approching them amaine With fierie eies and angrie lookes and dreadful Club insist They thought it needles to assaile and booteles to resiste And euery man retired back into the holde againe Where many daies attemting slight they cowardly remaine From warre at length they fell to wiles There lay vpon the shoare a broken Hoy that had not brookt the Seas of long before The Mast they boring full of holes in euerie hole did sticke a burning Torch and lancht it out in night when cloudes were thick No sooner was the firie keele a floot vpon the waues And that the Greekes espied it but ech man rashlie craues the viewing of so strange a sight Their Captaine that did smell the presupposed Stratagem did rainge his armie well And marching neere the guilefull light did finde ambushments there That playing on aduantage thus preuented though appeare Occasion hapning Hercules would not admit the same But tooke them as he found them now and fights it out by aime When Achelous he behild his guild by guile to faile Well might he chafe be harder chaunce his courage might not quaile For looke how fierce and boistrouslie a chafed Bull doth fight So Acheleus lustilie on either side did smite And by his only prowse then a manie knights were slaine Whilst Hercules with like successe his Opposits did paine And now by chance amidst the brunt the valiant Woers twaine doe single and togethers tug and as two Lions strong ech one desiring others blood did hold a Combate long king Achelous minding her for whom began that broile To conquere where he did contend annexed hope to toyle Alcmenas Sonne remembring to whose cause he did defend Euen hers on whom his being and his verie soule depend So chargd his Contrarie with knocks and vsed his Club so well That vanquished though valerous king Achelous fell Thepirotes when they saw their king a Captiue led away Their hearts were doone and Hercules subdude them ere day And Achelous in exile did end his latter dayes And all AEtolia was fild with Hercules his praise To whom the king did giue to Wife faire Deâ—anira she the pleasing prise of that his prowse and dearelie earned Fee Who after of her owne decay and his the meane should be The Centaure Nessus was the man that made her erre so much Of which her error but his sinne the circumstance is such CHAP. VIII WHen ouer deepe Euenus Foord the passage did not fit This Giaunt of a Stature tall did offer helpe to it And Hercules forgetting him for at the Centaures Fray The same vnslaine but not vnskard escaped then away Did pray him to the farther shoare with Deianir to wade And so he did whilst Hercules this side the Riuer staid Whom Iunos Breed on further bankes his Passenger had set Then lust and long conceiued grudge to foule reuenge did whet Not Deianira coulde auoid a Rape or little lesse Or Hercules disioynd by Foord giue aide to her distresse One while contrarie to himself full humbly he intreates Anon like Hercules indeede he did commaund with threats But first nor latter might preuaile for Nessus hald her thence I may not follow nor in slight is Centaure thy defence said Hercules His deeds approue his latter saying true For letting she a fatall Shaft the Rauisher he slue And though the arrow galled him euen at the verie heart Yet for a while he did indure the not induring smart And hauing brought his trembling Rape into a vallie said See Deianira how thy Loue an end of me hath made Yet is my death lesse griefe to me then that thou shouldst bestow thy selfe on such a changing Churle as Hercules I know sweet Wench I know he doth preferre contrarie Loues to thee Wherefore my graue the lesse my griefe in this thy good shall be Take this he gaue a folded cloth and to the bane therein he mixed somewhat of his blood this same quoth he shall win To thee again thy Husbands loue when he shall it estrange For out of doubt I know it I he takes delight in change When thou suspectast such a wrong doe boyle a shirt with this No sooner shall he weare the same herein such vertue is but that his nouell Loue will change and fall whence he did flie Meane while doe not the vnction touch least so the vertue die In all this time betwixt his armes he did the Ladie claspe And hild her so as Hawke a Pray vntill his latest gaspe Then leauing him a liuelesse Coarse mistrusting nought his drift Shée meaning simply tooke with her the Traitours poisoned gift And Hercules by this had past the Riuer deep and wide Who Deianira first imbrast drew from the Centaures side the fatall Shaft that should the death of braue Achilles proue In Phoebus Church by Paris hand for Polixenas loue THE Centaure left vntoombed there Hée Shée and all their trainâ— are come to Lerna whom the king did noblie entertaine There had he from the common teares the cruell hauock made by Lernan Hydra whom in Fenne not armies durst inuade His vâ—per parts had humane forme his nether Serpentine The whole was monstrous yet his wit more moÌ„strous but most fine For wit is monstrous when the same from vertue doth decline Such were his subtill arguments and still supplies therein That he by often losse of
