After that I beheld a quaile flying and a faulcon pursuing hir Erigone hauing hir faire shining brest stickt full of sweete grapes and the daughter of king Chollus with hir bull Eriphile and hir changed husband The daughter of Alpes and the virgin Melantho with hir dolphin Phyllira the daughter of old Oceanus with the father of Chiron Next hir Ceres with hir head instrophyated with ripe eares of corne imbracing the scalie Hydra And the faire Nymph Lara sorting with Argiphon and the sweete Futurna of the riuer Numicus And whilest I stood with excessiue delight beholding onely as an ignorant this rare companie and mysticall triumphes circumsept with these and such like sorts and so also the delicious fields but that me thought it was a louely sight to behold and so I should haue continued then the gratious Nymph associating and leading me seeing my simplicitie and carelesnes with a ready countenance and sweete and pleasant words without asking she said thus vnto me My Poliphilus doest thou see these shewing me those of the olde world these were beloued of Iupiter and this and this was such a one and these were in loue with him by this meanes shewing vnto me their high and mighty linage and not knowing their names she in great curtesie told me Afterward she shewed me a great number of little virgins vnder the gouernment of three sober and discreete matrones the leaders to so great delight Adding thereunto very pleasantly changing hir angellike countenance My Poliphilus thou shalt vnderstand that no earthly creature can enter in heere without a burning torch as thou seest me either with extreeme loue and great paines or for the fauour and company of those three matrones And from hir hart fetting a deepe sigh she said This torch haue I brought hither for thy sake minding to put it out in yonder temple These speeches pearced my hart they were so delightfull and desired and so much the more bicause she called me hir Poliphilus Whereupon I assured my selfe that she was Polia and from top to the toe I found an extreeme alteration into a supreame delight my hart flying onely to hir Which thoughts were bewraied by my countenance and whispering small sighes Which she cunningly perceiuing brake off this new accident with these words Oh how many be there which would most gladly behold these triumphes and therefore Poliphilus addresse thy thoughts to other matters and behold what noble and woorthy Nymphs shew themselues deseruedly consorted with their amorous louers curteous and affable who with sweete and pleasant notes in measured verse praise and commend one another without wearines incessantly celebrating their turnes with excessiue delight and extolling the triumphs the aire also full of the chirpings of diuers pretie birds yeelding a diffused charme About the first triumph among the reioising companie the nine Muses did sing with their leader the diuine Luter Apollo After the triumph followed the faire Parthenopeian Leria with a lawrell crowne accompanied with Melanthia whose habites and voices represented the pride of Greece whereupon the great Macedon rested his head She bare a splendent lampe communicating the light thereof with hir companion then the rest more excellent both in voice and song There the faire Nymph shewed me the auncient Iphianassa and after the old father Himerinus his daughters and their drinke and one betwixt the two Theban brothers These with pleasant noises sweete musicke and fine agilities paste on about the first triumph About the second triumph was the noble Nemesis with the Lesbian Câ—rina Delia and Neaera with diuers others amorous Nymphs making pleasaunt soundes vppon stringed instruments of yealow wood About the thirde triumph the glorious Nymphs shewed me Quintilia and Cynthea Nauta with others in great solace making sweete harmonies and singing pleasant verses there also I behelde the virgin Violantilla with hir Doue and the other sorrowing for hir Sparrow About the fourth triumph before it went the Lidian Cloe Lide Neobole sweete Phillis and the faire Lyce Tyburts Pyra with their harps singing and making a most pleasant noyse After this fourth triumph among the Maenades and sacrificers to Bacchus there folowed an amorous damosell singing in the commendation of the head of hir louer Plaon she desired homes And after them all she shewed me two women one of them apparelled in white and the other in greene which came hindermost singing togither And thus they marched about in a most pleasant and delightfull maner vpon the fresh greene and flourishing plaine Some instrophiated with laurel some with myrtle and others with other sorts of flowers and garlands incessantly without any wearines or intermission in a perfection of the felicitie of this world mutually enioying one anothers aspect and companie The Nymph hauing at large declared vnto Poliphilus the mysticall triumphs and extreeme loue afterwards she desired him to go on further where also with great delight he beheld innumerable other Nymphs with their desired louers a thousand sorts of pleasures solacing themselues vpon the grâ—â—ne grasse fresh shadowes and by the coole riuers and cleere fountaines And how Poliphilus there had with madnes almost forgotten himselfe in the passions of desire but hope did asswagâ— his furie quieting himselfe in the beholding of the sweete sauour of the faire Nymph NOt onely happie but aboue all other most happie were he to whom it should be granted continually by speciall fauour to beholde the glorious pompe high triumphs beautiful places sweet scituations togither with the goddesses halfe goddesses faire Nymphes of incredible delight and pleasure but especially to be seconded and accompanied with so honorable a Nymph of so rare and excellent beautie And this I thought not to be the least and smallest point of my felicitie Now hauing looked vpon these fights I remained a great space recording of the same being therewith beyonde measure abundantly contented Afterwards the faire and sweet damsell my guide said thus vnto me Poliphilus let vs now go on a little further And then immediately we tended our walke toward the fresh fountains and shady riuers compassing about the flourshing fields with chrystalline currents and gratious streames In which cleare water grew the purple flowering sonne of the Nymph Liriâ—pe looking vp from his tender stringes and leaues And al the faire riuers were ful of other flowers sweetlie growing among their greene and fresh leaues This delightfull place was of a spatious and large circuit compassed about and inuironed with wooddie mountaines of a moderate height of greene lawrell fruitefull memerels hearie high pine trees and within the cleere channels with graueled banks and in some places the bottom was faire soft yealow sande where the water ran swifte and the three leaued driope greâ— There were a great companie of delicate faire Nymphs of tender age with a redolent flower of bashfulnes and beyond all credite beautifull with their beardles louers continuallie accompanied Among which Nymphs some verie pleaâ—antly with wanton countenaunces in the
