sent forth to enquire of thee And he did bring home all this news to me Bringing me tydings how Dolon by name And Rhesus by thy sword at once were slain While the one of them in his dead sleep was kill'd And the others blood by treachery was spill'd And thou amongst thy other bold attempts By night didst set upon the Thracian Tents Slaying so many men how couldst thou be So adventurous if thou hadst remembred me And of thy other victories I did hear My heart did burn within my brest for fear But what although thy valour did confound Troy and did race the walls unto the ground Shall I as if Troy were besieg'd still be A widow wanting thy sweet company That Troy doth stand I only find alone Others rejoyce that it is overthrown Whose fruitful fields the conquering Grecians now Do with the Trojan Oxen daily plough For now ripe corn doth grow where Troy once stood And all the ground is fat with Trojan blood The crooked plough doth graze as it goes by Upon mens bones which there half buried lie So that they plough up bones as well as land And grass doth grow where houses once did stand Yet having wasted Troy thou keep'st away Nor do I know what moveth thee to stay Nor can by any means learn in what part Of all the world thou most unkindest art If any ship unto our shore doth come Then to enquire of thee I straight do run And to the ship-master a Letter give To deliver unto thee if thou dost live Charging if that it be his chance to see Vlysses he should give it unto thee I sent to Pylos where Nestor did reign But I from Pylos heard no news again I sent unto the Spartans who could tell No tidings of thee or wheâ—e thou didst dwell O would that Troy were standing now again For whose destruction I did pray in vain If thou wert at the wars I should know where Thou wert and of thy safety stand in fear And other women might with me complain Because their Husbands came not home again To grieved minds this may some comfort be To have companions in adversity I know not what to fear yet all things fear My cares and sorrows never greater were Thinking what dangers by sea and land may Enforce thee 'gainst thy will from me to stay While thus my fond affection doth excuse thee Perhaps thou in requital dost abuse me For I do fear thy fancy loves to rove And that thou hast some sweet-heart thou dost love In forrain Countries nay and it may be That thou dost wooe her by disgracing me Telling her that thy Wif 's a Country Ione That knoweth only how to spin at home But of my hard belief I do repent I hope thou art not willingly absent My father Icarus would not have me stay A widow still but chideth my delay But let him chide Penelâ—pe will be A constant wife Vlysses unto thee But though I do by fair entreaty still Prevail so much that I do change his will Or alter it so that heâ—s not enclin'd To use a Fathers power to force my mind The Duâ—â—chians and the Samians come to wooe me And the Zâ—â—ynâ—hâ—anâ— often come unto me And of forreign suiters such a wanton crue Do haunt me that I know not what to do Who in thy Palace do most freely raign Wasting those goods which thou before didst gain Pâ—sandrus Polybus and Medon too Eurymachus and Antinous come to wooe Me and in thy absence do consume and eat That estate thou didst gain by blood and sweat Poor Irus and Melanthius that doth seed His sheep are suiters too and hope to speed And all thy houshold here doth but consist Of three that are too weak for to resist Namely â—â—aerteâ— who is spent and done Thy wife and young clâ—machâ—s thy Son VVhom I had almost lost while that he went To the City Pylâ—s without our consent And when the â—ates our time of death assign May his hand close up both thy eyes and mine Our Oxe-herd Swine-herd and our old Nurse are All of one mind and do make the same prayer And how can old Laertes power restrain Those wanton Saiters which at home do raign Telemachus in time will grow more strong His Father now should keep him from all wrong I have no strength to drive these Suiters hence Then come thou home and be thy own defence Think on thy son to whom thou shouldst impart Instruction that may season his young heart Think on Laertes come and close his eyes VVho in his old age even bed-rid lyes And think on me for when thou wentst from home Full young was I but now an old wife grown The Argument of the second Epistle DEmophoon the son of Theseus and Phaedra returning home from the Trojan wars was driven by a tempest into Thrace where Phyllis the daughter of Lycurgus and Câ—ustumena being then Queen of Thrace gave him courteous entertainment both at board and bed but when he had staid a while with her as soon as he heard that Mâ—neâ—â—hous was dead who had expulst his Father Theseus out of the City of Athens And assumed the government to himself he being desirous to regain his Kingdom desired leave of Phyllis to go and settle his affairs promising her within one moneth to return again and so having made ready his ships he sails to Athens and taâ—ries there Whereupon after four moneths were past Phyllis writes this Epistle perswading him to be faithful unto her and to remember her kindness and his own promise which if he neglects to do she threatens to kill her self and so revenge the violation of her Maiden chastity PHYLLIS to DEMOPHOON PHyllis that did so kindly entertain Thee O Demophoon must of thee complain Before the Moons sharp horns were once grown round Thou didst promise to land on the Thracian ground But now four Moons are chang'd four moneths are past And yet thy ship is not return'd at last If thou dost count the time which we that are In love do strictly reckon with great care Thou having broke thy promise needs must say That my complaint comes not before the day My fears were slow for we do slowly give Credence to those things we would not believe Which made me for thy sake even falsly fain That the North-wind drove back thy sails again Sometimes I fear'd lest that in Hebrus sound Thy ship might in those shallow waves be drown'd Oft I besought the gods for thy return And on their Altars did sweet incense burn When the wind stood fair I said unto my self Sure he will come now if he be in health My faithful love was witty to invent Something that might still hinder thy intent But yet thou stayest nor can thy promise move Thee to return nor yet our former love But I perceive Demophoon by thy stay One wind did drive thy ship and faith away Thy Ship returns not which makes me complain That all thy faithful promises were vain
or Vlysses There is a sweeter eloquence in kisses If I incircle thee within mine arms My close embraces are like powerful charms My naked breasts being in thy view laid open Will soon perswade thee though no word be spoken If thou wert like the sea void of compassion My silent tears would move commiseration As thou desirest thy fathers length of dayes Or to see Pyrrbus crown'd with wreaths of Bayes Achillâ—s take thy Briseis once again Have pity on that grief which I sustain If thy love be turn'd to hate yet do not flout me Kill me out-right who cannot live without thee Nay thou dost kill me for my strength doth fade My beauty and fresh colour is decay'd Yet I do hope thou wilt thy Briseis take And this hope makes me live even for thy sake But if my hopes of thee do sail then I To meet my brother and husband will dye Yet when others shall perchance read my sad story To kill a woman will yeild thee no glory Yet let no other kill me thy weapon can Kill me assoon as any other man Let thy sword give me such a wound that I May bleed with pleasure and so bleeding die Let thy sword send me to Elysian rest Which might have wounded Hectors valiant brest But let me live if thou art pleased so Thy love doth ask what thou grant'st to thy foe And rather kill thy Trojan foes than I Express thy valour on thy enemy And whether thou intend'st to go or stay Command me as my Lord to come away The Argument of the fourth Epistle THeseus the son of Aegens having slain the Minotaure brought away by ship Ariadna daughter to Minos and Pasiphae to whom for helping him in killing the Minotaure he had promised marriage and her sister Phâ—dra But admonished by Bacchus he leaves Ariadna in the Isle Naxâ—s or Chios and marries Phaedra who in Theseus absence falls in love with her son in Law Hippolytus Theseus son by Hippolito an Amâ—zon He being a Bachelour and much addicted to hunting she having no opportunity to speak to him discovers he love by this Epistle wherein cunningly wooing and perswading him to love her and lest it might seem dishonesty in a mother to solicit her son in law she begins with an Insinuation PHAEDRA to HIPPOLYTUS PHâ—edra unto Hippolytus sends health Which unless thou giv'st me I must want my self Yet read it for a Letter cannot fright thee There may be something in it may delight thee For these dumb Messengers sent out of hand Do carry secrets both by sea and land The foe will read a letter though it be Sent to him from his utter enemy Thrice I began my mind to thee to break Thrice I grew dumb so that I could not speak There is a kind of modesty in love Which hindereth those that honest suits do move And love hath given command that every lover Should write that which he blusheth to discover Then to contemn loves power it is not safe Who over all the gods dominion hath 'T is dangerous to resist the power of love Who ruleth over all the gods above Love bid me write I followed his direction Who told me that my lines should win affection O! since I love thee may my love again Raise in thy brest another mutual flame That love â—hich hath been a long time delay'd At last grows violent and must be obey'd I feel a fire a fire within my heart And the blind wound of love doth rage and smart As tender Heyfers cannot brook the yoak Nor the wild Colt that is not backt nor broak Endure the bridle so loves yoak I find Is heavy to an unexperienc'd mind When 't is their art and they can easily do it That from their youth have been train'd up unto it She that hath let her time run out at wast Her love is violence when she loves at last The forbidden fruits of love I keep for thee In tasting them let us both guilty be It is some happiness to pluck and cull Fruit from a tree Whose boughs with fruit are full Or from the bush to gather the first Rose I am the tree and bush where loves fruit grows Yet hitherto my fame was never blotted But for white chastity I have been noted And I am glad that I my love have plac'd On one by whom I cannot be disgrac'd Adultery in her is a base fact That with some base fellow doth commit the act But should Iuno grant me her Iupiter In love I would Hippolytus prefer And since I lov'd thee I do now embrace Those sports which thou â—ost love to hunt and chase Wilde savage beasts for I would gladly be A Huntress to enjoy thy company And now like thee no Goddess I do know But chast Diana with her bended bow I love the woods and take delight to set The toyles and chase the Deer into the net And I do take delight to hoop and hollow And cheer the dogs while they the chase do follow To cast a dart I now am cunning grown Sometimes upon the grass I lye along Sometimes for pleasure I a Chariot drive Reyning the horse that with the bridle strive Sometime like those mad Bacchie I do run Who pipe when they to the Idian hill do come Or like those that have seen the horned fawns And Dryads lightly tripping o're the lawns In such a frantick fit they say I am When love tormâ—nts me with his raging flame And this same love of mine perhaps may be By fate entail'd upon one family For it is given to us in love to fall And Venus takes a tribute of us all For first great Iupiter did rarely gull Europa with the false shape of a Bull. My mother Pasiphae in a Cow of wood The leaping of a lustful Bull withstood My sister likewise to false Theseus gave A Clew of silk and so his life did save Who through the winding labyrinth was led By the direction of this slender thred And now like Mino's stock even I Love as the rest did in extremity It fortunes that our love thus cross should be Thy father lov'd my sister I love thee Thus Theseus and Hippolytus his son Do glory that their love hath overcome Two sisters but I would we had remain'd At home when we came to thy fathers land For then especially thy presence mov'd me And from that time I ever since have lov'd thee My eye convey'd unto my heart delight To like of thee for thou wert cloth'd in white A flowry garland did thy soft hair crown And thy complexion was a lovely brown Which some for a stern visage had misâ—ook But Phaedra thought thou hadst a manly look For young-men should not be like women drest A careless dressing doth become them best Thy steâ—nness and loose flowing of thy hair And dusty countenance most graceful were While thy curveting Steed did bound and fling I admir'd to see thee ride him in the ring If with thy strong arm thou didst toss the pike