She that is Then he that rubs her gamesome vaine and tempers toyes with Arte Brings loue that swimmeth at her eies to dâ—ue into her hart But since the best at best is bad a Shroe or els a Sheepe Iust none at all are best of all and I from all will keep Admit I come and come I then because I come to thee No when I come my comming is contrarie sights to sée My leasure serues me not to loue till fish as haggards flie Til Sea shal flame til Sonne shal freese tyll mortal men not die And Riuers climing vp their bankes shal leaue their channels dry When these shal be and I not be then may I chance to loue And then the strangest change will be that I a louer proue Let Beuers hide not busses hurt my lips for lips vnfit Let skarred limbes not carefull loues to honor honor get I skorne a face effeminate but hate his bastarde minde That borne a man propostrusly by Arte doth alter kinde with figures Ladie-like with lockes with lookes and gauds in print With fassions barbing formeles beards and robes that brooke no lint With Spear in wrest like painted Mars from thought of battaile frée With gate and grace and euerie gaude so womanly to sée As not in nature but in name their manhood séemes to be Yea sooner then that maiden heares bud on his Boyish chinne The furie of the fierie God doth in the foole beginne And yet to winne whome would be wonne these woo with lesser spéed Then might be wun a towne of warre the croppe not worth the séede But let them trauell til they tire and then be ridde for Iaides If Gamesters faire if Souldirs milde or Louers true of maides They loue in sporte or leaue in spight or if they stoope to luer Their kindnes must haue kindely vse faultes onely make them suer Dâ—d fancie noe did furie yea hang vp the Thracian maide The wonders seuen should then be eight could loue thée so perswade But loue or hate fare ill or wel I force not of thy fare My welcome which thou doest pretend shall proue a thankelesse care When Daphlâ— heard him so vnkind she held her selfe accurst And little lacked of so well but that her hart did burst And wheare she read the churlish scrole she fel into a sowne But brought againe vpon a bed her selfe she casteth downe Not rising more â—ho so her loue and life together end Or if I so may gesse in death her soule did liue his friend The Quéene interr'd and Obbit kept as she in charge did giue A Knight was shipt to Calidon where Doracles did liue To offer him as her bequest the Argiue Throne and Crowne Not that we force or feare quoth he thy fauour or thy frowne We moue this peace or make thee Prince but Daphles swore vs so Who louing more then thou couldst hate nor liu'd nor died thy Foe And is she dead quoth Doracles that liued to my wrong I gladlie doe accept these newes expected for of long The Lord and Legate were imbarkt and Ship ran vnder saile Until into the Argiue Strond the Mariners did haile To Dirce by adoption there inthronized a King He diuers yeares good fortune had successiue in each thing All friends no Foes al wealth no want stil peace and neuer strife And what might séeme an earthly heauen to Doracles was rise A Subiect but a Noble man did ritchly feast the King And after meat presented him with many a sight and thing There was a chamber in the which poâ—traitered to the quick The Picture of Quéene Daphles was and déepely did it prick The King his conscience and he thought her like did not remaine So whome her person could not pierce her picture now did paine A Kissing Cupid breathing loue into her breast did hide Her wandring eies whilst to her heart his hand a death did guide Non moereens morior for the Mott inchased was beside Her curtesie and his contempt he calleth then to minde And of her beautie in him selfe he did a Caos finde Recalling eke his late degree and reckoning his desert He could not thinke or faintly thought his loue to sterne her harte And to the maker of the feast did such his thoughtes impart And doubtes your Grace the Feaster said if Daphles lou'd or no I wish I hope I wish no harme she had not loued so Or you not loathed as you did then she had liued yet To what her latest speach did tend I neuer shal forget My selfe with diuers noble men whose teares bewraid their care was prsent when her dying tongue of you did thus declare My hap quoth she is simplie bad that cannot haue nor hope Was euer wretch I wretch except held to so skant a scope I sée him roue at other markes and I vnmarkt to be I finde my fault but followe it whilst death doth