said vnto mee Tel me young man what is your name And I reuerently aunswesed them Poliphilus it will please me well saith she if the effect of your conditions be aunswerable to your name And without deceit said the rest And how is your dearest loue called Whereat I making some pause aunswered Polia then she replyed A ha I thought that your name should signifie that you were a great louer but now I perceiue that you are a louer of Polia and presently shee added more saying if shee were heere present what would you doo I aunswered That which were agreeable with hir honour and sit for your companies Tel me Poliphilus doest thou loue hir wel indeed Then I fetting a deepe sigh aunswered beyond all the delights and cheefest substance of the greatest and most pretious treasure in the whole world and this opinion hath made an euerlasting impression in my still tormented heart And she where haue you lost or abandoned so loued a iewel I know not neyther where I am my selfe I know Then she smyling aunswered If any should finde hir out for you what rewarde would you giue But content thy selfe be of good comfort and frame thy selfe to delights for thou shalt finde thy Polia againe And with these and such like pleasaunt and gratious questions these fayre young Virgins sporting and solacing themselues we washt and bathed together At the opposite interstice of the beautifull fountaine without of the faire sleeping Nymph before mentioned within the Bathe there was an other of scatnes of fine mettal and of a curious workemanship glistering of a golden colour that one might see himselfe therein Which were fastened in a Marble cut into a squadrature and euacuated for the Images to stand in their proportions with two halfe Collumnes that is Hemiciles one of either side with a Trabet a smal Zophor and a Coronice all cut in one sollid Marble and this peece of worke was nothing inferior to any of the rest which before I had seene but with a rare art and marueilous inuention both deuised and performed In the voyd and plaine euacuated quadret there stood two Nimphes little lesse then if they had been liuely creatures apparelled so as you might see somewhat aboue their knees vppon one of theyr legges as if the winde had blowne it vp as they were doing theyr office and their armes bare from the elbow to the shoulder except And vpon that arme wherewith they sustained the Boye the habite that was lifted vp was reiect The feete of the Infant stood one in one of the handes of the Nymphes and the other in the others hand All their three countenances smiling and with their other handes they held vp the Boyes shirt aboue his nauil The Infant holding his little Instrument in both his hands and continued pissing into the hotte water fresh coole water In this delicious place of pleasure I was verie â—oâ—und and full of content but the same was much apalled in that I thought my selfe a contemptible bodie among such beauties and dewe coniealed into Snowe and as it were a Negro or tawnye Moore amongst them One of them called Achoe verie affably and with a pleasant countenance said vnto mee Poliphile take that Christal vessel and bring mee some of that fresh water I without staie intending to do so and thinking nothing but to do her seruice in any sort that she would commaund me went to the place And I had no sooner set my foote vpon the steppe to receiue the water as it fell but the pissing Boye lift vp his pricke and cast sodeinlye so colde water vppon my face that I had lyke at that instant to haue fallen backward Whereat they so laughed and it made such a sounde in the roundnes and closenes of the bathe that I also beganne when I was come to my selfe to laugh that I was almost dead Afterward I founde out the concauitie and perceiued that any heauy weight being put vpon the moueable stepping that it would rise vp like the Keye and Iacke of a Virginall and lift vp the Boyes pricke and finding out the deuise and curious workemanship thereof I was greatly contented Vpon the Zophor was written in Atthic letters this title 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 After our great laughter and bathing and all hauing washed with a thousand sweete amorous and pleasant wordes maydenly sportes and pastimes wee went out of the water and leapt vp vppon the accustomed seates tripping on their toes where they did annoynt themselues with sweete Odours Diasdasmatic and with a Myristic liquor or water of Nutmegges And they offered a boxe vnto mee also and I annoynted my selfe therewithall and I founde great pleasure therein for besides the excellent smel and sweete sauour it was verie good to comfort my bodie legges and armes that had been so wearied in my daungerous flight Afterward when we had made our selues redy which was somwhat long after the manner of other women by reason of so many gewgawes and gimmerie whatchets they did open their vesselles of daintie confections and refreshed themselues and I amongst them and with precious drinke When they had eaten sufficiently they returned againe to their looking Glasses with a scrupulous examination about their bodies and the attire of their heades and dressing of their yealow curling haires depending and hemicirculately instrophiated about their diuine faces And when they had made an endeâ— they fayde vnto mee Poliphilus wee are now going vnto our gratious and most excellent Souereigne the Queene Eutheriâ—â—da where you shal finde and conceiue greater delight but the water is still in your face whereat they beganne to renew their laughter without all measure at mee glauncing and turning their eyes one to an other with a louely regarde At last they set foorth and as they went rounde togither they beganne to sing verses in a Phrygiaâ—tâ—nâ— of a pleasaunt metamorphosing of one who with an oyntment thought to haue transfourmed himselfe into a Byrd and by mistakyng of the Boxe was turned into aâ—ude Asse Concludyng that manye tooke Oyntmentes to one purpose and founde the effecte to contrarie their expectations Whereat I beganne to be in a doubt that they had sung that by mee because that they still smiled as they turned to wardes mee But seeing that I perceiued no alteâ—â—tion in my selfe but wel I was contented to let them laugh on Vpon a sodaine I founde my selfe so lasciuiously bent and in such a prurient lust that which way so euer I turned I could not forbeare and they as they sung laughed the more knowing what had happened vnto mee And it did so increase in mee more and more that I knew not wherewithal I might bridle and restraine my selfe from catching of one of them like an eager and hotte Falcon comming downe out of the ayre vpon a couie of Partriges I was with such a violent desire prickt forwarde which I felt more and more to increase in a sault burning And the more I was to that
thus to one of them vpon her right side Logistica you shall bee one that shall accompanye our guest Poliphilus and with a sacred and honourable grace shee turned to the left hande saying Thelemia you shall also go with him And both of you shewe and instruct him at what Gate hee must remayne and then Poliphilus they shall bring you to an other mightie and maiesticall Queene who if shee shall bee bountifull vnto thee in entertainment thou art happie if contrarie then discontented Notwithstandyng none doth knowe her intent by her countenance because that sometime shee sheweth her selfe full of fauour loue and pleasant dispositions An other time shee is malignant frowarde disdainefull with vnstable incursyue passions And shee it is that determineth such euents as thou seekest after And for her obscure condition shee is rightly called Thelosia Her residence is not in suche a stately Pallaice as thou seest mee to dwell in Therefore I would haue thee to vnderhande that the chiefe woorkeman in the creation of nature did make no thyng comparable to mee neyther can the earth shew thee greater treasure then to come to my presence and taste of my bountie obtaine my fauour and participate of my qualitie And therefore esteeme of it according to the value for that thou findest in me is a heauenly Tallent aboue all earthly Iewels for I haue not had my residence in man since his fall They may imagine of mee but they knowe mee not neyther doo I beare any rule with them to the good of my selfe Nowe the Queene Telosia shee dwelleth in a place of cloudie darkenes her house is kept close and shut for that shee will not shew her selfe vnto man nor anothomise discouer and laye open her selfe vnto any as shee is and for this cause the euent of her variable determination is kept secret But in a maruellous