Thy nimble strength I did approve and like Or if thou took'st thy Javelin in thy hand Me thought thou didst in comely posture stand For all thy actions yeilded me delight And did appear most graceful in my sight Of the woods wildness do not then partake Nor suffer me to perish for thy sake For why shouldst thou in hunting spend thy leasure And no delight on Venus sweeter pleasure There 's nothing can endure without due rest By which our wearied bodies are refresht And thou might'st imitate thy Diana's bow Which if too ofâ—en bended weak will grow Cephalus was a Woodman man of great fame And many wild beasts by his hand were slain Yet with Aurora he did fall in love Her blushing beauty did his fancy move While from her aged husbands bed she rose And wisely to young Cephalus straight goes Venus and young Adoâ—â—s oft would lie Together on the grass most wantonly And underneath some tree in the hot weather They would â—e kissing in the shade together Atalâ—nta did Oâ—â—ides fancy move And gave her wilde beasts skins to shew his love And therefore why may'st thou not fancy me â—ah without love the woods unpleasant be For I will follow thee o're the rocky cliff And never fear the boars sharp fanged teeth Two seas the narrow Illhmus do oppose The raging waves on both sides of it flows Together thee and I will goveâ—n here The Kingdom than my Country far more dear My husband Theseus hath long absent been He 's with his friend Perithous it doth seem Theseus unless we will the truth deny Doth love Perithous more then thee or I. 'T is his unkindness that he stayes so long But he hath done us both far greater wrong With his great Club he did my brother shy And left my sister to wild beasts a prey Thy mother was a warlike Amazon Deserving favour for thy sake her son Yet cruel Theseus kill'd her with his sword Who did to him so brave a son afford Nor would he marry her for he did aim That as a bastard thou shouldst never raign And many children he on me begot Whose untimely death not I but he did plot Would I had died in labour ere that I Had wrong'd thee by a second Progeny Why shouldst thou reverence thy fathers bed Which he doth shun and now away is fled If a mother be to love her son enclin'd Why should vain names fright thy couragious mind Such strict preciseness former times became When good old Saturn on the earth did raign But Saturn's dead his laws are cancell'd now Iove rules then follow what Iove doth allow For Iove all sort of pleasure doth permit Sister may marry if they think it fit With their own brothers Venus bonds doth tye The knot more close of consanguinity Besides who can our stoln joyes discover With a fair outside we our fault may colour If our embraces were discern'd by some They would say that mother surely loves her son Thou need'st not come by night no doors are bar'd And shut on me thy passage is not hard One house as it did once may us contain Thou oft hast kist me and shalt kiss again Thou shalt be safe with me nay wert thou seen Within my bed such faults have smother'd been Then come with speed to ease my troubled mind And may love alwayes prove to thee more kind Thus I most humbly do entreat and sue Pride and great words become not those that wooâ— Thus I most humbly beg of thee alone Alas my pride and my great words are gone To my desiâ—es long time I would not yeild But yet at last affection won the field And as a Captive at thy royal feet Thy mother begs Love knows not what is meet Shame hath forsook his Colours in my cheek It is confest yet grant that love I seek Though Minos be my father who keeps under His power the seas and that darteth thunder Be my Grand-father and he be a kin To me that hath his forehead circled in With many a clear beam a sharp pointed ray And drives the purple Chariot of the day Love makes a servant of Nobility Then for my Ancestors even pity me Nay Creeâ— Ioves Island shall my Dowry be And all my Court Hippolytus shall serve thee My mother softned a Buls stern breast And wilt thou be more cruel then a beast For love-sake love me who have thus complain'd So may'st thou love and never be disdain'd So may the Queen of Forests help thee still So may the Woods yeild game for thee to kill May Fawns and Satyres help thee every where So may'st thou wound the Boar with thy sharp spear So may the Nymphs give thee water to slake Thy burning thirst though thou do Maidens hate Tears with my prayers I mingle read my prayers And imagine that you do behold my tears The Argument of the first Epistle HEcuba Daughter to Cisseus and wise to Priam being with child dreamt that she was delivered of a flaming Fire-brand that let all Tâ—oy on fire Priam troubled in mind consults With the Oracle receives answer that his son should be the destruction of his Country and therefore as soon as he was born commands his death But his Mother Hecuba sends her son Paris secretly to the Kings shepherds They-keep him till being grown a Young man he fancied the Nymph Oenone and marryed her But when Juâ—o Pallas and Venus contended about the golden Apple which had this inscription DETUR PULCHRIORI Let it be given to the fairest Jupiter made Paris their Judge To whom Juno promised a Kingdom Pallas Wisdom Venus Pleasure and the fairest of Women but he gave sentence for Venus Afterward being known by his Father and received into favour he failed to Sparta whence he took â—elen wife to Menelaus and brought her to Troy Oenone hearing thereof complains in this Epistle of his unfaithfulness perswading him to feud back Helen to Greece and receive her again OENONE to PARIS UNto my Paris for though thou art not mine Thou art my Paris because I am thine A Nymph doth send from the Idaean Hill These following words which do this paper â—ill Read it if that thy new wife will permit My letter is not in a strange hand writ Oenone through the Phrygian woods well known Complains of wrong that thou to her hast done What god hath us'd his power to cross our love What fault of mine hath made thee faithless prove With deserv'd sufferings I could be content But not with undeserved punishment What I deserve most patient I could bear But undeserv'd punishments heavy are Thou wert not then of such great dignity When a young Nymph did first marry thee Though now forsooth thou Priam's son art prov'd Thou wert a servant first when first we lov'd And while our sheep did graze we both have laid Under some tree together in the shade Whose boughs like a green Canopie were spred While the soft grass did yeild us a green bed And when
limbs To the billowes that beats him so 'T is said that thus he â—pake Spare me while I to Hero go Drown me where I come back LEANDER to HERO THy love Leander wisheth thee all heaâ—th Hero which I had rather being my self For if the rough Seas had more calmer been From Abydos to Sestos I would swim 〈◊〉 the fates smile upon our love then I Do know thou wilt read my lines willingly This paper-messenger may welcome be 〈◊〉 thou had'st rather have my company But the fates frown and will not suffer me As I was us'd to swim unto thee The skie is black the seas are rough alas â—o that no ship or Barke from home dare passe 〈◊〉 one bold Ship-master went from our Haven To whom this present Letter I have given And had come with him but the â—â—ydiâ—us stay'd Upon their watch-towers while the Anchor way'd For presently they would have me descri'd And discern'd our love which we seek to hide Forth with this Letter I did write and so I said unto it happy Letter go This is thy happiness thou must understand That Hâ—ro shall receive thee with her hand And perhaps thou shalt kisse her rosy lips While with her teeth the Seal she open rips Having spoken these words then my right hand after Did write these words upon this silent Paper But I do wish that my right hand might be Not us'd in writing but to swim to thee It is more fit to swim yet I can write My mind with ease and happily indite Seven nights are past which seem to me a year Since first the Seas with stormes inraged were These nights seem'd long to me I could not sleep To think the Sea should stil his roughnesse keep Those Torches which on thy Tower burning be I saw or else I thought that I did see Thricâ—e I put off my cloaths and did begin Three times to make tryal if I could swim But swelling seas did my desire oppose Whose rising billowes o're my face o'rt flowes But Borâ—as who art the fiercest wind Why thus to crosse me doâ—st thou bend thy mind Thou dost not storm against the Seas but me Hadst thou not been in love what woulst thou be Though thou art cold yeâ— once thou dâ—d'st approve Oriâ—â—â— who did warm thy heart with love And would'st â—ave vexed if with Orithya fair Thy passage had been hindred through the air O spare me then and calm thy blustring wind Even so mayâ—t thou from Aroâ—us favour find But I perceive he murmers at my prayer And still the seas are rough and stormy are I wish that Daedalus would give wâ—ngs to mâ— Thâ—ough the Icarâ—â—n seas not far off be Where Icaruâ— did fall when he did proffer To fly too high let me the same chance suffer While flying hrough the air to thee I come As through the waâ—er I have often swom But since both wind and seas deny to me My passage think how I fiâ—â—t came to thee It was at â—hat time when night doth begin Th' remembrance of past pleasures pleasure bring When I who was Amans which we translate A Lover stole out of my Fathers Gate And having put off all my cloaths straightway My arms through the moiâ—â— seas cut their way The Moon did yeild a glimmering light to me Which all the way did bear me company I looking on her said some â—avour have Towards me and think upon the Latmian Cave O favour me for thy Endâ—mâ—â—ns sake Prosper this stollen journey which I take A mortals love made thee come from thy Spheare And she I love is like a goddess fair For none unlesse that she a goddess be Can be so vertuous and so fair as she Nay none but Venus or thy self can be So fair view her if you 'l not credit me For as thy silver beams do shin more brâ—ght Than lesser streams which yeild a dimmer light Even so of all fair ones she is rarest And Cynthia cannot doubt but she 's the fairest When I thâ—se words or else the like had said My passage through the Sea by night I made The Moonâ— bright beams were in tâ—e water seen And 't was as light as if it day had been No noise nor voice unto my ears did come But the murmurâ— of the water when I swom Only the Aâ—cyons for lov'd â—eyx sake Seemed by night a sweet complaint to make But when my Arms to grow tyr'd did Begin Vnto the top of the waves I did spring But when I saw thy Torch O then quoth I Where that fire blazeth my fair love doth lye For that same shore said I doth her contain Who is my goddesse my fire and my flame These words to my Arms did such strength restore Me thought the Sea grew caâ—mer then before The coldnesse of the waves I seem'd to scorn For love did keep my amorous heart still warm The neerer I came to the shore I find The greater courage and moâ—e strength of mind But when I could by thee discern'd be Thou gav'st me courage by looking on me Tâ—en to please thee my Mistriss I begin To spread my arms abroad and strongly swim Thy Nurse from leapâ—ng down could scarce stay thee This without flattery I did also see And though she did restrain thee thou didst come Down to the shoâ—e and to the wavâ—s didst run And to imbrace and kisse me didst begin â—he gods to get such kisses sure would swim And thy own garments thou wouldst put on me Drying my hair which had been wet at Sea What past besides the Tower and we do know And Torch which through the sea my way did show The joyes of that night we no more can count Then dâ—ops of water in the Hellespont And because we had so little time for pleasure We us'd our time and did not wast our leasure But when Aurora rose from Tiâ—bons bed And the morning star shew'd his glistering head Thâ—n we did kisse in hast and kisse again And that the night was past we did complain When thy Nurse did me of the â—ime inâ—oâ—m Then from thy Tower I to the shore return With tears we parted and then I beg'n Back through the Hellespont again to â—wim And while I swom I shouâ—d look back on thee As far as I could the sweet Hero see And if you will believe me when I do come Hither unto thee then me thought I swom But when from thee again I returnâ—d back I seem'd like one that had suffer'd ship wrack To my home I went unwillingly again My City 'gainst my will doth me contain Alas why should we be by seas disjoyn'd Since that love hath united us in mind Since we bear such affection to each other Why should not we in one land dwell together In Sestâ—s or Abydos dwell with me Tâ—y countrey pleaseth mee as mine doth thee VVhy should the rough seas thus perplex our minds VVhy should we be parted by cruel winds The Dolphins with our love acquainted grow The fish by often swiming doth