followe me Ah death my Lords dispaire is death and death must ransom blisse Such Ransome pleaseth Doracles and Daphles Pliant is Not booteles then since breathles strait swéet loue doth flames contriue The which shall burne me vp at once that now doe burne aliue Alas then did she pause in teares that Doracles were bye To take it from his eies not eares that I for him doe die At least perhaps he would confesse my loue to be no lie But Want-wit I offensiue sights to Doracles I craue Long liue deare harte not minding me when I am laid in graue And you my Lords by those same Goddes whose sight I hope anon I coniure that ye him inuest your King when I am gon Alonely say I liued and died to him a Louer true And that my dying tongue did sound swéet Doracles adue A sigh concluding such her words she closed vp her eie Not one of vs beholding it that séemed not to die Thus to your Grace I leaue to gesse how tragick Daphles died In loue my Lord yea louing you that her of Loue denied The Picture and this same discourse afford sufficient woe To him that maimed in his minde did to his Pallace goe There Doracles did set abroch a world of things forgot What meanst thou man ah frantick man how art thou ouershot He said to hate the substance then and loue the shadow nowe Her painted board whose amorous breast did breake whilst I not bow And couldst thou churlish wretch contemne the Loue of such a Quéen O Gods I graunt for such contempt I iustly bide your teene Her onely beautie worthy Ioue that now on me hath power was worthy of farre worthier loue without a further dower But gaze thou on her senceles signe whose selfe thou madest thy pray And gazing perishe for thy life is debt to her decay Time goeing on gréefe it grewe on of dolour sprung dispaire When Doracles to Daphles Tombe did secretly repaire There teares a preface to the rest these onely words he spake Thy Loue was losse for losse my life in recompence doe take Deare Daphles So a daggers
but wanting all that poorest wretches haue And worst of all her sauage sonne whose manners did agrée Unto his birth-place howerly threates his mothers death to be And angrie once pursued her so long from place to place That euen into the Cittie gates he followed her in chase The people when they did behold so fayre a Nimph in flight A Baer-like Arcas in pursute for being naked quite His skinne was swart and hairie they did wonder at the sight And some that would his passage stop he rudely casteth downe And spares no spoyle vntill the sight was noysed through the towne Then out came Iupiter in Armes whome when Calysto knewe Helpe Ioue she cryde for loe thy sonne his mother doth pursue He knewe his Leiman at the first and ioyed of her sight Then kisse they when the Sauage boy by force did leaue to fight Calysto liued Lady-like yea Iunos Ryuall now And Arcas nobly mannaged such vertues him indowe That Ioue consenting him for King Pelasgis did Allowe A Sonne well worthy such a Syer and for his prowes and fame Pelasgis then of Arcas tooke Arcadia to name BUt rather might these Ladies fayre by any pleasant taile Or daseling toye of masshing loue swéet Consorts to preuaile Disswade outragious Cacus from vnpatientnes of mynde Who in his greatest tyrannies did chiefest pleasures finde He sleas the harmles Passengers from eldest soule to childe He burnes and spoyles the neighbour parts and women he defild And to his Caue Troponius Caue did bring the spoyles he gaynes In which except to do more harme he secretly remaynes Whilst none did passe that did repasse vnspoyled or vnkild None knowing how all Italie with feare thereof was fild But lo and helpe when Hercules had slaughtered out-right Tenne Giants of Cremona Kings and put th-eleauenth to flight From thence the Worthy did ariue with his victorious band At King Euanders Cittie that by Auentin did stand Amongst a many ritcher Spoyles though none to him so rare He brought a sort of Spanish kyne Euander taking care Because the like misfortune oft had hapned there before Least Hercules should loose his Kyne of which he made such store Gaue counsell that within the walles they might be kept all night And better to approue his words with teares he did resight The murthers theftes and cruelties without compassion maide Upon his Subiects and their goods by whome could not be said But that the gods for so they gesse for sinne them so inuade I am resolu'd quoth Hercules where gods doe vengeance craue It is not strong or fensiue walles that any thing can saue My Kyne shall therefore graese abroade if mortall man it be Then know a Tyrant is my Taske his blood the Taskers fée The Cattell graesing then abroade as was his vse alwaies The Gyant left his cruell Denne to seeke his cursed praies The Moone not wanting of her light the Kyne he did espye And knowing