sort considerately shee transformeth her selfe against the haire into diuers fashions not manifesting her selfe although desired And when the auncient Gates shall be opened vnto thee in euerie one shall bee written what shall befall thee but thou shalt not perceiue the same vnlesse that in some part thy vnderstandyng and wisedome enigmatically and with a right and sincere iudgement looke vnto it and quickly consider of it for because that shee ambyguously chaungeth her selfe in habite and countenance and through this doubtfull anymaduersion a man remaineth deceiued of his expectation without remedie And therefore Poliphilus that which these my consigned trustie and appoynted handmaydes by suggestion shall perswade thee vnto and at what Gate thou oughtest to enter in and remayne euen which of those two it shall best please thee to giue eare vnto doo for they haue some vnderstanding of her And hauyng thus spoken shee made a signe or becke with her head to the two Nymphes Logistica and Thelemia who presently without delaie were obedient to her commaund And I beeing readie to speake neyther knew what to say or yet durst to so high a maiestie and for so great bounties giue a word The two appoynted companyons of my iourney verie fauourablye and with a familiar readines and virginlike iestures tooke holde of mee one by the right hande and the other by the left and reuerently obteyning licence first of the Queene and takyng theyr leaue of the rest went out the same way that I came in And I beeyng desirous and not satisfied turned mee about towardes the conspicuous Poarch to beholde diligently the artificious Pallaice wonderfull and perfinite of the Art of building The subtiltie of which no humane excogitation is able to imitate And therefore I thought that nature had made that for a maruell of all her woorkes for commoditie vse grace bewtie ayre and continuall durablenes For which cause I was excessiuely desirous to staie and looke vppon it but my leaders and guides would not suffer mee and yet by the theft of my eye in the Zopher ouer the gate I noted this inscription 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 And as muche as with my quicke sences I could carrie I tooke in my going foorth with as greate pleasure and delight as is possible to expresse O happie were hee that myght bee but a drudge or kitchin slaue in suche a Paradice Nowe beeing come into the base Court compassed and sette about with Orenge trees Thelemia in great curtesie saide thus vnto mee besides and aboue all the maruellous and woonderfull thinges which thou hast yet seene and behelde there bee sower yet remayning behynde whiche thou shalt see And vppon the lefte side of the incomparable pallace they brought mee into a fayre Orchyard of excogitable expence tyme and subtletie of woorke-manshippe the contynent and cyrcuite whereof was as muche as the plot of the Pallace wherein was the resydence and abiding of the Queene Round about fast by the walles of the Orchyard there were set conuenyent garden pots in the which in stead of growing plantes euerie one was of pure glasse exceeding a mans imagination or beleefe intorpiaried boxe the rootes and stalkes of golde whereout the other proceeded Betwixt one and other of the which was placed a Cyprusse tree not aboue two paces high and the boxe one pace full of manyfolde maruellous symples with a moste excellent imitation of nature and pleasaunt diuersitie in the fashions of flowers in distinct colours verie delyghtfull The playne labiall compassing about the quadrant Orchyard comming out from the walles as a seate for these aforesayde garden pottes and trees to stande vppon was subcoronized with golde by excellent lyneamentes wrought and adorned The vpper face whereof and whereuppon those pottes and trees did stande was couered with a playster of glasse gilte and a curious historographie to be seene in the same and compassed about and holden in with wyering and netting of golde The wall that compassed about the Orchyard with a conuenient distance was bellyed out with columnes of the same matter and inuested with flowring bindings naturally proportioned and heere and there were quadrangulate columnes of golde chamfered arching from one to an other with a requisite beame Zophor and coronice with a meete and conuenient proiecture ouer the chapter of glasse vppon the round The substance of which subiect proiecture of the bryttle matter was of counterfayte diasper diuersly coloured and shining Which bryttle substance had some void space betwixt that and the other The mouth of the arches were stopped with rombyes of cleare glasse in forme of a tryangle and the pypes beautified all ouer with an Encaustick painting verie gratious to the sight of the beholder The ground was here and there couered with great round balles of glasse lyke gunne stones and other fine proportions much pleasing with a mutuall consent vnmooueable lyke pearles shining without any adulteration by folyature From the flowers did breath a sweet fragrancie by some cleare washing with oyle for that purpose There most cunningly did Logistica lyke an Orator make a discourse in commendation physically of that excellent
confection of the noblenes of the substaunce secrecie of the art and straungenes of the inuention The like is not to bee found And after shee sayde Poliphilus lette vs goe and ascende vp this mount nexte the Garden and Thelemia remayning at the stayre foote wee ascended vp to the playne toppe Where shee shewed vnto mee with a heauenly eloquence a Garden of a large compasse made in the forme of an intricate Laborynth allyes and wayes not to bee troden but sayled about for in steade of allyes to treade vppon there were ryuers of water The which mysticall place was of a verie lustie mould and fruitfull replenished with all sorts of fruits beautified with faire springs and greene hearbes and flowers full of all solace and delight Whereupon she spake thus I doe imagine Poliphilus that you doe not vnderstande the conditionate state of this maruellous seate and therefore giue attendance to my wordes Whosoeuer entereth in cannot come backe but as you see yonder mountaines heere and there distributed seuen circuits and the about goings distant one from another And the extreeme molestation and sorrowe of the enterers in is this In the myddle mountayne within the center thereof and open mouth of the same there lurketh inuisibly a deadly deuouring olde Dragon hee is vtter destruction to some and others are not hurte to death by him Hee cannot bee seene nor shunned neyther doth hee leaue any vnassaulted but eyther in the entrie or in their iourney hee destroyeth or woundeth And if hee killeth them not betwixt one mountayne and another they passe the seuen circuites to the next mount And they that enter in by the first tower or mount wherevppon is this tytle inscript 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 They sayle in a little shippe with a prosperous winde and securely at pleasure the fruites and flowers fall downe vppon theyr hatches and with great solace and pleasure they cut through by the seauen reuolutions with a merry winde vntill the second mount bee discouered and come vnto And marke and beholde Poliphilus howe cleare and bright the ayre is in the entrance ouer that it is in the center about the which is thicke darknesse In the first mount or tower there is alwayes resident a pittifull matron and bountifull before whome standeth an auncient appoynted vessell called Vrna in a readinesse hauing vppon it seauen Greeke letters as thus 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 full of appoynted honie and to euerie one that entereth in verie curteously and with a good will shee giueth one of them without respecte of state and condition but according to theyr enterance These beeing receyued they came foorth and begin