hair and scratcht my face Yet neither precious stones could me entice Not gold for I set on my self no price She that hath wit and ingenuity Seemeth for gifts to sell virginity Apollo thought me worthy to impart To me the skill of Physick and his Art The vertue of all Herbs he did reveale To me and shew'd what Herbs have power to heal Yet wo's me that no powerful Herb is found That can recure loves inward bleeding wound Since great Apollo who did first invent The art of Physick yet for my sake went And kept Admetus Oxen for the slame Of my love turn'd him to a Shepherd Swain Though Apollo's art nor Herbs cannot relieve me Yet thou can'st help me and some comfort give me Thou can'st O then have pity on a Maid For me the Grecians shall not thee invade As from my blooming years and childish time I have been so let me still remain thine Oenone The Argument of the sixth Epistle THe Oâ—acle had told Pelias the son of Neptune that he should be near his death when as he was sacrificing to his Father one should come to him with one foot naked and bare As he was performing his yearly sacrifice Jason son to Aeson and his Nephew having left one of his shoos sticking in the mud of the River Anaurus hasting to the sacrifice meets with him on foot naked Pelias remembring the Oracle perswades Jason to go to Colchos to fetch the golden Fleece hoping his destruction by the impossibility of the attempt But couragious Jason willingly undertook the Voyage and so accompanyed with many Grecian Nobles he set forth in the ship Argo from Pegasus a Haven of Thessaly and sailed to the Isle Lemnos where when the Women consented to kill all the Men on one night Hypsiphile who had only preserved her father Thoas alive then reigned and at board and bed kindly entertained Jason But after two years the time and importunity of his company urging him to proceed in his intended attempt he leaves Hypsiphile with childe and sails to Colchos where by Medea's art having charmed the Dragon fast asleep and overcome the fierce Buls he brought away the golden Fleece and Medea Hypsiphile being grieved that Medea was preferred before her in this Epistle gratulates Jasons return rails on Medeas cruelty and witchcraft to make her contemptible and lastly curses both Jason and Medea HYPSIPHILE to JASON TO Thessaly thou art return'd again Rich in the golden Fleece which thou didst gain I am glad thou' rt well yet it were better If I had heard of thy health by thy Letter It may be that the wind did not stand fair That to my Kingdom thou couldst not repair And yet although contrary winds stood cross To venture a letter had been no loss Hypâ—â—phile had deserv'd thy salutations Sent in a Letter of kind commendations I heard not by thy letters but by fame That thou didst Mars his sacred Oxen tame And how the Dragons teeth being sow'd did bring Forth armed men which from the earth did spring In whose blood thou didst not thy hand imbrew For those sons of earth one another slew And from the watchful Dragon while he slept Thou took'st the golden Fleece which he had kept VVhat sudden joy had I conceiv'd at it If thou this joyful news to me hadst writ Of thy unkindness why do I complain I fear thou dost my former love disdain A barbarous Enchauntress thou hast brought And her more worthy of thy love hast thought Love soon believes yet I wish I may be Censur'd for rashness in accusing thee From Thessaly a stranger came of late And as soon as he was come to my gate I askt him how my Jason did and staid Looking down to the ground no answer made Straightway into a passion I did break Tearing my garments and thus I did speak Tell me if that my Iason live that I If he be dead may follow him and die He lives sayes he and yet through loving fear I scarce believ'd him though that he did swear But when my doubtful mind his words believ'd I askt what valiant deeds thou hadst atchiev'd And he related the whole story how Thou mad'st the brazen-footed Oxen plough How from the Dragons teeth on the earth sowd A harvest of brave armed souldiers growd VVhich earth-sprung men did straightway fall at jars And slew each other in their civil wars And that thou kildst the Dragon when I heard These deeds of thine again I grew affeard Again I asked him if Iason did live His wordâ— through fear I hardly could believe Yet by the carriage of his speech I found That thy unkindness had given me a wound VVhere are thy promises those marriage bands VVhich once did joyn our loving hearts and hands Or where is Hymens torch that burnt so bright Fitter to have been a sad funeral light I was no whore Iuno and Hymen too At our glad Nuptials themselves did show Not Iuno nor Hymen when we did marry But Erinnys did the fatal torches carry The Thessalians and Minyans strangers were To me and why did Typhis put in here His Ship Here is no wealthy Ram doth bear A golden fleece upon his back nor here Doth old Aeto's fair lofty Palace stand This Lemnia is a little small Island I had resolv'd but fate did it withstand To drive thee from hence with a Feminine band Though Lemnian women had their husbands kill'd I thought t was pity thy blood should be spill'd Thy first sight in me such a liking bred Then I entertained thee at boord and bed And thou two Summers with me stayd'st here And while two winters also passed were And the third year when thou didst sail away VVith weeping tears unto me thou didst say Hypsiphile though I am forc'd to go And leave thee here yet I would have thee know That till I do return again I 'le be Alwayes a faithful Husband unto thee And may that prosper which is in thy womb To make me a glad Parent when I come Then down thy face thy cunning tears did fall The â—â—st for grief thou couldst not speak at all Of all thy company thou wentst last of all Aboord the ship which thou didst Argo call Away it flies when once the hollow sail VVas driven forward with a lusty gale And while thy ship the blew waves passed o're I lookt unto the sea thou to the shore And then unto my Turret I did go VVhile tears did down my cheeks and bosome flow I looked through my tears and they did seem As if they watry perspectives had been For thorow them me thought that I could view Things farther off than I was wont to do Then I made vows and I did chastly pray For thy return which vows I now should pay But shall I pay vows for Medea's good Love mixt with anger doth enrage my blood Because I have lost Iason that doth live Shall I Sacrifices on th' Altar give I must confess I alwayes was afraid Lest thou
did grutch That I his body with my hand should touch Such was my hatred that I did esteem My hands by touching him had polluted been And it doth often chance that I do call Pyrrhus Orestes and it doth befall I love my error as a sigh of luck When I have thy name for his name mistook By Iupiter from whom our house did rise VVho ruleth both the Sea the Land and skies I pray by thy Fathers and thy Uncles bones VVhich do rest underneath their marble stones That I may presently resign my life Or else may be once more Orestes wife The Argument of the ninth Epistle JVpiter having joyned three nights in one begot Hercules on Alemena in the shape of her husband Amphytrio Eurystheus King of the Mycenians by Junoes subtilty perswades him to attempt difficult labours so to endanger his life Yet he by strength and policy alwayes got the victory and to obtain Deianira for his Wife Achelous a River of Aetolia after many changes of shapes he overthrew in the figure of a Bull yet though he overcame many Monsters he was overcome by love For Eurythus King of Oechalia denying him his daughter Iole formerly promised unto him he took his City sâ—ew Eurythus and obtained Iole with whose love he was so blinded that at her command he layd by his Lyons Skin and Club and put◠〈◊〉 on Womens cloaths sat and spun amongst her Maids and was aâ— subject to Iole as he had been to Omphale Queen of Lydia on whom he begot Lamus His wife Deianira Daughter of Oenus King of Calydon understanding of his base and servile dotage writes to him and sayes before him his former worthy acts that this present disgrace by comparison with them might appear more to the life But as she was writing she understood of Hercules suffering by the shirt she had sent him dipt in the blood of the Centaure Nessus to retain him from wandring affection sor so had Nessus perswaded her whom in passing over the River Evenus Hercules flew with a poyson'd arrow being much grieved hereat she clears her self that she did not thereby intend his destruction but the regaining of his love and concludes with a Tâ—agical resolution DEIANIRA to HERCULES I Am glad thou Occhalia hast won For husbands honour doth the wife become But I am sorry that a Captives beauteous look Should take the conquerer that hath her took When Fame the sad report at first did bring To the Greek Cities on her nimble wing Me thought this action was not of the colour Of those brave deeds which shew thy glory fuller Whom Iuno nor her labours ever broke Iole made him yeild unto her yoke Euryslheus is glad and Iupiters wife To see this action blot thy fair spent life Nor can I think three nights were joyn'd in one At thy begetting or conception Venus is worse then Iuno thy step-dame For by oppressing thee she rais'd thy fame But Venus makes thee basely think it meet To put thy humble neck beneath her feet The world inviron'd round with the blew seas Was setled by thy conquering hand in peace By which both sea and land enjoy sweet rest Thy fame is spread abroad from East to West Hercules strength and Atlâ—ss'es were even Fos Hercules and Atlas bore up heaven But if with lust thy former deeds thou stain Thy glory turneth to thy great shame In thy Cradle thou wert like unto thy father When thou didst strangle two Snakes joyn'd together Thy child-hood and thy man hood I do see But far unlike and far most different be Thy beginning was far better than thy end The last act of thy life doth most offend Wild beasts and chemies thou couldst overcome But love the victory over thee hath won Some think I am well married because I am Wife to great Hercules that very name Is happiness besides my father-in law Is Iove whose thunder keeps the world in awe But I am over-matched with thee now Unequal Oxen aukwardly do plough Thy honour like a burthen I do carry She 's fitly matcâ—t that doth her equal marry For Hercules is absâ—nt from me still While he fierce monsters and wild beasts doth kill Thus widowed I offer sacrifice Lest thou shouldst be slain by thy enemies Me thinks I see how thou dost take delight With Serpents Boars and Lyons still to fight Strange visions in my sleep to me appear And my dreams oft put me in fear Sometimes I do believe the common fame Sometimes I hope sometimes I fear again My mother is from home and doth complain Because her beauty did a god enflame Amphytrio thy own father is from home And little Hillus also thy young son I only do perceive Eurystheus hath Made thee a sacrifice to Iuno's wrath To perform labours he did thee perswade Which done the goddess wrath is not allay'd And to encrease my grief thou dost approve A captive maid who is become thy love I will not mention how thou didst dally VVith Auge in the sweet Parthenian valley Or how the Nymph Ormenes was defil'd And wantonly by thee was got with child Nor will I urge it as a fault not I Thou didst with Thespius fifty daughters lye That which grieves me was thy adultery VVhich thou committedst with thy Omphale And on her didst beget a bastard son To whom I must a mother-in-law become The winding River which they call Maeander VVho in his turning banks about doth wander Hath seen when Hercules a fine chain wore On those shoulders which heavens weight once bore Didst thou not blush to wear a golden twist Or bracelet made of pearl about thy wrist Or that a golden bracelet should contain Thy brawny armes which had so stoutly slain The Nemean Lion whose rough shaggy hide Thou didst wear on thy shoulder and left side Nay besides this thou didst descend to wear A Coif or Kerchiffe on thy stubborn hair It were more sit thy Temples had been crown'd With victorious wreaths than with a fillet bound Yet as if thou wert some young girle thou hast Worn Omphale's girdle round about thy wast Thou thought'st not of fiery Diomede as then Who fed his horses with the flesh of men Had Bustris seen thee drest thus he would be Asham'd that he had been o'recome by thee Anteus may knock off his bolts and chain And set his neck at liberty again For what captive is there with patience can Suffer under such an effeminate man Besides amongst the Grecian Maids 't is said That thou didst sit and spin and wert afraid Lest thy mistress Omphale when she espi'd thee Idle by chance should frown on thee and chide thee And thy victorious hands did not then scorn To spin which once such labours did perform For thou didst draw the thred with thy huge thumb And gav'st account at night what thou hast spun Sometimes as thou sat'st spinning thou hast broke With boyslerous handling both thy wheel and rock And like a poor unhappy wretch 't is said That of