them he also knewe his feared Foe was nye And fâ—r much better feare had bene then mallice at that tide But hardly shunneth pollicie what destinies prouide He might haue lurkt a while in Denne but of a péeuish spight Eight of the Kine with fastned cords by pollicie and might â—e dragged backward by their tailes into his diuelish Nest Then stopping vp the subtill hole did lay him downe to rest Now Hercules the rather prickt by king Euanders talke Into the fieldes to sée his Kine by prime of day did walke Where missing eight he could not gesse which waie they should be gon A many therefore had in charge to search them out anon The Searchers following euery signe great store of footings found Discending from Mount Auentine into the lower ground But for the footings did discend and not ascend they thought of no such cunning as in deed in Auentine was wrought Alcaeus Grand-sonne searching long the Thefts he could not finde Was much disquieted in him selfe and angrie in his minde And chasing when he should depart he twise or thrise did shake A Tree that grue on Auentâ—ne which â—ooted vp did make So large a vent that one might view the hollowe Caue belowe And Cacus with his Leash of wiues they were disclosed so Whome when the Greeke espied there O gracelesse King he said Whose Tyrannies haue made the Realmes of Hespera afraid Whose cruelties haue bene the cause of all the lesse thou hast What moueth thee in Italie to prosecute such waste Thinkst thou whom neither mightie Realmes nor royal Gards of meÌ„ Could late defend now to escape inclosed thus in Den The iust reuengement of the Goddes no no the Heauens wée sée Haue brought to light a wretch so lewd euen by a senceles Tree And since that neither wealth nor want to goodnes may thée win A greeuous death condignly shall cut off thy grounded sinne To it did Cacus aunswer thus doest thou pursue me still Who onely art the chiefest cause of these my doings ill Not suffring me to liue the rest of my vnhappie daies Among the fruitlesse rocks a wretch in miserie alwaies Cease further prate said Hercules in troth it gréeueth much To see a King in this Distresse but since thy life is such As nather in aduersitie nor prosperous estate Thou canst afford one iot of good I purpose to rebate Thy wicked dayes by worthy death prepare therefore to dye When Cacus sawe he must perforce so harde a combate trye He by inchanted flames againe endeuored to flye But Hercules deluded once by that deuise before Had learned now for being so deceaued any more And casting feare a side did leape into the flaming Caue And so by Arte did conquer Arte. The Gyant then to saue Him selfe did take his Axe in hand where Hercules and he Couragiously bestirre themselues vntill they did agrée To trye it out in open ayer So dolefull was their fight That Lookers on could not discerne to whether best should light The frighted Ladies did their best to helpe their fighting frend But Hercules had victorie and Cacus had his end CHAP. XII FOr Gyants of Cremona flayne and Cacus ridded so The Latine Princes prayse on him and presents did bestoe Where Rome is now Pallantia then EuaÌ„der he did frame A Temple and to Hercules did dedicate the same And he intreated thereunto in Italie did stay To honour whome did Princes come from farre and euery waye King Faunus had affaiers abroad when from Laurentum came His wife Marica Facua some this louely Quéene do name From liking did she fall in loue with Hercules and he More ready to haue made demaunde then like to disagrée Conceauing her by circumstance so cuppled by contract That had King Faunus neuer liu'd Latinus had not lackt Yet home came Faunus fathering his late Coriuals act But whether gotten lawfully or thus in loue forbod Latinus Brute his Gran-dams Syer was sonne vnto a God WHilst that in loue of this same Quéene and lawde of all besides The vanquisher of Vulcans sonne in Italy abydes Of Calabries
a mightie Oste King Picus he prouides And in reuenge of Cacus swore his Slayer should be slaine But he ere long that so did sware vnswared it againe When chased home into his holdes there sparred vp in gates The valiant Thaebane all in vaine a following fight awaites He for dispatch did fayne himselfe a Legate to the King And him the Porters as the same before their Tyrant bring Then shaking of his ciuill Robes his shining Armes appeare And renting downe an Iron sparre both Prince and people feare Some ran to Armor other some did fight with him their last Both Court and Cittie in the ende did lay vpon him fast There Picus worthely did winne of valiantnesse a name Yet Hercules more valiantly by death doth Picus tame And to attend their King his goste he sendeth flocke by flocke His furie was as fier to Ferne his foes as waues to Rocke Nor did his Lyons Spoyle giue place