to sayle in the Laborynth the water beeing enuyroned vpon either sides with roses trees and fruits And hauing sayled the first seuen reuolutions of Aries and being come to the second mount there they meet with innumerable troopes of yong women of diuerse conditions which demaund of euerie one the sight of theyr honye which beeing shewed vnto them they straightwayes knowe the propertie of the hony and the goodnesse thereof and embracing him as theyr guest they inuyte him with them to passe through the next seuen reuolutions and with diuerse exercises according to her inclyned promptnes they accompany them to the third mount In this place hee that will goe on forwards with his companion shee will neuer abandon or leaue him for there bee farre more pleasaunt voluptuous women And many refuse the first and make choyse of them In the putting off from the second mount to come to the third they finde the current of the water somewhat agaynst them and stand in neede of oares but beeing fallen off from the thirde mount making theyr course towardes the fourth they finde the tide and streame more against them and in these seauen oblique courses their pleasure is variable and vnconstant Beeing come to the fourth mount they finde other yoong women combatting and fighting and those examining theyr pottes of honie they intice them to theyr exercise but those that refuse to leaue theyr first companions they let passe together and in this cyrcuite the water is yet more contrary and troublesome where there is neede of great studie and labour to passe on And beeing come to the fift mount they finde it speculable lyke a mirrour wherein they see theyr representations and in that they take great delyght and with a feruent desire they passe on their labour some course In that mount they see this sentence and golden saying manyfested Medium tennere beati not lyneall nor locall but temporall where by a sincere and perfect examination hee discerneth that meane wherewith he hath ioyned his felicitie wisdome and riches which if not well in the rest of his course he faynteth the more And losing off from thence the Waters by reason of the broken circles beginne to be verie slyding towards the Center so that with small or no rowing they are brought to the sixt Mount And there they finde elegant Women with a shew of heauenly modestie and diuine worship with whose amiable aspects and countenaunces the Trauailers are taken in their loue condemning their former with despite and hatefull abhorrence And with these they fall acquainted and passe the seauen reuolucions These beeing come ouer with an obscure and foggy close ayre with many losses and a grieuous voyage they beginne to remember what they haue past and lost for the more that the compasse of the reuolucion draweth neere to the discouerie of the Figure of the Center the sooner they are passed ouer styll shorter and shorter and the more swyfter the course of the streame is into the deuouring swallow of the Center And then with extreame affliction and bitter anguish remembring the abuse of their pleasures and companions that they haue forsaken and sweete places which so much the more augmenteth their sorrowes for that they cannot returne oâ— goe backe with theyr Shyppe such a companie still follow them vppon the stearne with their fore-castles And most of all dysmayeth them the heauie sentence ouer the median Center Theonâ—ykos Dys Algetos And there considering the displeasant tytle they curse the time of their entrance into the Labirinth which hath in it so manie sundry delights and the end of them subiect to such myserable and ineuitable necessity And then she smyling said Poliphilus ouer the deuouring throat of thys Center there sitteth a seuere Iudge balancing euery ones actions and helping whom hee will helpe And because that it will be tedious to tell thee all let thus much heereof suffise Let vs goe downe to our coÌ„panion Thelemia who demanding the cause why they staid so long aboue Logistica made aunswer it doth not content our Poliphilus onely to behold but also to vnderstand by me the secrecie of those things which he could not goe to knowe wherein I haue satis-fied him And when she had ended Thelemia said Let vs goe a little while to an other garden no lesse pleasant ioyning to the glasse
Scithian snowe shee wore a Carkenet of Oryent Pearle Cerna the wife of Caesar neuer had the like and I doubt me that that of Eriphile which she tooke to Amphiaraus was nothing comparable vnto it And in the bending downe ouer the deuision of her breastes betwixt two great Pearles there was laced a corruscant rounde Rubie and vppon the collaterate sides of the sayde Pearles two glistering Saphires and two Pearles next them two Emeraldes two Pearles and after them two fayre lacinthes all these Pearles and Stones were laced in a worke in losenges in a rare and beautifull manner Her fayre heade sending downe and vnfolding a loose spreading abroade of plentifull hayre like the smallest threds of golde wauing with the winde and vpon her crowne a garland of tawny vyolets sweetly smelling and couering the same almost to her forheade from the middle vpper point whereof in forme of two Hemycycles to the halfe of her eares it mounted vppe in curled trammelles falling downe againe vppon her fayre Temples moueably wauing and shaddowing the same and hyding the vpper halfe of her small eares more fayre then euer was reported of Mimoria The rest of her yellowe haire descended downe ouer her fayre necke well disposed shoulders and straight backe to the caâ—â—es of her slender legges moderatly wauing and blowne abroad in greater beautie than the proude eyed feathers of Iunâ—es Birde Such hayre as Berenice did neuer vow in the venereous Temple for her Tholomaeus nor Conus the Mathematrician did euer beholde the like placed in the Triangule In her forehead vnder two subtile blacke Hemyciâ—les and distinct eye brees such as Abacsiâ—â— in Aethiopia had not to boast of or compare with nor Juno her selfe did looke ouâ— and present themselues two pleasant radious and glistering eyes which would enforce Jupiter to rayne golde of a cleere sight quicke and pearcing with a browne circle betwixt the Apple and the miâ—chie white neere to the which were her purple and Cherry cheekes beautified with two round smyling dimples gracing the pleasure of her countenaunce of the collour of the fresh Roses gathered at the rysing of the Sunne and layde in a vessell of the Christall of Cyprus and shewing through the same as me thought Vnder her nose to her lyppes passed a little valley to her small mouth of a most sweete forme her lyppes not blabbered or swelling but indifferent of a rubye collour couering two vniforme sets of teeth like yuory and small not one longer and sharper than an other but in order euenly disposed and set from betwixt the which Loue had composed an euerlasting sweet breathing so as I presumed to thinke that the snow white teeth betwixt her gracious lyppes were no other but Oryent Pearles her sweet breath hot Muske and by her delightfull voyce that she was Thespis with her nine daughters By all which sight I was greatly mooued and my sences rauished with a kindled appetite causing among them great strife and bitter contention such as I neuer felt before by any other presence or excellent sightes whatsoeuer My searching eyes commended one part aboue another to bee more beautifull but my appetite rapt into an other part of her heauenly body esteeming that aboue the other And thus my insatiable and wanton eyes were the euill beginning of all thys perturbing and contentious commotion whome I founde the seminaries and moouers of all so great strife and trouble in my wounded and festering heart Through theyr contumacy I was now brought from my selfe and neuerthelesse I could not be satisfied by them My greedy appetyte extolled her