thy mistress thou wert so afraid That if she chid thee thou wouldst trembling stand For fear of swadling with a Holly wand And to win favour thou wouldst often tell Of thy labours which thou ought'st to conceal Discoursing unto her how thou hadst won Much honour by those deeds which thou hadst done How in thy childhood thou didst boldly tear The Hydra's speckled jawes which hideous were How thou didst kill the Erimambean Boar Which on the ground lay weltring in his goar And then of Diomedes didst relate Who nail'd the heads of men upon his gate Fatting his pamper'd Horses with their flesh Untill thou didst his cruelty suppress And how thou hadst the monster Cacus stain That kept his flocks upon the hills of Spain And of three-headed Cerberus thou didst tell Who by his snaky hair thou drag'dst from hell And how the Hydra by thy hand was slain Whose heads being lopt off would grow forth again And of Anteus whom thou crusht to death Between thy arms and didst squeeze out his breath And how the Centaures thou subdu'st by force That were half men and half like to a Horse When thou wert in soft silken robes arrai'd To tell these stories wert not thou dismai'd Didst thou think whil'st thou didst thy labours tell That a womans habit did become thee well While Omphale hath took thy Lyons skin Away from thee and drest her self therein To boast now of thy valour it is vain For Omphale in thy stead playes the man For she in valour doth exceed thee far Since she hath conquered the conquerour And by subjecting thee she now hath won The glory which did unto thee belong O shame to think the skin which thou didst reaâ— Off the Lyons ribs thy Omphale doth wear Thou art deceiv'd 't is not the Lyons spoil Thou foil'dst the Lyon she thy self doth foil And she that only knoweth how to spin To wear thy weapons also doth begin She takes the conquering Club into her hand And afterwards before her glass will stand Viewing her self to see what she hath done If that her husbands weapons her become I could not believe when I heard it said The sad report unto my heart convei'd Much grief but now my wretched eyes beheld The Harlot Iole that thy courage quell'd Such are my wrongs that I must need reveal My grief and sorrow I cannot conceal Thou broughtst her through the City in despight Because I should behold the hated sight Not like a Captive with her hair unbound And a dejected look fixt on the ground But of rich cloth of gold her garments were Such as thy self in Phâ—ygia did wear She in her passage graciously did look On the people as if she had Hercules took As if her father liv'd and did command Oechalia which was raised by thy hand Deianira it may be thou wilt forsake And of thy former whore a wife wilt make So that Hymen shall both joyn the heart and hands Of Hercules and Iole in his bands When in my mind these passages I behold My hands and limbs with fear grow stiff and cold In me thou formerly didst take delight And for my sake two several times didst fight Plucking off Achelous horn who after Did hide his head in his own muddy water And Nessus was slain by the poison'd head Of thy arrow whose blood dy'd the River red But O alas I heard abroad by same Thou art tormented with much grief and pain By the shirt dipt in his blood which I sent thee But yet indeed no harm at all I meant thee If it be so then what am I become What is it that my furious love hath done O Deianira straight resolve to die So end at once thy grief and misery Shall this same poisonâ—d shirt tear off his skin And wilt thou live that hath the causer bin Of all his torment No though not my life My death shall shew that I was Hercules wife And Meleager I will shew thereby My self thy sister I 'm resolv'd to die O unhappy fate Oeâ—â—us royal throne My Father who is very aged grown Agriâ—is hath Tydeus in forraign land Doth wander still and in the fatal brand Meleagâ—r perish'd and my mother kill'd Her self and with her hand her own blood spill'd Then why doth Dâ—ianira doubt to die And so conclude this wicked Tragedy Yet this one suit to thee I only move And beg this of thee for our former love That thou wouldst not believe or think I meant To procure thy death by that gift I sent For when the cruel Centaure bleeding lay With thy arrow in his brest he then did say This blood if thou the vertue of it prove Will cause affection and procure true love But now his treachery I have understood For I dipt a shirt into his poison'd blood And sent it which hath caus'd thy misery O Deianira straight resolve to die Farewell my Father George too farewell Farewell my brother and Country where I dwell And I do bid farewell to the day-light Of which my eyes shall never more have sight Farewell to Hyllus my young little son Farewell my husband Death I come I come The Argument of the tenth Epistle MInos the son of Jupiter and Europa because the Athenians haâ— treacherously slain his son Androgâ—us enforced them by a sharp warr to send him every year as a tribute seven young Men and as many young Virgins to be devoured by the Minataure which by Dadalus Art Pasiphas had by a Bull while her husband Minos was at the Athenian wars The lot falling on Thesâ—us he was sent amongst the rest but Ariadne instructed him how to kill the Minataure and return again out of the Labyrinth as Catullus saith Errabunda râ—gens tenui vestigia filo Guiding his steps which she led By a Clew of slender thred Afterward Theseus departing from Creete with Ariadne and Phadra he arriv'd at the Isle Nanos where Bacchus admonished him to leave Ariadne and he accordingly lefâ— her when she was fast asleep Assoon as she awaked she writ this Letter complaining of Theseus cruelty and ingratitude and in a pitiful manner intreats him to come back again and take her into his ship ARIADNE to THESEUS I Have found all kindes of beasts much more milde And gentle than thy self who hast beguil'd My trust for it had been more safe for me To have believ'd a salvage beast than thee This letter Theseus from thence doth come Where thou didst leave me and away didst run When I was fast asleep then thou didst leave me Watching that opportunity to deceive me It was at that time when the heavens strew Upon the earth their sweet and pearly dew And the first waking birds did now begin In the cool boughs to tune their notes and sing I being half asleep and half awake Yet so much knowledge had that for thy sake With my hand I felt about thy warm place Thinking indeed my Theseus to embrace I felt about the bed but he was gone I felt about
Absyâ—tus limbs whom she had taken with her thereby to stay her father while he gathered up his Sons bones And so at length safely arriving in Thessaly Iason renewed his Father Aesons age by Medeas help who also made Pelias Daughters kill their Father For pretending that she would make him young as she had done Aeson she perswaded his Daughters with a knife to let out all his old black blood that she might infuse new fresh blood instead thereof His Daughters having done so Pelias straightway dyed Iason hereupon or for some other cause repudiates Medea and marries Creusa the daughter of Creon King of Corinth Medea herewith enraged Writes to Iason expostulating with him of his ingratitude and threatens speedy revenge unless he receive her again MEDEA to JASON AT that time Queen of Corinth I did raign When thou didst seek by my art help to gain I wish my thred of life which then was â—pun By the three sisters had been cut and done Then might Medea have dy'd innocent My life since then hath been a punishment Woe 's me that ere the lusty youth of Greece Sail'd hither for to fetch the golden Fleece Would Colchos never had their Argos seen Would the Grecians ne're on our shoar had been Why was I with thy lovely brown hair took Or with thy tempting tongue and comely look Or at least when thy ship came to our shore Bringing thy self with gallants many more I might have let thee run and found a death By those fiery Oxen with their flaming breath I might have suffer'd thee to sow that seed Whence armed men did spring up and proceed That the sower might by his own tillage die When each ear of coâ—â—e did prove an enemy They had prevenâ—ed then thy treâ—chery And kept me both from grie ' and misery To upbraid thy ingratitude pleases me In this alone I can triumph o're thee For when thy ship arrived at the shore Of Colchâ—s where it nâ—re had been before O then Medâ—a was beloved there Of thee as thy new wife 's bâ—loved here My father was as rich as hers he raign'd O're Corinth which 'twixt two Seas is contain'd My father possess'd all the Land which lay Between Ponâ—us and snowy â—cythiâ— My father did thy Grecians entertain Affording lodging to thee and thy train I saw thee then then did of thee enquire And then thy love did sâ—t my heart on fire I saw thee and that sight to love did turn While my heart did like a great Taper burn Thy beauty drew me to my destin'd fate And thy fair eyes my eyes did captivate Which thou percevid'st for who can love conceale Whose glowing flame doth it own selfe reveale My father then commanded thee to yoak Those Oxen that were to the plough ne're broak For they were Mars his Oxen whose horns werâ— Sharp and their breath did like a flame appear They had brasse hooâ—â— and nostrils arm'd with brass Blackt with the breath that through them did passe And thou wert bid to sow in the large field That seed which did an armed â—eo â—e yield VVhich sprung up would assail thee straight again Thou for thy harvest such a crâ—p shouldst gain And thy last labour was to charm a sleep The Dragon that the golden â—eece did keep When Aeetâ—s said thus you all stâ—aight rose And every one much discontentment showes So that you did your purple seats forsake And then the Table they away did take Greaâ— Creens daughter thou didst now contemn And Câ—â—â—sas dowry could not help thee then Sadly thou didst depart and discontent yet my weeping eyes on thee still were bent And as thou wâ—ntst away this one word sell In a soâ—t murmure from my tongue Farewell And when I went to bed I never slept Wounded with love all nighâ— I griev'd and wept The fieâ—ce Bulls were alwaâ—es before my eyes And the Armed mâ—n which from the earth did rise And then the watchfull Dragon did affright My senses and was still before my sight Thus love and fear my breast at once did trouble My love of thee did make my fear to double At last it chanced that early in the morning My loving sister came and found me mourning And lying on my face with all my hair Loose spread the pillow wet with many a tear She and two sisters more did me invade With fair entreaties foâ— to help and aid Iason and his Thesâ—alians who did want My assistance I in love their suit did grant There is a wood so dark with thick-leav'd trees That the bright Sun but seldome through it sees There doth a Chappel of Diana's stand VVhose golden statue there was rudely fram'd I know not whether this place is by thee Forgotten as thou hast forgotten me VVe being thither come thou then didst break Thy mind to me and thus beganst to speak My life and fortunes are at thy command My life and death are both within thy hand you may let me perish if so be you will But 't is more noble to preserve then kill Then by my present sorrows I entreat Which you can ease if you the word would speak By thy kindred and uncle Phoebus who Sees all things that on earth we mortals do By Diana's triple-sace and sacred rites And Gods wherein this Nation delights O Virgin have some pity at this time On me and make me so for ever thine And though I cannot hope the gods should be So kind and favourable unto mee yet if you would be pâ—eased now to take A Tâ—essalian and him a husband make Then I do promise I will faithfull be And vow that I will marry none but thee Let Iuno be a witnesse to my vow And Diâ—na in whose Tempâ—e we are now Thou took'st me by the hand those words of thine A maidens fancy did straight way inâ—â—ine For such thy languâ—ge was as soon did move My honest heart to entertain thy love By thy deceitfull tears I was betrayed For they had â—ower to betray a Maid So that the â—ulls whose breath like flames did smoaâ—â— I taught thee how to tame and how to yoak And thou did'st sow the Dragons teeth for seed Whence armed â—â—n did spring up and proceed I that did give thee those securing â—â—arms Grew pale to see those new-sâ—â—ung men in armes When straight those earth-bred brethren there in â—â—ght Did sâ—ay each other in a bloody fight The watchful Dragon now the earth did sweep While he upon his scaly breast did creep Where was the Dowry of thy royal wife Or King of Corinth could they save thy life No it was I that now am thus rejected And as a poor Enchantresse disrespected I charmâ—d the Dragons flaming eyes asleep That thou mightst get the Fleece which he did keep My Father I betray'd and I forsook My Countrey and with thee a voyage took Though my life a sad banishment should be I was content to wander still with thee Thou of my Maiden-head didst me deceive Who my Mother and my