to darting or to knocke Meane tyme his men assault without whil'st he assayles within Then fightes he to beate downe the Gates and so the Goale did win Within the King his ransackt Court he Iole espyes Whose teares then mounting from her hart dismount thē from her eyes King Picus now a lifeles corse was father of this mayde In vaine therefore did Hercules her pensiuenesse disswayde Nor could he but lament her faate and loue so swéete a face Whose person also did containe the type of female grace At first she was so farre from loue she rather seem'd to hate Yet could she not so giue the Checke but that she tooke the Mate Then eithers loue was eithers life poore Deianira shée was out of commons yea of thought an other had her fée WIth this so faire and portly wench he sayled into Thrace And heares how Diomedes did tyrannise in that place No Straunger scapes vnraunsomed but Raunsome wanting then He casteth them as prouendor to Horses eating men A Garde of Tyrants like himself attending on him still Who richly did maintaine themselues by such their doings ill The Scourge of such was moued not to be remoued now by Iole whose louing teares such laboures disalow With Diomedes and his Garde in Forrest did he méete Who with their common Stratagim the Straunger thinke to gréete Hands of commaunded Hercules for Horse I am no hay All Straungers Raunsome once for all my comming is to pay Which sayd himself against them all began a noble fray The sturdie Thracians mightie men did hardly loose their ground But then the King a mightier man not any where was found These all at once assayle and strike and thunder on his Sheeld But number fitted to his force vnwonted so to yeeld For with his Club he skuffles then amongst their Curates so That speedie death was sweeter dole then to suruiue his blo Well mounted comes the King himself whom he dismounts anon But rescued to his Horse againe away he would be gon Lesse haste he sayd I Harts out runne nor shalt thou me out ride Out stripping so the man-fead horse he topled ore his side The monstrous King that rescules to flying people cride Who lying all to frusshed thus the sonne of Ioue did bring His cruell Iades that soone deuoure their more then cruell King The Thracians all submit themselues and ioye their Tyrants death And thinke some God had left the Heauens to succour men on earth From such as what they would they will and what they will they can And what they can they dare and doe and doing none withstan Nor thought they better of the man then did his deedes approue That neuer was a Conqueror vnto his owne behoue But to establish vertuous men and Tyrants to remoue This common Soldiour of the world with Iole did land in Lycia and the earth in peace discharged there his band Sweete busses not sharpe battelles then did alter man and minde Till he as others sorrowe in securitie did finde From Assur went the Empier then when Tonos he had tyme To court his Trulles Arbaces so espying place to clyme Secure in Tomyris her flight was valiant Cyrus slaine From Capua not from Cannas grewe the braue Carthagians vaine The same to whose victorious Sword a second world was sought That Macedon in Court not Campe to traytrous end was brought A Louer not a Soldiour went Achilles to his graue And Caesar not in steele but silke to Rome his farwell gaue Euen so this second vnto none superior vnto all To whome did soner Causes cease then Conquests not befall This Monster-Master Hercules this Tyrant-Tamer he Whose ligh Exploytes did leaue the Earth frō spoyle Spoylers frée In pleasures did perrish now that did in perrilles thriue A gréeuous Taske I vndertake his dying to reuiue CHAP. XIII WHen Deianira vnderstood her husbands back returne She thought it strange that he from her so strangely did soiorne Explorers sent to search the cause returne was made that he Did loyter in a Strangers loue and Iole was she That euer hanged at his lips and hugged was of him And that his armor layd a-part in silke he courts it trim The daughter of th Atolian King did little lesse then raue And can the churle quoth she preferre in loue a captiue Slaue Before his wife whome late he faynd inferiour vnto none Ah Hercules thou art a man thy manhood thus is knowne Fye may a forren Strumpits armes so fasten on his necke As he the Rector of the Earth must bowe if she doe becke Oh how vnlike to Hercules is Hercules in this But leauing men to natures fault in her the lewdnes is No man so chaste but such as she may worke to doe amis Thus whilst her ouerplus of loue to Ielosie did growe She simply mynds the spightfull gift that Nessus did bestowe And for he dying spake the words she held it as her Créede That it could winne him to her selfe of which now hauing néede She vseth part and sent a Shirte so boyled as she bad To