delicate breast aboue any comparison my eyes delightfully consenting thervnto sayd at least by that we may discouer what y â— rest is And they glauncing from that to the regarde of her grace and gesture set all their delight therein and my appetite strengthened and not easilie remooued from thence I perswaded my selfe that the plentie and fayrenesse of her head and hayre and the dressing thereof and the beautie of her forheade coulde neuer bee compared with of any one or other like the scrapings of golde alwaies turning into little roundels With two eyes lyke morning starres in a cleere heauen more beautifully adorning her heade than any that euer the warlike Neco behelde among the Acitanians wounding my heart like one of the arrowes of the angrie Cupid And thus to conclude I dare be bolde to say that no mortall man hath seene so gracious so shyning so cleere and pleasant lightes as these were placed in the forhead of this heauenly creature so that by them my hart was taken prisoner was filled with such continuall coÌ„trouersies of desire as if a leafe of the Laurell of the Tombe of the king of Bibria had bin placed betwixt that strife should neuer cease whilst it was there so as I thought that this strife would neuer cease vntill the pleasure were taken away by reason wherof I could not perceiue howe I shoulde obtaine the fulnes of my desire or howe it coulde agree with either one or other Like one extreamely hungry among a number of prepared meates being desirous of all feedes of none his burning appetite remayning satisfied with none but still hungry The most fayre Nymph beeing come to Poliphilus bearing a Torch in her left hand with the other tooke him and inuited him to walke with her and there Poliphilus by her loue was more inflamed THus seing before me a reall and visible obiect of a most excellent representation louely presence and heauenly aspect of a plentifull store and vniuersall gathering of vnseene beautie and inhumaine comelinesse I made light and slender account in respect heereof of all the inestimable delights riches and great pompe which before I had behelde and seene thinking their worthinesse nothing to speake of in comparison of this Oh happie hee that may enioy such and so great a treasure of loue and not onely a happie possessor I account him but most happie that shall possesse and obtaine her obedience to hys desire and rule But if Zenes had behelde this substance hee would haue commended the same aboue all the Agâ—gientine maides euery proprotion would haue made vnto him an oportune shewe of the absolutest perfection in the whole world Which fayre and heauenly Nymph nowe comming neere vnto me with a cheerefull countenance incontinently her most rare beautie before somewhat a farre of looked vppon with mine eyes but nowe by them more neere and narrowly behelde I was rauished and amased And her amorous aspect and louely presence was no sooner brought by the message of mine eyes to my inward partes but my recording and watchfull remembrance stirring and waking vppe my heart presenting and offering her vnto the same it is become her shoppe the quiuer for her piercing arrowes and wounding regardes and the dwelling place and conseruable mansion house of her sweete picture Knowing that this was shee which had â—aediously consumed my tender yeeres in her hotte and prime loue not
to be resisted For I felt the same leaping and beating against my breast without ceasing like as one that striketh vpon a hoarse Taber And still me thought by her louely and delightfull countenance by her fayre tresses and the curling and wauing haire playing vp and downe vppon her forheade that it should be Polia whome so greatly I had loued and desired and for whom I had sustained so many sundry griefes without intermission sending out scalding sighes the outward reporters of my inwarde flames But her rich and Nymphish habite vnaccustomed and the place vnknowne and strange made mee still doubtfull and suspicious Shee as beforesaide carried in her snowe white left arme close to her body a kindled and burning Torch somewhat higher then her heade a good deale and the lower ende growing smaller and smaller shee helde in her hande and stretching foorth that which was at libertie more white then euer had Pelopea wherein appeared the thinne smoothnes of the skynne and the blewnesse of the veynes lyke Azure streames vppon the faire and whitest paper Shee toooke me by the left hande with a sweete and louing countenance and smiling grace and with an eloquent speech shee pleasantly saide in this manner Poliphilus I thinke my selfe to come in saftie but it seemeth that you stand doubtfull Heereat I was more amazed and my sences in a manner gone to imagine howe she should knowe my name and al my inward parts vanquished and hemmed in with burning amorous flames my speech was taken from mee with feare and reuerent bashfulnesse In this sort remayning I knewe not vppon the suddaine what good aunswere I might make or otherwise doe her reuerence but to offer her my vnworthy and vnfit hande Which when it was streined in hers me thought that it was in hot snowe and curded milke and me thought indeede that I touched and handled something which was more then humaine which when I had so done I remained moued in minde troubled and doubtfull vnaccustomed to such a companion not knowing what to say or whether to followe her in my simple apparell and homely bringing vp not agreeable with hers and as a foole vnworthy and vnfit for her fellowship perswading my selfe that it was not lawfull for a mortall and earthly creature to enioy such pleasures For which cause my collour red and blushing with reuerent admiration being grieued at my basenesse I setled my selfe to followe her At length and yet not with a perfect recalled minde I beganne to reduce and sommon together my fearefull and distempered spirites perswading my selfe that I must needes haue good successe being neere so faire and diuine an obiect and in such a place And so followed her on with a panting heart more shaking than the birde Sisura or a Lambe carryed in the mouth of a Wolfe And thus touched most feruently with pleasant heates growing encreasing more more they began to boyle kindle my colde feare and dispositiuely to adopt my altered heate to sincere loue Which being thus brought to thys passe by a prouoked inward desire yet inwardly as I reasoned with my selfe it was wonderfully variable and doubtfull Oh most happye Louer of all Louers that in requitall of hys might bee sure to participate of hers On the other side I perswaded my selfe that if I shoulde offer vnto her my amorous heart and loue hauing no better thing to bestow vpon her or present vnto her it might be that she would not refuse it like Artaxerxes the King of the Percians who hauing water presented to hys handes accepted of it bowing downe himselfe Heerewithall me thought yet that a fearefull and chill trembling inuaded mee infusing it selfe ouer all my body and breast renewing the force of the extreame fire euen like dry reede which being once kindled is enflamed and nourished with the fresh ayre vntill at length it is increased so mightily that it consumeth all to ashes And in like sorte I fully founde in my selfe an increase and flashing abroade of my inwarde flames in their prepared subiect so effectually that her amorous regardes gaue me mortall and deadly woundes euen as lightning and thunder among the stronge and mightie oakes suddainely with a great force scorching tearing them And therefore I durst not looke vpon her bright eyes because that dooing so being ouercome with the incredible beauty of her gracious aspect if peraduenture her radious beames did reincounter mutually with myne for a little while euery thinge seemed two vnto mee vntill I had closed the lyddes together and restored them to theyr former light Wherevpon