given thee thy charge But when the wind stood fair thou couldst not stay For it did drive thy swelling sails away Thy Mariners had what they did require It was not I that did this wind desire The wind that for the Mariners stood fair Stood crosse for thee and I that lovers were And me from Protesilaus did divide while we were both in sweet embraces ty'd My broken words short of my meaning fell I scarce had time to speak this word farewell For the North wind thy hâ—llovv sailes did stretch And from me did Protesilaus fetch I lookt as long as I thy ship could see And I did send a long look after thee When thou wert out of sight yet I could see Thy ship and to behold it pleased me But when both thee and thy swift sailing ship Out of my sight did both together slip A sudden darkness in my eyes I found And presently I fell down in a swound So that my mother and old Acastus too Although much diligence they both did show Could â—etch me back to life although at last Cold water they into my â—ace did cast Tâ—eir needless love was thus express'd but I Am sorry that they did not let me dye For when my senses did return again My love returned too with a new flame And chast affection could not spare my breast ' Those who do love must never hope to rest Now I took no delight to dress my hair Nor to wear rich apparel took I care And as those women Bacchus hath inspir'd With a touch of his Viny staffe and fir'd Their bosomes that they run now here now there Such did I in my furious rage appear The talkin wives of Phylace did come To comfort me and thus their speech begun Lâ—odâ—â—ia courage take put on Such royal robes as may your birth become Alas shall I in purple robes delight While that my Husband at Troy's wall doth fight Shall I my hair in curious manner dreâ—se While a weighty Helmet doth his hair presse Shall I in new apparel gay appear While my Lord doth a Coat of Armour wear While thou art at the wars like one forlorne In carelesâ—e habit I at home will mourn O Paris thou that wast born to destroy With thy fresh beauty the old City Troy As thou wert a wonton guest mayst thou be A coward and a milk sop enemy Would Helena had not unto thee seem'd So fair nor she thy beauty so esteem'd O Menelaus thou with earnest strife Dost labour to regain again thy wife Woe 's me I fear thy sad revenge will make Many eyes weep and many â—earts to ake The gods from all ill fortune us defend That my returning Husband may commend His arms to Iuâ—iâ—uâ— but when I muse Or think upon the waâ—s I cannot chuse But weep and down my cheeks the tears do run Like snow when it is me ted by the Sun When of Iliuâ— or Teâ—â—â—o I hear Those names do put me in a sudden fear When of Siâ—â—ois and Xanthus I have heard Or Idâ— these strange names makes me afeard Nor had Paris stole Helen if at length He meant to resigne her he knew his strength For she did come in royal robes of Gold Adorn'd with Jewels glorious to behold And with a warlike â—â—eâ—t to Troy she came The Trojans shew'd their great strength by her train And as Heleâ— was fâ—tched by this Fleet So I fear it should with the Grâ—cians meet There is one Hectâ—r of whom I do hear A valiant man and him I greatly fear For Paris said that Heâ—â—oâ— should affright the Grecians and begin the bloudy fight If I be she whom thou dost love most dear Take heed of Hector him I onely fear His name doth fill my thought with much unrest And is engrav'd upon my troubled breast And as thou shunnest hiâ— so also shun Others for many Hâ—â—â—oâ—s thither come And as oft as thou dost prepare to fight Say to thy selfe theâ—â— words which I do write Laodamia charg d me care to take And keep my seâ—fe from danger for her sake If the Grecians rase Tâ—oâ— unto the ground May'st thou come from the fiege with ne're a wound Let Menelaus with the Troâ—ans fight And take from Paris Helena his right And when he chargeth on the enemy Let his good cause give him the victory It behov'd Menelaus with stout blows To fetch his wife fâ—om the insulting foes But thy case unto his is far unlike And therefore I do wish thee so to fight That when the wars are done thou mayst return And in my loving bosome lie full warm You Troians I intreat you to spare one Of all those enemies against you come For every drop of b'ood that doth proceed From his veins from my veins doth also bleed Protesilaus no strong blows can strike With his draâ—n sword nor stand the Push of Pike Let Menelaus fight whom rage doth move Let others fight set Protesilaus love For I must needs confesse I had a mind To have call'd him back but no strength could find For my tongue stop'd before the words were spoken And my speech broke off which was but a bad token And at the threshold of thy fathers gate Thy foot did stumble and did trip thereat Which hath been always counted for a signe Whereby we may of some ill luck divine Which when I did behold I was afraid And thus unto my selfe in secret said I hope the stumbling of his fooâ— shall be A signe my Husband shall return to me These things unto thee I do now relate That I thy courage may thereby abate And I do wish that I at last may find The fears are vain which now molest my mind Besides the Oracles say he who shall Land first upon the Trojan ground shall fal First by the sword unhappy sure is she That by the wars shall the first widow be Heaven defend thee that thou may'st not shew Thy valour lest thy valour I do rue Let thy ship be the last to shore doth stand Let thy ship be the last doth come to land Of all that goes on shore be thou the last Vnto thy Fathers land thou dost not hast But when thou commest back then do not fail To use thy Oates and clap on all thy sail Then make thou hast to come out of thy ship And on the welcome shore most nimbly skip When Phoebus lyeth hid or sâ—ines most bright I think upon thee both by day and night yet more on thee by night than day for night Is the sweet time that yeildeth Maiâ—s delight For then they lye within their Sweet-hearts arm Who with their close embraces keep them warm VVhile in my widows bed I lye at pleasure VVanting true joy I think on former leasure And then a dâ—eam doth yeild me some delight Sometimes again my dreams do me affright Me-thinks I see thee with a visage pale Telling to me a sad and mournful tale Then waking out of my black dream I rise And â—or thy safety offer
goldâ—n apples of thy Virgin tree And nâ—t send thee back with Virginity Or if that I had spar'd thy Virgin treasures I would have â—iâ—ed some other pleasures Then gâ—ant thy love to Paris who will be While I live most constant unto thee I will be constant to your own desire My love and life shall both at once expire Before great kingdoms I preserved thee Which royall Iuno promis'd unto me And learning Pallas gift I did refuse And to enjoy thy sweet selfe I did chuse When Lunâ— Venus and fair Paâ—laâ— too Their naked bodies unto me did shew And in the Idean valleys did not grudge In case of beauty to make me their Judge yet I do not repent of my election My mind is constant to my first affection I beseech thee let not my hope prove vain Who spar'd no labour in hope thee to gain Beneath your selfe you need not to decline your biâ—th is noble so is also mine So that if we do match you cannot fail Beneath your birth or be diâ—grac'd at all For if you search into my pedigree Iove and Alâ—ctra are of kin to me And my father Priam doth the Scepter sway Of the great'st kingdom in all Asia Many Cities and sait Houses thou shal see And Temples suiting â—he gods Majestie Thou shalt â—ee Troy with Towers encompass'd round Whose walls Apâ—llo Harpe at first did found Besides there are such store of people there The Land the peopâ—e cannot hardly bear Great troops of Trojans Matrons thou shalt meet And store of Troiâ—n wives in every street The poverty of Gâ—eece thou wilt then pity When thou seest one house as rich as a City yet Spâ—â—ta I cannot contemn with scorn Because thou in that happy Land wert born But Sâ—aâ—ta is poor and cannot afford thee Dressings which with thy beauty may agree That face of thine ought not to be content With some common but a curious ornament And it is fit thou shouldst the old lay by And every day wear some fresh rarity When the habit of the Trojans you do see You may think womens habits richer be Then Hele-grant me love not disdain A Trojan who thy favour would obtain He was a Troian from our blood descended Who with this Heavenly office was befriended To fill Iâ—ve Cup and with water allay The strength of his Nectar and Ambrosia A Troian in Aurora took delight Who doth begin the day conclude the night Ancâ—iâ—es was descended to from Troy Whom the Queen of Love desired to enjoy And did descend in the Idâ—an Vally In amorous ways to sport with him and dally I am a â—roian too and if in truth You should compare my beauty and my youth With Menelaus I suppose that he Sâ—ould not in your choice be preser'd to me By maâ—ching with me thou shalt not be kin To such as bloudy Atâ—â—us hath bin Who with the flesh of men his Horses fed From which sight the Suns frighted Horses fled My Grandfather did not his Brother kill As Mâ—nelaus Grandfather who did spill Myrtiâ—â—s blood who being murder'd so He into the Myrtoan-sea did throw Nor yet our great Grandfather catcheth aâ—ter Like unto Tantalus in the Stygian water Apples and water which are both so nigh His â—ips and yet from his touch'd lips do flie yet if from them thou hast descâ—nded been Iove would me wish to be to thee a kin yet unworthy Menelaus takes delight In thee and doth enjoy thee every night I scarcely can behold thee at the Table And there to look on thee I am not aâ—le For at that very time I observe and find Many things that do much offend my mind For when the banquet is brought in then I Do wish my room unto my enemy For it doth grieve me when I do behold How with his armes he doth thy neck infold And I could blush when he before my face Doth thy small wast so clownishly embrace And it did break my hearâ— when I did see How he would cast his furred gown over thee And when that he would give thee kisses soft I put the cup before my eyes full oft His close imbrâ—ces I did never brooke For I beheld them with a dwon cast looke My meat as if within thy mouth it grew I most uâ—willingly did seem to chew And I sigh'd often which when thou did'st see Thou oftentimes would'st smile and laugh at me Then I would strive to quench my flame with wine But love through drunkennesse most cleare doth shine When I look'd away lest I more should see Thy beauty made me look again on thee It greived me to look on my disgrace But greivâ—d me more not to look on thy face And I dâ—â— strive my passion for to hide But oh dessembled love is soonest spy'd I do not flatter thee thou doâ—st perceive That I did love thee nor could I deceive Thou discern'st my love which I wish may be Known to thy selfe alone and none but thee When tears did spring I turn'd away my head Lest Menâ—laus should aske why I them shed How oâ—t have I told fained tales of love Hoping I might thereby your favour move Under a fained name hoping to move you But it was I indeed did truly love you And that I might my mind more freely speak A wanton drunkennesse I would counterfeit I remember once thy bosom open lay And to my view thy white breasts did betray Thy fair breasts which were far more white in show Than purest milk or the new fallen Snow Or whiter than that Swans fair downy feather When Iupiter and Leda lay together When I beheld them I was so amaz'd My Ring fell from my finger as I gaz'd When thou kissed'st thy Daughter I Would not miss To take thy kisse off With another kisse And sometimes I some ancient song Would sing Of those that heretofore had Lovers been Sometimes by secret signs my love was shown And by a nod or wink I made it known Then to Clynihino and Ethâ—a I did shew My grief and both of them began to wooe Thy waitiâ—g maids who when I had begun They both did leave me before I had done And I do wish the gods had been so bent To have made thee prize of a Turnament That he that got the victory might bear thee Out of the field and he that won thee wear thee As Hippomâ—nes fair Atalanta won Who all her former suiters had out-run Thou in the Phâ—ygian Cities shalt be seen Like Hippodamia brought in like a Queen By Pelops and as stout Aâ—cides brake Achelous horns for Deianira's sake So by some valient adventure I Would win thee by some act of â—ivalry But now I can but beg of thy sweet beauty And at thy feet prostrate my self in duty O thou that art thy brothers onely glory To whom even Jâ—ve himself could not be sorry To be a husband if so be yon were Not by birth descended from Jupiter Either I will return to Troy with thee Or here in thy Laconia buried be