Hercules and Hercules was of the Present glad Confessing her his onely Wiffe And whilst he did repent His breach of loue on Oeta Mount to sacrifice he went Philoctes Paeans valiant Sonnne and Lychas he that brought The poysned Shirt were present there but of no treason thought Nor Deianiras selfe good Soule till tryall made it playne When as his body and the fire gaue moysture to the bayne His stoutnes hid such torments long as els could none abyde Yea till the baine his Bowels and his verie Marroe fryde But when his torments had no meane the Altar downe he throes And from his martred body rents the gory smoking clothes And striuing to strip of the Shirt he teareth flesh from bone And left his breaking Synooes bare his Intrailes euery one Did boyle and burst and shew themselues where lumpes of flesh did lack And still the murdrous Shirt did cleue vnto his mangled backe Espying Deianiras Squire that quaking stoode he sayde And art thou wretch the Instrument
to trayne With whorish tricks a vicious King but neither of you twayne Thou stately Drabb nor this thy Brat a bastard as thy selfe Shall liue in triumph of my wrong first mother and her Elfe Shall â—ish in Flood for Humbars soule and bring him newes to hell That Locrins wife on Locrins Whore reuenged her so well They lifting vp their lillie hands from out their louely eyes Powre teares like Pearles and washe those Chéekes where naught saue beautie lyes And seeking to excuse themselues and mercie to obtaine With spéeches good and prayers faire they speake and pray in vaine Quéene Guendoleyne so bids and they into the Flood are cast Whereas amongst the drenching waues the Ladies breath their last As this his Grandame such appear'd Mempricius Madans sonne Whose brother Manlius traytrously by him to death was done And since of noble Brute his lyne prodigious things I tell I skipping to the Tenth from him will shewe what befell ABout a thirtie yeres and fiue did Leit rule this Land When doting on his Daughters thrée with them he fell in hand To tell how much they loued him the Eldest did estéeme Her life inferior to her loue so did the Second déeme The Youngest sayd her loue was such as did a childe behoue And that how much himself was worth so much she him did loue The formost two did please him well the youngest did not so Upon the Prince of Albanie the First he did bestoe The Middle on the Cornish Prince their Dowrie was his Throne At his decease Cordellas parte was very small or none Yet for her forme and vertuous life a noble Gallian King Did her vn-dowed for his Quéene into his Countrie bring Her Sisters sicke of Fathers health their Husbands by consent Did ioyne in Armes from Leir so by force the Scepter went Yet for they promise pentions large he rather was content In Albanie the quondam King at eldest Daughters Court Was setled scarce when she repynes and lessens still his Porte His second Daughter then he thought would shewe her selfe more kinde To whom he going for a while did franke allowance finde Ere long abridging almost all she keepeth him so loe That of two badds for betters choyce he backe againe did goe But Gonorill at his returne not onely did attempt Her fathers death but openly did hold him in contempt His aged eyes powre out their teares when holding vp his hands He sayd O God who so thou art that my good happ withstands Prolong not life deferre not death my selfe I ouer-liue When those that owe to me their liues to me my death would giue Thou Towne whose walles roofe of my wealth stand euermore to tell Thy Founders Fall and warne that none doe fail as Leir fell Bid none affie in Friends for say his Children wrought his wracke Yea those that were to him most deare did loath and let him lacke Cordella well Cordella sayd she loued as a Childe But sweeter words we seeke then sooth and so are men begilde She onely rests vntryed yet but what may I expect From her to whom I nothing gaue when these doe me reiect Then dye nay trye the rule may fayle and Nature may assend Nor are they euer surest friends on whom we most doe spend He shippes himself to Gallia then vut maketh knowne before Unto Cordella his estate who rueth him so poore And kept his there ariuall close till she prouided had To furnish him in euery want Of him her King was glad And nobly intertayned him the Queene with teares among Her duetie done conferreth with her father of his wrong Such duetie bountie kindnes and increasing loue he found In that his Daughter and her Lord that sorrowes more abound For his vnkindly vsing her then for the others cryme And King-like thus in Agamps Court did Leir dwell till tyme The noble King his Sonne-in-law transports an Armie greate Of forcie Gawles possessing him of dispossessed Seate To whom Cordeilla did succeede not raigning long in queate Not