and by reason of these thinges captiuated spoyled and ouercome I determined at that instant to plucke vp some fresh flowers and in all humble sort to offer them vnto her and it came to passe that whilst my secret thoughts consented thervnto consygning a free meane and large entrance for the discouery of my desire But my burning heart humbly hauing opened the same euen as a rype Apple being eyther bytten or shaken so it fell and fayled me And receiuing into his wounded and familiar estuation in some interposition of time immediatly his accustomed heat and feruor increased piercing the inward parts with her virgineall aspects exceedingly beautified with a comely grace and vnexcogitable elegancie Because that into this sweete introduction into my minde of these first amorous flames lyke the Troian horse full of weapons and deceite the enterance was made for an euerlasting vnknown and vncessant plague deeply festering in my tender and poore heart perpetually remayning which easily ouercome with one sweete looke inconsiderately without delay hasteneth his owne hurt and wholly layeth it selfe open to amorous incursions and burneth it selfe with sweet conceits going into the flames of his owne accord To all which burning desires her present company did greatly inforce mee which I esteemed to yeelde mee more comfort then the North starre in a tempestuous night to the troubled Marriner more acceptable then that of Melicta to Adonis or to Phrodites the obsequious Nymph Peristera and more delightfull then Dittander to the daughter of Dydo with the Purple flowre for the wounde of Pius Aeneas And finding my heart strooken and inwardly pricking secretly filled and compressiuely stuft recording and gathering together into it varyable thoughts and working of Loue my immedicable wounde grewe greater and greater But gathering vp the remaynder of my sences as one that durst I assured my selfe to manifest and lay open before her my intended desires and amorous conceites And thus loosing my selfe in a blinde folly I could not choose but giue place to my inuading desires feruently boyling and inforcing me to say thus Oh delycate and heauenly Damosell whatsoeuer thou art thy forcyble loue hath set me on fire and consumeth my grieued heart I finde my selfe all ouer burning in an vncessant flame and a sharpe daâ—t cast into the middest of my breast where it sticketh fast hauing made a mortall wounde vncurable And hauing spoken thus to the
ende I might discouer vnto her my hidden desire and moderate by that meanes the extreamitie of my bitter passions vvhich I felt the more they were concealed the more to augment and increase I patiently helde my peace and by this meanes all those feruent and greeuous agitations doubtfull thoughtes wanton and vyolent desires were somewhat supprest with my ill fauoured Gowne that had still some of the Bramble leaues and prickes in the Wood hanging vpon it and euen as a Peacocke in the pride of his feathers beholding the fowlenesse of his feete pulleth downe hys traine so I considering the inequallitie of my selfe with such a heauenly obiect appaled the prouocations of my contumacious and high desires looking into the vanities of my thoughtes And then I earnestly endeuoured by all the meanes that I might to subdue encloyster and keepe in my vnbridled gadding appetite wandring minde and immodest desire intending nowe that it should neuer be vttered againe At length I beganne to thinke in the secret depth of my wounded heart that vndoubtedly this my present continued griefe was equall with that of wicked Tantalus to whose hotte and thirsting lyppes the coole and cleere water did offer it selfe and to his hungry appetite the sweete fruites honge ouer hys gaping mouth appresenting but he neuer tasted any of either Ah woe is mee euen in like sort a most fayre Nymph of an excellent shape of a florishing age of Angel-like behauiour vnspeakable and of rare honour and exceeding curtesie as mine eies coulde beholde whose company exceeded any exquesite humaine content and I iust by her full of all whatsoeuer prouocation forcing sollaciously loue and desire heaping vppe in her selfe the whole perfections of delight and yet my yauning and voluptuous desire neuer the more thereby satisfied Well on this sorte my burning concupiscence nothing allayed as much as I might I comforted my languishing hart vnmeasurably tormented in putting of it in minde of solacious and amorous hope and with that there was neuer a coale so neere put out but it was presently renued and set on fire with the company of the next And my vnbridled eyes the more they were vnarmed to resist her power the more they were inflamed with the insolent desire and liking of her wonderfull and heauenly beautie Still seeming more faire more excellent more louely more to be desired extreamly apt and praepared for loue euedently shewing foorth in her selfe a wonderfull increase of sweete pleasure Afterwards I thought with my selfe it may be that she is some creature which I may not desire and it may bee the place is not fitte for such thoughtes and then it may bee I haue made a wise worke and spunne a fayre thred if I should bee punished for my impudencie like Ixion In like sort the Thracian had neuer founde the deepe seate of Neptune if he had not medled with Tethis and Gallantide the mayde of Lucina shoulde not haue brought foorth in her mouth if hee had not deceiued It may that thys Nymph is spowsed to some high and mightie Prince and I to offer her this dishonour what am I worthy of And thus resoning with my selfe I thought that those thinges which had but slender assurance woulde lightly slyppe away and that it would not be hard to deceiue where was no watchfull regarde and to bolde spirites Fortune was not altogether fayling and besides that it was harde to knowe a mans thought Where-vpon euen as Calistone being ashamed at her swelling belley shronke aside from the presence of Diana so I withdrewe my selfe blushing at my attempt and bridling my incouenient desires Yet with a lincious eye I neuer left to examine with great delight the extreame beautie of the excellent Nymph disposing my selfe to her sweete loue with an vnfallyble obstinate and firme resolution Polia as yet vnknowne to her Louer Poliphilus shee gratiously assureth him who for her extreame beautie hee indeuoreth his minde to loue And both of them going to the triumphes they see innumerable youths aâ—d Damosels sporting with great delight THE Archer Cupid in my wounding heart hauing his residence like a Lord and king holding me tyed in the bands of Loue I found my selfe pricked and grieuously tormented in his tyrannous and yet pleasant regiment And abounding in doubtfull delight vnmeasurably sighing I watered my plaints and then the surmounting Nymph with a pleasing grace incontinently gaue me comfort and with her ruddy and fayre spoken lyppes framing violent and attractiue wordes she gaue me assurance abandoning and remouing from my heart all fearefull thoughts with her Olymphicall aspects and cooling with her eloquent speeches my burning heart and with an amorous and friendly regarde and cast of her eyes and smiling grace she saide thus vnto mee Poliphilus I woulde thou shouldest vnderstand and know thys that true and vertuous loue hath no respect of outward things and therefore let not the basenes of thy apparell diminish or lessen thy minde if perhaps noble and gentle and worthy of these places and fitte to beholde these maruellous tryumphes Therefore let not thy minde be dismayed with feare but dilligently behold what Kingdomes they possesse that are crowned by Venus I meane such as bee strongly agonished and yet perseuere still seruing and attending vpon her amorous Aultars and sacred flames vntill they obtaine her lawfull fauour And then making an ende of her short and sweet speech both of vs making