Loves arrow hath so wounded my soft breast That it unto the very bone hath peire'd My sister truly propheciâ—d of me That with loves arâ—ow I should wounded be Then since sweet Hâ—lâ—â— 't is ordainâ—d by fate That I should love thee pity my estate Do not contemn my love but my â—uâ—t heare So may the gods attend unto thy prayer If thou wilt let me lye with thee to night More I could say that should breed thy delight To wrong thy husband so art thou asham'd Or that thy marriage bed should be so stain'd O Helen thou a country conâ—cience hast Dost thou imagine to be fair and chast Either change thy bâ—auty oâ— more loving be For beauty is a foe to Chastity Venus doth love Loves â—â—ol en fruit to gather And Jupiter scapes did make him tâ—y father Then how can'st thou be chast if thou take after Jupiter and Leda Thou art thei daughter May'st thou be châ—st when thou to Troy art brought And for thy rape may I be held in fault Let 's not offend and after mend our life When as Venus promised thou art my wife Besideâ— thy husbands actions do commend The same to thee who that he might be-friend His guest absents himself to give us leasure And opportunity to enjoy pleasure To go to Creâ—te he thought it time most fit O he 's a Man of a honourable wit Which at his departure was well exprest When he bid thee use well his Trojan guest Thy absent husbands will thou dost neglect Thou tak'st no care of me nor me affect Being so senselesse thinkest thou that he Can prize thy beauty or else value thee He cannot for if he had known the danger He had not bid thee be kind to a stranger Although my words nor love cannot move thee Let us improve this opportunity Then thy husband our selves shall shew more folly If we loose time through bashfull melancholly To be thy paramour he offer'd me Make use then of his weak simplicity For thou dost lye alone and so do I ' â—were better if we did together lye Let us injoy our selves for I do say Midnights sport yeilds more pleasure than the day Then thou shalt have fair promises of me And I will bind my selfe to marry thee For I do vow if that thou canst beleive me For one nights lodging iâ—le a Kingdome give thee And if thou canâ—st but so beleiâ—ing be Unto my Kingdome thou shalt go with me That thou followed'st me it shall not be thought For I alone will bear the blame and fault As Thesâ—us did my actions shall be such And his example may thee neerely touch For Theseus did carry thee away Castor and Pollux so did also stray And I will be the fourth my love 's as ample To thee and I will follow their example My Trojan Fleet for thee doth ready stay And when you please we soon may sail away Thou in Troy City shalt live as a Queen Ador'd as if thou had'st some goddesse been And wheresoever thou dost please to be The people shall offer sacrifice to thee Thy kindred and the Trojans shall present Gifts unto thee with humble complement I cannot here describe thy happinesse Far above that my Letter doth express Let not the fear of Wars thy thoughts amaze Or that all Greece will straight great forces raise To fetch thee back who have they fetcht again Beleive me those fears are but fond and vaine The Thracians Orythia took away Yet no wars after troub'ed Thracia Iâ—son from Colchos brought away Medea And yet no wars did wast Thessalia Phaedra and Ariadne stollen were By Theseus yet Minos made no warre Dangers may seem far greater than they are And fear may be without all ground of fear Suppose too if you please wars should ensue yet I by force their forces could subdue My Country can to yours yeild equal forces For it hath store of men and store of horses Nor can your husband Menelaâ— shew More valiant courage than Paris can do For when I was but a young stripling I Did rescue our flocks from the Enemy VVho did intend to drive away them alâ— VVhereon they did me Alexander call And of Ilioâ—eus and Deiphobus I VVhen I was young did get the victory And as in single combate I plaid my part So with my bow I could hit any mark And I know Mâ—nâ—lau was not suâ—h A forward youth nor could he do so much Besides Hectâ—r's my Brother who may stand In account of Souldiers for a whole band My strength and forces are unknown to thee Nor knowest thou what a husband I shall be And therefore either no wars shall ensue Or Trojan forces shall the Greekâ— subdue Yet I could be â—ontent â—or such a wife To fight there 's credit in a noble strife Besides if al the world should fight for thee Thou shalt be famous to posterity Sweet Heleâ— then consent to go with me what I have promis'd shall performed be The Argument of the sixteenth Epistle HElena having read Paris his Epistle in her answer seems at first offended and chides him and for modesties sake objects against his perswasions proving them idle but so that she rather gives then takes away encouragement from him to proceed in his suit thereby shewing a womans crafty wit according to that of Ovid in his Art of Love 〈…〉 triâ—tis Quaeque rogat ne se sollicitare velis Quod rogat illatimet quod non rogat optat ut iâ—stes In sequere c. At first pehaps her Letter will be sowre And on thy hopâ—s her paper seem to lowre In which she will conjure thee to be mute And charge thee to forbear thy hated suit Tush what she most forwarnes she most desires In frosty woods are hid the hottest fires At last she seems to consent to Paris desire advising him as a more safe and honest course not to write his desire but impart his mind to her waiting-maids Clymene and Athra he dealing with them so farre prevailed that he brought both Helena and them to Troy HELENA'S Answer to PARIS SInce thy wanton â—etter did my eyes infect When I did read it why should I neglect To answer it Since to answer it can be No breach of chastity at all in me What bâ—ldnesse was it in thee thus to break All Lawes of hospitatlity and to speak Thus by your Letter therby for to move My affection and solicite me for love Didst thou on purpose saile into our Port That thou might'st wooe me and with fair words court And had not we power to avoid this danger And shut our Palace gaâ—e against a straâ—ger Who dost requite our love with injury Didst thou come as a gueâ—â— or enemy I know my just complaint will seem to thee To proceed from rudenesse and rusticâ—ty Let me seem rude so I preserve my â—ame And keep my honour free from spot or slain Although my countenance be not sad or sowre Though with bent brows I do not sit and lowre yet I
have kept my clear fame without spot No man hath in my Tables found a blot So that I wonder whence thy encouragement Proceedeth that thou shouldest my love attempt Because once Theseus stole me as a prey Shall I the Second time be stolne away It had been my fault had I given consent But being stolne against my will I went And yet he gathered not my Virgin slower He us'd no violence though I was in his power Some kisses onely he did striving gain But no more kindnesse could from me obtain Such is thy wantonnesse thou wouldst not be Like him content alone with kissing me He brought me back untoucht his modesty Seem'd to excuse his former injury And plainly it appear'd that the young man For stealing me grew penetent again But Paris comes when Theseus is fallen off That Helen may be still the worlds scoffe yet with a Lover who can be offended If thy love prove true as thou hast pretended This I do doubt although I do not feare My beauty can command love any where But because women should not soon believe men For men with flattering words do oft deceive them Though other Wives offend and that a fair one Is seldome chast yet I will be that rare one Because thou think my mother did offend By her example you think me to bend My Mother was deceiv'd Iove to her came In the shape of a milk-white feathered Swan If I offend 't is not my ignorance For no mistake can shaddow my offence And yet her error may be happy thought For to offend with greatness is no fault But I should not be happy if I erre Since I should not offend with Iupiter Of royal kindred thou dost boast to me But Ioâ—e'â— the fountain of Nobility Nay though from Jupiter thy self doth spring And Pâ—lops and Atreus be to thee a kin Jupiter's my Father who himself did cover With a Swans feathers and deceiv'd my Mother Go reckon now thy Pedegree of thy Nation And talk of Priâ—m and Laâ—medâ—â— Whom I do reverence yet thou shalt be Remov'd from Jupiter to the fifth degree And I but one and albeit that Troy Be a great land such is this we enjoy Though it for wealth and store of men excell The land is barbourous where thou do'st dwell yet thy Letter promises such gifts to me That goddesses might therewith â—empted be But if I may with modesty thus speak Thy self and not thy gifts may fancy take For either I 'le keep my integrity Or for thy love not gifts I 'le go with thee Though I despise them nor if e're I take Those gifts it shall be for the givers sake For when thy gifts have no power to moâ—e me I do esteem this more tâ—at thou do'st love me And that thou shoul'dst a painfull voyage take Through the rough Seas and all even for thy sake And I do mark thy carriage at the Table Although I to dissemble it am able Sometimes thou wantonly wilt on me glance And put me almost out of countenance Sometimes thou â—ghâ—st and then the cup do'st take And to drink where I did drink do'st pleasure take And so sometimes with thy fingers or a wink Thou closely wouâ—dâ—st expresse what thou didst think And I confesse I have blush't many times Foâ— fear my husband should discern thy signes And oftentimes unto my self I said If he were shamless he would be dismaid And on the Table thou hast many a time Fashon'd and drawn forth with a little wine Those letters whâ—ch my name did plainly show And underneath them thou hast writ Amo. I look't on it but seem'd not to beleive thee But now this word Amo doth also give me By these allurments thou my heart might'st bend If that I would have yeilded to offend I must confess thou haâ—â— a beauteous face Might win a Maid to yeild to thy embrace Let some one rather honestly enjoy thee Then that a strangers love should so destroy me To resist the power of beauty learn by me Vertue abstains from things which pleasing be By how many young men have I wooed been That beauty Paris sees others have seen Thou art more bold but they as much did see Nor hast more courage but less modesty I would thy ship had then arrived here When a thousand youths for my love Suiters were For before a thousand I had preferr'd thee Nay even my husband must have pardon'd me But thou hast stai'd too long and hast so trifle'd That all my Virgin joyes are gon and rifled Thou wert too flow therefore suppress thy flame What thou defir'st another doth obtaine Though to have been thy Wife I do wish still Meneâ—aâ—â— enjoyes me not 'gainst my will Cease with fair words to mollify my breast If you love me let it be so exprest Let me live as fortune hath allotted me Do not seek to corrupt my chastity But Venus promis'd thee in the Idean wood When three nak'd goddesses before thee stood One promised a Kingdome unto thee T'other that thou in wars should'st prosperous be But Venuâ— who was the third in this strife Did promise Helena should be thy wife I scarce believe the goddesses would be In a case of beauty judg'd so by thee Were the first true the latter part is sain'd That she gave thee me for Judgement obtain'd I do not think my beauty such that she Could think to bribe thy judgement by that fee. I am content that men may beauty prize That beauty Vâ—nâ—s praises she envies Ther 's no assurance in a strangers love As they do wander so their love doth rove And when you hope to find most constancy Their love doth coole and they away do flye Wiâ—nesse Ariadne and Hipsiphile Whoâ—e lawlesse ove procur'd their misery And it is said thou did'st Oenon wrong Forsaking her whom thou hadâ—st lov'd so long This by thy self cannot denyed be For know I took care to enquire of thee Besides if thou had'st a desire to prove Constant in thy affection and true love yet thou wouldâ—st be compellâ—d at â—â—â—st to sail And with thy Trojans thou away would'st saile For if the wished night appointed were Thou would'st be gone if that the wind stood fair And when our pleasures grew unto the height Thou would'st be gone if that the wind stood right So by a fair wind I shouâ—d be bereft Of joyes even in the midst imperfect left Or as thou perswad'st shall I follow thee To Troy and so great Priams Daughter be yet I do not so much contemn swift fame That I would stick disgrace upon thy name What would Priam and his Wife think of me With 's Daughters and thy brothers which may be Wâ—at mâ—ght Sparta and Greece of Helen say Or what might Troy report and Asia And how canst thou hope I should faithfull prove And not to others as to thee gâ—ant love So that if a stâ—angers ship do arrive here It will procure in thee a jealous fear And in thy rage call me adulteresse When