how her Nephewes warre with her and one of them slew th'other Shall followe but I will disclose a most tyrannous mother CHAP. XV. GOrbodugs double Issue now when eighteene Kings were past Hild ioyntly Empier in this Land till Porrex at the last Not tyed so by brotherhood but that he did disdaine A fellowe King for neuer can one Kingdome brooke of twaine Did leuie secrete bands for dread whereof did Ferrex flye And out of Gallia bringeth Warre in which himselfe did dye Then Porrex only raigned here and ruled all in peace Till Iden mother Quéene to both her furie did increase So fearcely as she seekes reuenge euen in the highest degrée Why liueth this quoth she a King in graue why lyeth he Dye Iden dye nay dye thou wretch that me a wretch hast mayde His goste whose life stoode in thy light commaundeth me of ayde Nor want I Ferrex will to ayde for why the Gods I see Deferre reuenge nor with a Deuill the Deuilles disagree The heauens me thinks with thunderbolts should presse his soule to hell Or Earth giue passage that at feast with men he might not dwell But I my selfe euen I my selfe their flacknesse will supplye And mothers name and Nature both to such a Sonne denye Dead night was come when Iden found the King her sonne a sléepe And all was still not then as now did Gards their Princes kéepe Admit they had who would haue feard such mischiefe in a mother She whispring softly sleepe thy last yea sleepe as doth thy brother Did gash his throte who starting vp when strength spéech were gone Lifts vp his faynting hands and knewe the Tyrantisse anone And maketh signes as who would say ah mother thou hast done a déede as neuer mother earst did practise on her Sonne But name of Sonne nor signes did serue him stil w t wounds she plyes Nor more then Monster did it please that simply so he dyes But that his bodie peecemeale tore about the Lodging flyes And thus from noble Brute his lyne the Scepter then did passe When of his bloud for to succéede no heire suruiuing was FOwer Dukes at once in ciuell broyles seiunctly after raine Néere when the Scottes whom some accuse by Ante-dates to gaine Did settle in the Northerne Isles These people bring their lyne from Cecrops and that Pharo he that euer did declyne from Moses seeking Hebers house from AEgypt to conuay His daughter Scota Gathelus their Duke brought thence away When Pharos sinne to Iacobs Séede did nere that Land decay And Cecrops sonne brought then froÌ„ thence as Scottes inforce the same The Stone that Iacob slept vpon when Angles went and came Of it was made their fatall Chaire of which they beare in hand That wheresoere the same is found the Scottes shall brooke that land At Westminster that Monument doth now decaying stand In Lusitania Gathelus did first his Kingdome found And of his race of Scota Scottes when Spanish Scottes abound Ariue in Ireland and in
set his Kingdome frée By ouer-ruling of his Lords intreating long the same Least dying Issules he leaue succession out of frame He tooke to Quéene a Damsell faire howbeit by conscent In vowes of secret chastitie their louing liues they spent The Father of this Mayden-wife in sitting by the King And seeing one that stumbled but not falling vp did spring He laughing sayd the brother there the brother well hath easd His meaning was the Stumblers Feete And haddest thou so pleasd So had my Brother quoth the King bin easing vnto me The traytrous Earle tooke bread and sayd so this digested be As I am giltles of his death these words he scarcely spoke But that in presence of the King the bread did Goodwyn choke Harolde his sonne by Hardi-knoghts late daughter him suruiues He crossed by contrary windes in Normandie ariues There Goodwyns Sonne did take an oth Duke William vrging so To keepe vnto the Duke his vse when Edward hence should goe The Crowne of England clayming by Adoption and by blood But Harolde after Edwards Death not to his promise stood And for he was in wealth in friends in blood and Armor strong And title had his Mothers right he forced not the wrong But arming him against the Duke so vrged vnto wroth Did seaze the Crowne vnto himselfe contrary to his Oth. Whil'st William therfore works for Warre King Harolde had not rest For Harolde Hare-foote King of Danes and Norwaies much opprest The English with his pusant Bands But Harolde him assayles And after fearce and doubtfull fight most valiantly preuayles And with the Norgayne Prince he slewe his people almost all When for deuision of the Spoyle did much contention fall Betwixt the King and English-men and many a noble Knight Not only murmor and malinge but did forsake him quight Such mallice growing William with his Normanes taking land Found hot-spurr Harolde prest in Armes his pusance to withstand And either Battell Marshalled as either Captaine wild The