forward our pace neither too fast nor too slowe but in a measure I thought thus and thus discoursing with my selfe Oh most valiant Perseus thou wouldest more feirsly haue fought with the cruell Dragon for the fauour of this then for the loue of thy fayre Andromada And after Oh Iason if the marriage of this had beene offered vnto thee with a more greater and more daungerous aduenture then the obtayning of the golden fleece thou wouldest haue let goe that and vndertaken this with a greater courage esteeming it aboue al the iewelles and precious treasures of the whole worlde I more then those of the ritch and mightie Queene Eleutherillida Continually seeming more fayre more beautifull and more louely Hippodamia and all the greedy scraping and doubtfull Vsurers neuer tooke such delight in getting of gold A quyet Harbour was neuer so welcome to a destressed Marryner in a stormy darke and tempesteous winter night nor the wished and oportune fall of rayne at the prayer of Craesus as the louing consent of this daintie Nymph more welcome to mee then bloody broyles to warlike Mars or the first fruites of Creta to Dionisius or the warbling Harpe to Apollo and yet more gratefull then fertill grounde full eares and plentifull yeelding to the labouring Husbandman And thus in most contented sort passing on and pressing down the thicke greene and coole grasse sometime my searching and busie eyes woulde haue a cast with her pretty small feete passing well fitted with shooes of Red leather growing broader from the instept narrowe at the toe and close about
the heele and somtimes her fine and moueable legges her vesture of silke beeing blowne about with the winde vppon her virgineall partes discouered themselues If I might haue seene them I do imagine that they did looke like the finest flower of Peloponesus or like the purest milke coagulated with Muske By all which most delectable thinges tyed and bounde in the harde and inextricable knots of vehement loue more vneasie to vndoe then that of Hercules or that which Alexander the great did cut in sunder with hys sworde and amorously masked in rowled nettes and my subdued haert helde downe withe grieued cogitations and burning desires leading mee whether they would I founde in it more pricking torments then faythfull Regulus in Aphrica So that my sorrowing spirites exasperated with an amorous desire and extreame vexation continually burning in my panting breast coulde by no meanes bee asswaged but with supping vp of continuall sobbings and breathing out of their flying losse And thus drowned in a mist of doubts and seeing me vyolently taken in her loue I saide thus to my selfe O Poliphilus howe canst thou leaue at any tyme thy inseperable loue kindled towardes thy sweete Polia for any other And therewithall from this Nymph thus close and fast bounde more strongly theÌ„ in the clawes of a Creuise or Lobstar endeuouring to vntie my selfe I found it no easie peece of worke so that I coulde not choose but greeuously binde my troubled hart to the loue and affecting of this by all likelihoodes hauing the true shape sweete resemblance and gratious behauiour of my most beloued Polia But aboue all thinges this came more neere vnto mee and grieued me worst howe I should bee assured that shee was Polia Wherevppon from my watry eyes the salt teares immediatly tryckling downe it seemed vnto me a hard contemptuous matter to banish from my forlorne and poore heart his olde soueraigne Lady and Mistresse and to entertaine a newe strange and vnknowne Tyrannyzer Afterwards I comforted my selfe again with thinking that peraduenture this was shee according to the sacred Oracle and true speech of the mighty Queene Eleutherillida and therefore that I should not shrinke or stoope vnder my burthen for if I were not greatly deceiued this was shee indeede And hauing made thys amorous and discoursiue thought and swasiue praesuppose abandoning all other desires whatsoeuer I onely determined with my heart and minde to come backe againe to this noble and excellent Nymph in whose great loue I beeing thus taken with extreame compulsion I was bolde with an vnaccustomed admyration dilligently to looke vpon her rare shape and louely features my eyes making themselues the swallowing whirlpooles of her incomparable beautie and they were no sooner opened hotly to take in the sweete pleasure of her so benigne and conspicuous presence but they were strengthened for euer to hold with them solaciously agreeing the assembly of all my other captiued sences that from her and no other I did seeke the mittegation and quenching of my amorous flames And in this sort we came whilst I was thus cruelly wounded by exasperating Loue somewhat vppon the right side of the spacious fielde In which place were set greene trees thicke with leaues and full of flowers bearing fruite rounde about the place and seate of such variable and diuers sorts neuer fading but still greene giuing great content to the delightfull beholder The gallant and pleasant Nymphe there stayed and I also stood still Where looking about by the benignitie of the fruitfull playne with halfe my sight because I coulde not altogether withdrawe the same from the amorous obiect I behelde very neere vnto vs a certaine shewe of an inuyroning company tryumphing and dauncing about vs of most braue and fine youthes without beardes and vnshorne heares but that of their heads bushing curling and wrything without any art or effaeminate crysping crowned and dressed with garlands and wreathes of diuers flowers and red Roses with leauye Myrtle with purple Amaraâ—th or flower gentle and Melliot and with them a great company of yonge maydes more fayre and delicate then bee to bee founde in Sparta Both kindes apparelled very richly in silkes of changable collours hyding the perfect collour some in Purple Murry and some in white curled Sendaâ—l such as Aegipt neuer affoorded and of dyuers other collours some Tawney some Câ—ymosen others in Greene some in Vyolet some in Blewe Peach collour Peacocke collour perfectly engrayned as euer Corica coulde yeelde and powdered and wouen with golde and edged and hemmed about with orient Pearle and stones set in pure golde some in gownes and others in hunting sutes And the most of the beautifull Nymphes had their fayre haire smoothly bounde vppe together and thrise rowled about with an excellent finishing knot Others had their vnstable wauing tresses spreading downe ouer their fayre neckes Some with aboundance of haire cast vp ouer their forheades and the endes turning into curles shaddowing ouer the fayrenes of the same so as Nature and not Arte shewed her selfe therein a beautifull mistresse With fillets and laces of golde edged with orient Pearle and others in Caules of golde wearing about theyr slender neckes rich and precious Carkenets and necklaces of Pearles and stone and depending iewelles And vppon theyr small â—ares did hangâ— dyuers precious stones and ouer the variable dressings of theyr heades before in two Hemycicles were set shoddowes of oryent Pearle and stone in flowers of hayre All which excellent ornaments together with theyr most elegant personages were easily able to alter any churlish vile or obstinate heart Theyr fayre breastes in a voluptuous and wanton sort were bare to the middest of them And vppon their prettie feete some wore sandalles after the auncient manner beeing soles and the foote bare fastened to the same with a small chaine of golde comming vp betwixt the great toe and the middle and the little toe and the next about the heele ouer the instep and fastening vppon the vpper part betwixt the toes and the instep in a flower Others hauing straight shooes claspâ— vppon the instep with flowers of golde Their stockings of silke some of Purple some of Carnation some of parted collours such as Caius Galicola neuer first brought vp Others wearing Buskins vppon the white swelling calfes of their legges and laced with silke some buâ—ned wyth golde and precious stone Their fore-heades most fayre and beautified with the moueable wauinges of theyr crysping hayre couered ouer with a thinne vayle lyke a Spiders vvebbe Theyr eyes byting and alluring more bright than the twinkling starres in a cleere ayre vnder theyr circulate brees vvith a small nose betwixt their rounde and cherry cheekes their teeth orderly disposed small and euen set of the collour of refyned siluer vppon the test betwixt their sweet and soft lyppes of the collour of Corrall Many of them carrying instruments of Musique such as neuer were seene in Ausonia nor in the handes of Orpheus yeelding in the flowring Meadowe