me know And through the water I have worn a path Like to those wheel-ruts which a high way hath I complain that I to such shifts was put But now the winds that passage have up shut The Hellespont is rough the waves go high So that ships scarce in Haâ—bour safe do lye And I believe the sea her name fiâ—st found From the Virgin Helle who was in 't drown'd This sea shall by her death infamous be Her name doâ—h shew her guilt though she spare me I envy Iason who did saile to Greâ—câ— And fetch away from thence the golden Fleece In his ship call'd the Ram yet I desire No ship of his this is all I require That the waters of the Hellespont would be So gentle to permit me swim to thee I want no art to swim give leave to me And both the ship and Pilot I will be I will not sail by the great or lesser beare For by such common stars love cannot steare Let oâ—hers on Andromedes star look Or â—adnes Crown to Heaven took Nor yet Calistâ—â— stars which do shine e'ear In the Polar Circle which they call the Beare These stars whâ—câ— by the gods were stellifiâ—d In my doubtfull passage shall not be my gâ—ide But I have a more brighter star than thesâ— My love wil guid me through the darkest seas Oft when my arms gâ—ew tyr'd with weariness That they cannot cut their wayes tâ—rough the seâ—s When I do tell them that to quit their pain They should imbrace hee they would then again To enjoy their prize with such a fresh strength swim Like a swift Horse that doth to ruâ— begin Thou art my star and I will folow thee Rather then all those stars in Heaven be Thou thou art far more worthy for to shine A star in Heaven yet stay on earâ—h thy time Or if thou wilt needs go then shew to me The way to Heaven that I may follow thee Thou aâ—t here yet I the way to thee can't find The roughness of the seas perplex my mind What though the Ocean do not us two parâ— This narrow Sea keeps me from thee sweet-heart If I should in some distant Countrey be It would cut off all hope of seeing thee But now I am inflam'd with more desire And burn the more the nearer to the fire And though the thing I wish for absent be yet I do â—ope for that I cannot see That which I love I almost seem to touch Which makes me weep to think my hopes are such I catch at Apples which from me do flâ— Like â—antâ—lus or the stream which glides by Shall I then nâ—veâ— be possest of thee Untill the winds and sea so pleased be When wind and water fickle be shall I Upon the vvind and water still relie Shall I be hindred by the raging seas The Goats Boote or the Plejades If I have any courage thou shalt see Love shall embolden me to swim to thee And if I promise I will come awaâ— And perform promise witâ—out all delay If seas continue still their raging anger I 'le try to swim to thee in despight of danger Either my bold attempt shall â—appy prove Or death shall give an end unto my love Yet do I wish my boâ—y may be driven Like to a wrack to thy beloved haven Then thou wilt weep on it and say ' was I Was the occasion that this man did dye I know when thou hast in my Lâ—tter sound This word of death thou wilt hate the sad sound Fear not but that the sea may now inclinâ— To calmnesse joyn your prayers I pray with mine If it were calm untill I did swim thither Arriv'd again let it be blustring weather In the Haâ—bour of thy Castle I 'le abide And in thy chamber at safe Anchor ride Let blustring Boâ—â—as strongly there inclose me I delight â—o stay there though he oppose me For then I will be woaâ—y and most slack To venture to return or to swim back On the deaf billowes I 'le not rail in vain Nor on the rough and raging sea complain The winds and thy embraces should keep me Wind-bound and love-bound still to stay with thee Yet soon as the sea permits I 'le begin To use my armes and unto thee I 'le swim And â—e thou carefull to put sorth a light Vpon thy turrer to direct my sight Vntill then let my Letter lodge this night With thee as Haâ—binger of my delight Which though it go before me I do pray That I may â—olloâ— it without delay The Argument of the eighteenth Epistle HEre having received Leanders Letter answereth it with many eâ—pressions of a mutual affection and invites him to haâ—ten his comming that she might injoy his company sometimes accusing his slacknesse thereby to sheâ— the â—incerity and integrity of her own love sometimes inveâ—ghing against the Sea sometimes fearing lest be loved some other then recanting that suspition ascribing it to the custome of Lovers who are apt to suspition Lâ—stly shâ—e perswadeâ— hâ—m not to expose himâ—elf to the mercy of the Sâ—â— untill it grow calm HERO to LEANDER THat health Leanâ—er which thou sent'st in word Come and more realâ—y to me afford For our joyes are deferred by thy stay And my love growes impatient of delay Our love is equal but I am the weaker For men are oâ— a stout and stronger nature Maids have a tender body and soâ—t mind If thou do stay I shall with grief be pâ—n'd You mâ—n cansâ—end the tedious time and leasure In hunting or some other countrey pleasure Or sometimes you can go unto the Court Or in riding or tilting take your sport you often Hawk and Angle many a time And spend some houâ—s in drinking of rich wine But unto me love doth a torment prove I have no busineâ—s here to do but love Thou onely art a pleasure unto me I love thee more than can believed be For either with my Nurse I talk of thee Wondring what stayeth thy comming unto me Or looking to the Sea sometimes I chide The sea 'cause it doth still so rough abide or when I see the sea is calmer grown I think that when thou mai'st thou wilt not come While I complain sad tears spring in my eyes Which with a trembling hand my old Nurse dryes Then I do look if any print remaâ—n of thy foot-steeps which the sands yet retain And oftentimes I enquire if any be Bound to Abydos so to write to thee And I do kisse thy clothes thou didst leave here When thou didst swim the Hellespont without fear When day is done and the more friendly night With spang'ed stars hath put the day to flight Then I set out a light for a land-mark Upon my Tower to guid thee in the dark And then sometimes with spinning I assay To pass the time which runs so slow away And that I may the tedious hours beguile I talk of my Lâ—â—nder all the while And to my â—urse I speak thus dost not thou Think that my
joy and love is coming now Or think'st thou that his friends watch him that he Is hindred so from coming unto me Dost thou 〈◊〉 think that he even now begins To put off his cloaths and annoint his limbs yes sayes my old Nurâ—e who did strive to keep Time with her head while she did nodding sleep And senselesse of all love car'd not though I Did want thy kisses and sweet company Then I should say to her a little after Now I do think â—e's in swiming through the water And having drawn my threed forth I would say Now I do think he is in the middle way Then I look'd forth and feaâ—fully dâ—d pray The w'nd would favour thee upon the way Sometimes I listned unto every voice Thinking thou wert come if I heard a noise Thus I would spend most of the night till sleep Upon my weary eyes by stealth did creep And sometimes thou sleep'st with me in my dreâ—m And art come though â—o come thou dost not mâ—an And now methinks that in my dream I see Thee swmming now thou art imbracing me And now to cloath thy wet limbes I do strive And in my warm bosome do thee revive And other things I dream of which must be Concealed at this time for modesty For that which in the doing pâ—eas'd us well yet being done it is a shâ—me to tell But woe is me these pleasures are soon done For when thy dream doth vanish thou are gone O let us at the length more firmly meet That our joyes may be real and moâ—e sweet VVhy have I lain so many nights from thee And why doâ—â— thou delay to swim to me Though the Seas yet for swiming unfit are yet yester night the winds more calmer were And why didst thou then fear to come to me VVhy didst not use that opporâ—unity Though you have another season yet at least Because this was the first this was the best The ficle sea doth quickly change her face But thou canst swim it in a little space And suppose winds and storms should keep thee here VVhile I imbrace thee thou needst nothing fear Then I would have the winds blow high enough And I would pray the seas might still be rough But why dost thou the winds and Seas now fear VVhich formerly by thee despised were For I remember thou didst swim to me VVhen the Seas were as rough as now they be VVhen I did wish thee not so rash to be Lest thy rashness should make me weep â—or thee But where is all thy courage now become Who through the Hellespont hast often swom Yet do not thou such rash adventures make But when the sea is calm thy journey take If thou dost love me still as thou dost write And that our flame of love burns clear and bright I fear not winds so much that crosse my mind As that thy love should prove sicle as wind Or that thou think'st me unworthy to enter Such dangers and for my sake to adventure And sometimes I am very much afraid Lest thou of Abydos scorn'st a Sestâ—n maid But it would gâ—â—eve me more then all the rest If thou shouldst love another Sweet-heart best Or if some Harlots armes should thee Embrace While that her new love doth the old displace O may I dye before that I do see My self in such a manner wrong'd by thee yet do I not write this becauâ—e that I From thee or fame have cause of jealousie yet still I fear who can securely love For absence doth often suspition move Those lovers are happy that present are And know when to be Jealous when not to fear We vainly fear and slight true injuries And nourish in our breast fond jealousies O would st thou come or else would I might find No woman hinders thee but the fierce wind Which when I know believe me I shall die VVith griâ—f to think upon thy injury For if that thou hâ—dst a desire to send Me to my grave thou might'st before offend But thou wilt not offend my fears are vain I know the winters stormes do thee detain VVoe's me the billowes do go rough and high And obscure clouds do darken all the sky Or Helles Mother makes the sea waves weep While they her Daughters obsequies do keep Or Iunâ— her step motâ—er now doth please Chang'd to a goddesse â—huâ— to vex the seas This â—ea unto young maids uâ—kind doth prove It drowned Hellâ— and doth câ—osse my love If Neptune his own love had call d to mind Our love had not been câ—ost so by the wnd It is no fable that thou didst approve Of fair Amyâ—nons and her didst love Alcyone and Ceyce th Sweet hearts were And Mâ—dusa before she had snaky hair Laodice and Celaeno Plejades And many I have read of besides these O Nâ—ptunâ— thou these Sweet-hearts had'st in store As Poets do report and many more Since thou so oft the forcâ— of love didst prove Why still from commâ—ng dost thou stay my love Spare us let stormes rage in the Ocean wide The Sea dotâ— two parts of the world divide For thee to tosse great ships it is most meet Or express thy rage in scattering a Fleet. To distuâ—b these seas can no glory be Or to hinder a young man would swim to me For know Leandeâ— nobly is descended Not from Vlysses ill of thee befriended Preserve us both for while that he doth swim He 's in the water but my life 's in him But now my candle by whose watchful light As it stood by me I these lines did write began to sparkle at that very time Which he did take to be a happy signe And my Nurse put wine to it to maintain The Lampâ— and cherish the reviving flame Sayes she here will be strangers I do think To morrow and with these words she doth drink Leander come and let our number be Increas'd for I do love thy company Leander unto thy own love return For why should I still lye alone and mourn Thou hast no cause thus fearfull still to be Venus will calm the sea and favour thee Sometimes to wade through the sea I begin But this sea hath to women fatall bin For Iason over it in safety came But a woman give to these seas their name If thou fear'st thou should'st want strength to performe This double labour to come and return Let us in the midst of the sea both meet And with a kisse each other kindly greet Then to our Cityes both return again This would some comfort be though it were vain I would that we had no regard of Fame Which makes us love in secret nor of shame For love and fearfullnesse do ill agree That perswades to pleasure this to modesty When that young Iason did to Colchos come He bore away Medea with him soon Soon as Paâ—is to Lacedemon came He straight returned with his prey again Thou com'st to me but leavest me behind And swim'st when ships can scarce a passage find But my Leanâ—er have a care
compell not perswade My love by promises on thy part made What doth my former oath now profit thee Though I call'd Diana it to testifie It is the mind that swears but my tongue went And swore this oath without my minds consent An oath should be took with a knowing mind Therefore a rash oath hath no power to bind If willingly I promis'd unto thee Marriage thou might'st then seek it now of me But if those words I unâ—wars did speak Thou stand'st on words that are but vain and weak I did not swear therefore thou canst not be By reading those words a husband unto me If such false oaâ—hs to bind effectual were To grow rich in short time thou need'st not fear For all the Kings in the world may resigne Their right unto thee by reading a line Thou art greater then Diana believe me If in thy words so great a power there be yet though my oath and thy love here I flight And have strongly pleaded my case is right yet I confesse I fear Diana's wrath Who now I doubt thus me afflicted hath For as often as I do intend to marry I do fall sick and so am sorc'd to tarry Thrice Hymen now unto my bed-side came And finding me sick he went back again And with his tired hand he scarce could light His Torch or make it to burn clear and bright Sometimes with powders he perfumes his hair While he his yellow saffron robe doth weare But when unto my chamber he doth come And beholds rears and weeping he is gone He pluck's the Garland from his shineing hair And tears the flowers in it placed were Such mourning doth with him so ill agree That his blushing cheeks red as his robe be VVhile a hot feaver now tormenteth me So that I think the bed-cloaths heavy be I see my parents for me weep and rage Who am now nearer death then marriage O Dâ—anâ— that dost wear thy painted quivâ—r Help me now by Apolle's skill thy brotâ—er Since he can cure the sick then why should I To thy disgrace without thy heâ—p nere dye VVhâ—n thou dâ—dst bathe thy self I ne're mistaked Like rash Actâ—on who beheld thee naked On thy altars I have often sacrific'd Tâ—y mother was not by my mother despis'd This only was my fault that I had read A perjur'd verse and â—as â—â—â—reby deceiv'd Tâ—erefore Acâ—â—t us for my sake now bring To Diana's alter thy own offering If that the goddesse be offended with me Then to be thine why doth the hinder me For if that