King of England eagerly the Normane Oste behild And with his chearfull speeches thus his men with courage fild Sée valiant Warr-friends yonder be the first the last and all The Agents of our Enemies they henceforth cannot call Supplies for weedes at Normandie by this in Porches groe Then Conquer these would Conquer you and dread no further Foe They are not stouter then the Brutes whom we did hence exile Nor stronger then the sturdie Danes our Uictorie erwhile Not Saxonie could once contayne or scarce the world beside Our Fathers who did sway by Sword where listed them to bide Then doe not ye degenerat take courage by discent And by their Buryalles not abode their force and flight preuent Ye haue in hand your Countries cause a Conquest they pretend Which were ye not the same ye be euen Cowards would defend I graunt that parte of vs are flead and linked to the Foe And glad I am our Armie is of Traytors cléered so Yea pardon hath he to departe that slayeth Mal-content I prize the mynd aboue the man like zeale hath like euent Yet troth it is no well or ill this Iland euer had But through the ill or well Support of Subiects good or bad Not Caesar Hengest Swayn or now which nertheles shall fayle The Normane Bastard Albion true did could or can preuayle But to be selfe-false in this Isle a selfe-Foe euer is Yet wot I neuer Traytor did his Treasons Stypend mis. Shrinke who will shrinke let Armors wayte presse downe the burdned Earth My Foes with wondring eyes shall see I ouer-prize my death But since ye all for all I hope a-like affected be Your Wiues your Children liues and Land from Seruitude to frée Are armed both in shewe and zeale then gloriously contend To winne and weare the home-brought Spoyles of Uictorie the end Let not the Skinners daughters Sonne possesse what he pretends He liues to dye a noble death that life for Fréedome spends As Harolde hartned thus his men so did the Normane his And looking wishly on the Earth Duke William speaketh this To liue vpon or lye within this is my Ground or Graue My louing Soldiours one of twaine your Duke resolues to haue Nor bâ—ye Normanes now to seeke in what ye should be stout Ye come amidst the English Pykes to hewe your Honors out Ye come to winne the same by Launce that is your owne by lawe Ye come I say in rytious Warre reuenging Swords to drawe Howbeit of more hardie Foes no passed Fight hath spead ye Since Rollo to your now Abode with Bands victorious lead ye Or Turchus Sonne of Troyelus in Scythian Fazo bread ye Then worthy your Progenitors ye Séede of Priams Sonne Exployt this busnesse Rollons doe that as ye wish be donne Thrée People haue as many tymes got and for-gâ—n this Shore It resteth now ye Conquer it not to be Conqured more For Normane and the Saxon Blood conioyning as it may From that consorted Séede the Crowne shall neuer passe away Before vs are our armed Foes behinde vs are the Seas On either side the Foe hath Holds of succour and for ease But that Aduantage shall returne their Disaduantage thus If ye obserue no Shore is left the which may shelter vs And so hold out amidst the Rough whil'st they hael in for Lée Whereas whil'st men securely sayle not seldome Shipwrackes bée What should I cite your passed Acts or tediously incence To present Armes your faces shewe your hearts conceiue offence Yea euen your Courages deuine a Conquest not to fayle Hope then your Duke doth Prophesie and in that hope preuayle A People braue a terren Heauen hath Obiects wroth your Warres Shall be the Prizes of your Prow's and mounâ— your fame to Starres Let not a Traytors periur'd Sonne extrude vs from our right He dyes to leaue a famous life that doth for Conquest sight By this the furious Battelles ioyne a bloodie day to either And long they fight the Uictorie inclyning vnto neither At length the English had the ods who kéeping close aray Unto the Duchie Forces gaue no entrance any way Then fayning feare and Martially retyring as opprest The English so became secure and followe on disperst To which aduantage furiously the Normanes did returne And got a bloodie victorie In vayne the English thâ—â—ne Amidst the Pykes against the pricke 〈◊〉 Harolde then was slayne From him began the Normanes sole but soone â—â—â—ioyned rayâ—e For second Henrie Mawde her Sonne fréed Englands blood agayne Since whence and euer may they so that Of-spring ruled vs Of whose Coniunction in the Crowne the Genalogue is thus King Edmund Irne side Issue had Edward the Our-law he Had Margret Mawde by Mancholyn the King of Scottes had she Mawde to the Conqueror his Sonne first Henrie Mawde did beire This second Mawde the Angeos wife had second Henrie heire EDward King Harolds Preregnant of this same Change foretold Who present and succéeding tymes thus dying did vnfold It is a World to note quoth he