lightening he stoode vpon an aultar of Saphyre Before his fearefull maiestie were a beuie of Nymphs seauen in number apparrelled in white proffering with their sweete voices to sing and after transforming themselues into greene trees like emeralds full of azure flowers and bowing themselues downe with deuotion to his power Not that they were all transformed into leaues but the first into a tree hir feete to rootes their armes and heads into braunches some more then other but in a shewe that they must followe all alike as appeared by their heads Vpon the other Anaglyph I did behold a merrie and pleasant maiesticall personage like a yoong fat boye crowned with two folding serpents one white and the other blacke tied into a knot Hee rested delightfullie vnder a plentifull vine tree full of ripe grapes and vpon the top of the frame there were little naked boies climing vp and sitting aloft gathering the ripe clusters others offering them in a basket to the God who pleasantly receiued them other some lay fast a sleepe vpon the ground being drunke with the sweet iuice of the grape Others applying themselues to the worke of mustulent autumne others singing and piping all which expression was perfected by the workman in pretious stones of such colour as the naturall liuelinesse of euery vaine leafe flower berrie body proportion shape and representation required And in this imagerie although it was very small yet there was no defect to be found in the least part belonging thereunto but perfectly to be discerned Out of this former described vessell did spring vp a greene flourishing vine the twisting branches thereof full set with clusters of grapes the tawny berries of Indian Amethyst and the leaues of greene Silenitis of Persia Noâ— subiect to the change of the moone delighted of Cupid This tree shadowed the chariot At euery corner of this triumphant chariot vpon the plaine where the vessell stood was placed a candlesticke of excellent workmanship vpon three feet of red corrall well liked of the ruder sort resisting lightening and tempests fauourable and preseruatiue to the bearer The like were not found vnder the head of Gorgon of Persia nor in the Ocean Erythreum The steale of oâ—e of the candlesticks waâ— of white corrall beloued of Diana of a conuenient length with round knobs and ioints in height two foote Another was of most fine stone Dionisias hauing spots growing from a blackish to a pure red the same pounded smelleth sweetly The third was of perfect Medea of the colour of darke gold and hauing the smell of Nectar The fourth of pretious Nebritis from a blacke growing to a white and greene Out of the hollowed steales whereof there ascended vp a pyramidall flame of euerlasting fire continually burning The brightnes of the works expressed through the reflexion of the lights and the sparkling of the pretious stones were such as my eies dazeled to behold them About which heauenly triumph with a maruellous and solemne pompe infinite troups of Nymphs their faire and plentifull tresses falling loose ouer their shoulders some naked with aprons of goates skins and kids others with tymbrels and flutes making a most pleasaunt noise as in the daunce called Thiasus in the trieteâ—ie of Bacchus with green leaffie sprigs and vine branches instrophyated about their heads and wasts leaping and dauncing before the triumphs immediately after the triumphs followed an olde man vpon an asse and after him was led a goate adorned for a sacrifice And one that followed after carrieng vpon hir head a fanne making an vnmeasurable laughter and vsing furious and outragious gestures This was the order of these Mimalloâ—s Satirs and seruants to Bacchus bawds Tyades Naiades and such as followed after The Nymph doth shew to Poliphâ—lus the multitude of yoong Louers and their Loues what they were and â—n what sort beloued IT is verie hard for a man to accommodate his speech to apte termes whereby he may expreslie declare the great pompe indefiâ—ent triumph vncessaunt ioie and delightfull iettings aboute these rare and vnseene chariots and being once vndertaken it is as vneasie to leaue off besides the notable companie of yoong youths and the increasing troups of innumerable faire and pleasant Nymphs more sharpe witted wise modest and discreet then is ordinarily seene in so tender yeeres with their beardles Louers scarce hauing downy cheekes pleasantly deuising with them matters of Loue. Manie of them hauing their torches burning others pastophorall some with ancient spoiles vppon the endes of streight staues and others with diuers sorts of Trophes vpon launces curiouslie hanging caried before the mystical triumphs with shouting resounds aboue in the aire Some with winde-instruments of diuers fashions and maner of windings sagbuts and flutes Others with heauenly voices singing with ineffable delights and exceeding solace past mans reason to imagine within them passed about the glorious triumphs turning vpon the florulent ground and green swoord a place dedicated to the happie without anie stub or tree but the fielde was as a plaine coequate medowe of sweete hearbes and pleasaunt flowers of all sorts of colours and sundry varieng fashions yeelding so fragrant a smell as is possible to speake of not burnt with the extreeme heat of the sunne but moderate the ground moystened with sweete ryuers the aire pure and cleane the daies all alike the earth continually greene the spring neuer decaieng but renuing the coole grasse with variable flowers like a painting remaining alwaies vnhurt with their deawie freshnesse reseruing and holding their colours without interdict of time There grewe the fower sortes of Violets Cowslops Melilots Rose Parsley or Passeflower Blew bottles Gyth Ladies seale Vatrachium Aquilegia Lillie conually Amaranth Flower gentle Ideosmus all sorts of sweete pinks and small flowring hearbs of odoriferous fragrancie and smell Roses of Persia hauing the smel of muske and Amber and innumerable sorts of others without setting but naturally growing in a woonderfull distribution peeping out from their greene leaues and barbs very delightfull to behold In this place I might see goodly braue women as the Archadian Calisto the daughter of Lycaon with the vnknowen Diana The Lesbian Antiopa daughter to Nycteus and mother to Amphion and Zeteus that built Thebes with hir satyre Issa the daughter of Machareus with hir shepheard Antichia the daughter of Aecus and yoong Danaë Asterie the daughter to Caeus and Alchmena with hir fained husband Afterward I beheld the pleasant Aegina solacing hir selfe with the cleere flood and diuine fire The daughter of Fullus and that of Menemphus with hir counterfeit father and that other of Diodes with hir lap full of flowers and a writhing serpent and the faire yoong gyrle no more sorrowing for the growing of hir hornes Astiochia and Antigone the daughter of Laomedon solaciously delighting hir selfe in hir storkish plumes and Lurisile the first inuentrix of wheeles Garamantide the dauncing Nymph holding by hir little finger and washing hir delicate pretie feete from sweate in the riuer Bagrada