she do take away my life Thou canst not hope that I should be thy wiâ—e He that should be my Husband doth not stand By my bed and lift me up with his hand He sits indeed on my beds side but he Attempts no action of immodesty And knows not what to think of me at all When wâ—thout cause teers from my eyes do fall He seldome doth a kisse to me impart And with a fearfull voyce cals me Sweet-heart I wonder my disdain he hath not spy'd For when he comes I turn on my left fide I will not speak but sleep I counterfeit And puâ—l my hand back when he would take it Then does he fetch a deep sigh because I Am offended with him he knows not why VVhen as in truth if I should speak my mind Cause in â—y sufferings thou dost pleasure find Thou dost deserve our angeâ— who didst set Thy cunning toylâ—â— to catch me in thy net Why dost thou write thou would'st â—ain visit me Since in thy absence thou hast wounded me Why thou art call'd Acontius I have found Cause like an arrow thou far off dost wound That wound is not yet healed which no darâ— But these words I read gave unto my heart Why should'st thou come and here behold me lie The wretched Trophy of thy victory For now my bloudlesse colour doth quite fail And I am like tâ—y Apple wan and pale My white cheeks are not lightly stain'd with red Like spored marble newly polished But like the colour of a silver Cup When with cold water it is filled up â—f thou sawest me I should not seem the same As when by Art thou sought'st my love to gain My promise thou wouldst willingly remit And aske the goddesse to be freed from it And thou wilt send me then another line That I may sweâ—r that I shall ne're be thâ—â—e Yet pretheâ— come since thou desir'st the same And see if thou canst know me now again Though Acontiuâ— thy breast like Iron be Thou would'st pray the goddesse to pardon me yet I would have thee know we askt Appollo To regain health what course I ought to follow And as fame doth repoâ—â— he answered I Was punish'd for my infidelity And thus the gods in Oracle answer'd me Who to thy desires favourable be Whence comes it but because these cunning Letters In the Apple writ make the gods thy debtors Since thou dost rule the gods thou must rule me And therefore willingly I yield to thee I told my mother how I had betray'd My self to thee at which she was dismay'd you must contrive the rest for I have done Already I fear more then doth become A Virgin since in this Letter you see I freely do unfold my mind to thee Now my weak joynt◠〈◊〉 weary of enditing And my sick hand is tired wiâ—h long writing So hoping that we shall together meet My Letter with a farewell doth thee greet The Argument of the one and twentieth Epistle PHaon being sometimes a â—oatmanâ— Venus came unto him and desired to be carried over the water gratis which he did not knowing her to be a goddesse whereupon she gave him a box of oyntment wherewith anoynting himself he became so beautiful that all the women in the Isle Lesbes were in love with him and especially Sappho did impatiently affect him But when Phaon went to Sicily Sappho out of the heat of her love and feare of his disdain desperately resolved to throw her self into the Sea from Lucas a Promâ—utorie of Spire Bâ—t yet unconstant to her first resolve â—he endeavours by this Epistle to recal him back and gain his love of which she formerly despaired and to win him to a dislike of his present estate and manner of life Lastly she useth all Arguments that might move him to pity And in this Epistle Ovid hath most lively exprest the soft and amorous affections of love SAPHO to PHAON SOon as thou do'st behold my studious hand â—hence the Letter comes do'st thou understand Or unlesse in it thou Sâ—phâ—es name read Do'st thou not know from whence it doth proceed Thou may'st wonder why I in this verse vvrite Since I in Lyrick numbers do delight The weeping Elegy will fitting prove To sute unto our sad and mournfull loâ—e But in light Lyrick verses there appears No doleful harmony that mry suâ—e tears For as a feild of corn on fire whose flame The Eastern wind doâ—h blow up and maintain Doth burn apace being fanned
home Since for my fathers death I a mourner am Whose death includes more grief then I can name My brother Hyppolliâ—us deserves a tear Whom his own horses did in pieces tear These fatall causes might excuse my stay yet after a while I will come away I will but lay my Fâ—tâ—er in the grave For 't is fit he â—hould worthy burial have Grant me but â—ime and I will constant be Thy Country â—eilds most safety unto me To those that since the fall of Troy did wander By land and sea and padst through much danger Tâ—â—â—ce hatâ— been kind and I unto this Land By tempest drove was kindly entertain'd If that thy love to me remain the same VVho in my royal Palace now do raign And art not Angry with my parents fate Or with Dâ—mophoon most unfortunate Suppose that unto me thou hadst been married VVhen at the siege of Troy ten years I tarried Penelâ—pe through all the world is fam'd Because that she her chastity maintain'd For she with witty Arâ— did alwayes wâ—ave An unthriving web suiâ—ers to deceive For she by night did it in pieces pull Resolving the unâ—wisted threds to woll Do'st 〈◊〉 the Thraciaâ—s will not marry thee Or wilt thou marry any one but me Hast thou a heart with any one to join Thy hand unlesse thy hand do join with mine HOw wilt thou blush then and how wilt thou grieve When a far off thou shalt my failes perceive Thou wilt condemn thy self and â—ay alas I see Demophoon most faitful was Dâ—mopâ—oâ—n is return'd and for my sake A dangerous voyage he by sea did make I that for breach of faith him rashly blamed Have broke my faith while I of him complained But Philliâ— I had rather thou should'st marry Then that thou shouldst some other way miscarry Why dost thou threaten thou wilt make away Thy self the gods may hear when thou dost pray Though thou do'st blame me for inconstancy Add not affliction to my misery Though Tâ—eseus Ariadnâ— did forsaâ—e Where he wild beasts a prey of her might maâ—e Yet my desert hath not been such that I Should be accused of inconstancy This Letter may the winds wiâ—â— out all fail Bring safe to tâ—ee which us'd to drive my fail Perswade thy self I fain would come away But that I have just cause a while to stay The Argument of Sabines third Epistle THis responsive Epistle written by Paris is not difficult for the Argument is taken out of Oenones Epistle Paris having violated the rites of marriage by repudiating his wife and marrying Helena first confesses to Oenone the injury he had done her After ward excusing himself he transfereth the blame on Cupid whose power Lovers cannoâ— râ—sist and on the fate who had destinated Helena to him unknown But t is reported that Oenone did love Paris so dearly that he being brought to her wounded by Phyloctetes with one of Hercules arrowes she imbraced his body and embalâ—â—eing it with tears dyed over him and so they were both buried in Cebriâ— a Trojan City PARIS to OENONE Nymph I confesse that I fit words do want To write an answer to thy just complaint I sâ—ek for words but yet I cannot find VVords that my aptly suite unto my mind I confesâ—e against thee I haâ—e offended yet Hâ—lens love maâ—es me I cannot mend it I 'le condemn my self but what doth it avail The power of love makes a bad cause prevail For though thou should'st condemn me and my cause yet Cupâ—d means to â—ry me by his lawes And if by his lawes we will judged be It seems another hath more right to me Thou weâ—t my first love I conâ—esse in truth And I marri'd thee in my flowre of youth Of my father Pâ—iam I was not proud As thou do'st write but unto thee I bow'd I did not think Hâ—ctor should prove my brother VVhen thee and I did keep our flocks together I knew not my mother Queen Hâ—cuâ—e VVhose Daughter thou most worthy art to be But love I see is not guided by reason Consider with thy self at this same season For thou complain'st that I have wroâ—ged thee And yet thou writest that thou lovest me And though the Sâ—yres and the Fawnâ—s do move thee yet thou â—emainest constant still unto me Bendes this love is fatal unto me My Sister Cassandra did it foresee Before that I had heard of Helâ—ens name Whose beauty through all Greece was known by â—ame I have told all unlesse it be that wound Of love which I have by â—er beauty found Nay those wounds I will open and from you To gain some help I will both beg and sue My life and death are both within thy hand you have conquer'd me I 'm at your command yet I remember that when you heard me â—elate to you her diâ—mal prophesie While I did tell thee thou didst weep upon me VViâ—hing the go is would turn that sad fate upon me That thou 〈◊〉 gâ—t'st have no cause to accuse When that O 〈◊〉 doâ—h 〈◊〉 lose Love blinded me that I could not believe thee And loving thee doth make me now deceive thee Love powerful is and when he list can turn Ioâ—â— to a bull or to a Bird tranforme Such beauty all the world should not contain As Hâ—lâ—n who is born to be my flame Since Iupiter to disguise his loose scape Did transforme himself unto a â—wans shape And Ioâ—â— also descended from his Tower To court fair Daâ—â—e in a golden showre Sometimes himself he to an Eagle turn'd And sometimes to a white Bull hath transform'd And who would think that Hâ—râ—ules would spin yet love of Dâ—ianâ—ra compell'd him And he wore her lâ—ght Peâ—ticoate 't is said While his love with his Lions skin was clad So I remember love compelled thee The more 's my fault that thou preâ—erredst me Before Apollos love and from him fled Because thou would'st possesse my marriage bed Yet I excel'd not Plâ—oebus but the dart Of Love did so inforce thy gentle heart yet this may unto thee some comfort prove That she is no base Harloâ— whom I love For she whom I before thee do prefer By birth is â—escended from Iupiâ—â—r yet her birth doth not inamour'd make me But 't is her matchlâ—sse beauty that doth take me O my Oenonâ— I do wish it still I had not been on the Idaean Hill A judge of beauty Pallas now doth grudge And Iune because against them I did judge And because I did lovely Venus praise And for her beauty gave to her the Bayes She that can raise loves flame up in another She that rules Cupid and is his own Mother yet she could not avoid her own Sons shaft And Bow where with he wounded others oft For Vâ—lcan took fair Venus close in bed VVith Mâ—rs which by the gods was witnessed And Mars again she afterward forâ—ook And for her Paramour Anchises took For with Anchises she in love would be And did revenge his sloath in venery If Venus thus did in afâ—ection rove Why may not she make Paris change his love Menelaus with her fair face was took I lov'd her before on her I did loâ—k Though wars ensue if I do her enjoy And a thousand ships fetch her back from Troy I do not fear the war is just and right If all the world should for her beauty fight Although the armed Grecians ready be To fetch her back I 'le keep her here with me If thou hast any hope to change my mind To use thy charmes why art tâ—ou not enclin'd Since in Apollo's Arts thou art well seen And to Hecates skill hast used been Thou canst cloud the day and stars shinning clear And make the Moon forsake her silver sphere And by thy charmes while I did Oxen keep Fierce Lyons gentâ—y waâ—k't among the sheep Thou didst make Xanthus and Simâ—eâ—s flow Unto their springs and back again to go And charm'dst other Rivers when thou did'st see They thirsted aâ—ter thy Virgininiâ—y Oenone let thy charmes effectual prove To change my affection or quench thy love Bookes Printed for William Gilbertson the sign of the Bible in Gilt-spur-stree without Nâ—wgate THe Faithfull Analist or an Epitome of the English History giving a true account of the Affairs of this Nation from the building of the Tower of London in the dayes of William the Conqueror to the Restoring of our Gracious King Charles the Second where in all things remarkable both by Sea and Land from the year 1069. to the year 1660 are truly and exactly represented The Rich Cabinet with variety of Inventions unlocked and opened for the recreation of Ingenious spirits at their vacant hours also variety of Recreative fire-works both for Land Air and Water whereunto is added Divers Experiments in Drawing Painting Arethmetick c. The History of Parismus and Parismenos The History of Ornatus and Artesia The History of Dr. Iohn Faustus the first and second part The History of the Gentle Craft the second part shewing what famous men have bâ—en Shoo-makers Iustin in Lattin Also Iustin in English Translated out of the four and forty books of Trogus Pompelus containing the Affairs of all ages and Countreys both in peace and war from the beginning of the world till the time of the Roman Emperors togather with an Epitome of the lives and Manners Fitting to be used in Schools for the benefit of youth The Government of Cattle by Leonard Mascall Chief Farier to King Iames. The Surveyors Perambulator A new book of Surveying of Land PLAYS Ignoramus Dr. Faustus The Valiant Welchman Fair EM the Millers Daughter of Manchester GUY of Warmick Lady Alymony The Merry Devil of Edmonton The Shoe-makers Holiday or the Gentle-Craft FINIS