Seven Minor Epics of the English Renaissance (1596-1624) Part 3

Vertuous _aeneas_, with the armes of Greece, Venturing for _Troy_ as _Iason_ for his fleece.

And vpward if you lookt, you might behold The roofe of it all wrought in burnisht gold: Whereon was figur'd heauen; and there anent The G.o.ds in state riding to Parliament.

Gold-showring _Ioue_ vpon a milke-white steed Rode first in ranke; on whose imperiall head A triple crowne was plac't, at which before Two matchlesse diamonds for worth he wore: On whose right hand _Idalian Ganymed_ A ma.s.sie scepter strongly carried: But on his left, swift-winged _Mercurie_ A dreadfull thunderbolt (earths feare) did whurrie.

Next _Ioue_, _Apollo_ came: him followed _Fame_ Baring a lawrell, on which sweet _Sydneys_ name In golden letters, plainly to be read, By the Nine Muses had beene charrectred: On whose each side Eternitie and Praise Enroll'd mens deeds, and gaue them fame to raise.

Then furious _Mars_ came next with sulphure eies, Flas.h.i.+ng forth fire as lightning from the skies; Whose vncontrolled crest and battered s.h.i.+eld Greeke-wounding _Hector_ and _aeneas_ held.

Light-headed _Bacchus_ with a cup of golde Brimfull of wine, next _Mars_ his place did holde; The which quaft off, one reeling on before Filled againe, and still supplied more.

Him followed sicknesse, by excesse, being lead, With faint weake hands holding his pained head.

Thus was the roofe adorn'd: but for the bed, The which those sacred limmes encanaped, I could say much: yet poised with her selfe, That gorgeous worke did seeme but drossy pelfe.

All-conquering Loue inspire my weaker Muse, And with thy iocund smiles daigne to infuse Heauen-prompted praises to my vntaught story, That I may write her worth, and tell thy glory.

Vpon her backe she lay (o heauenly blisse!); Smiling like _Ioue_, being couzend of a kisse; The enuious pillow, which did beare her head, Was with it selfe at warre, and mutined: For if the midst receiu'd her chaste impression, Then the two ends would swell at such a blessing; And if she chanst to turne her head aside, Gracing one end with natures only pride, The rest for enuy straight would swell so much, As it would leape asunder for a touch.

Her Sun-out-s.h.i.+ning eyes were now at set, Yet somewhat sparkling through their cabinet; Her scorne white forehead was made vp by nature, To be a patterne to succeeding creature Of her admiring skill: her louely cheeke, To Rose, nor Lyllie, will I euer leeke, Whose wondrous beautie had that boy but prou'd, Who died for loue, and yet not any lou'd, Neuer had riuer beene adorned so, To burie more then all the world could shew.

Her sweetest breath from out those sweeter lips, Much like coole winde which from the valleys skips In parching heat of Summer, stealeth forth, Wandring amongst her haire; her wel formd mouth: No art hath left vs such proportion, To modell out so true perfection.

Her smoothe moist hands the sheets kept from his sight, Lest by comparing, they should staine their white.

As thus she lay like _Venus_ in her pride, (Tempting sweet _Adon_, lowring by her side) _Philos_ approcht, who with this sight strooke dumbe Came stealing on to see, and being come, His greedie eye, which on the sudden meets So many various and delicious sweets, As rackt with pleasure (neuer hauing fill) Would faine looke off, and yet would looke on still.

Thus do we surfet on our sudden ioyes, And ranck-fed pleasure thus it selfe destroyes: For when his eye doth light vpon her hand, He then protests, that that is whitenesse land; But when the whitenesse of her whiter brow Doth steale his eye from thence, he sweareth now Her brow is fellowlesse without all peere; When being s.n.a.t.c.ht off vnto her fairer haire, He vowes, the Sun, which makes trees burnisht gold, Is not so faire, nor glorious to behold: The viewing the strains which through those cheeks appeare, And that pure whitenesse which triumpheth there, Mixt with those azure Saphire pa.s.sing vaines, Which are insert like siluer running streames, Watring those golden apples of the brests, Where heauens delight & earths contentment rests, His full-fed eye orecome with such excesse, Sweares and forsweares, denies and doth confesse: Then doth he touch her lips, Natures rich treasure, And musing thinks which is the greatest pleasure To kisse or see; for to resolue which doubt, Againe he kisses, whence comes stealing out So sweet a breath as doth confound his sence; For rarest obiects hurt with excellence: Then doth he seise her hand with softest straine, Whose moist rebound doth easily detaine A willing guest, who purposely could wish Noother food, but such a well-grac't dish.

Whiles thus poore _Philos_ kisses, feeles and sees, Heauen-staining _Licia_ opes her sparkling eyes, And askt the hopelesse Louer, if mornes eye Had out-stript night. _Philos_ made answer, I.

And thus the Louer did continuallie: For why, such l.u.s.tre glided from her eie, Which darkt the Sun, whose glory all behold, So that she knew not day, till some man told.

Which office she to _Philos_ had a.s.sign'd, Because she had him alwayes most in mind: Which had he knowne, he would not so haue spent The restlesse nights in drery languishment, Tumbling and tossing in his lothsome bed, To flie from griefe, yet that still followed.

Then rising vp, and running here and there, As if he could outrun or lose his care; But being vp, and finding no reliefe, Lookt in his heart, and there he found out griefe.

How cam'st thou hither (then amaine he cries) To kil my heart? Griefe answerd, Through his eyes.

Mine eyes (quoth he) subornd to murder me?

Well, for their treason they no more shall see.

With that a floud of teeres gush out amaine; But griefe sends sighs to beat them backe againe: So that the hurt he meant to do his eies, Heart-murdring griefe resists, and it denies.

Whereat amazd, as one bereft of sence, His eies fixt fast on her, as if from thence His soule had gone, he cri'd: oh, let this moue, Loue me for pitie, or pitie me for loue.

Though I am blacke, yet do me not despise, Loue looks as sweet in blacke as faire mens eies.

The world may yeeld one fairer to your view; Not all the world fairer in loue to you.

A iewell dropt in mire to sight ilfauoured, Now, as before, in worth is valued; An orient pearle hung in an Indians eare, Receiues no blemish, but doth shew more faire; One Diamond, compared with another, Darks his bright l.u.s.tre, & their worth doth smother; Where poised with a thing of light esteeme, Their worth is knowen, and their great beauty seene.

Set white to white, and who commendeth either?

Set white to blacke, and then the white's the fairer.

The glorious Sunne, when in his glittring pride, Scowring the heauens, in progresse he doth ride, Who runnes to see? or who his sight doth lacke?

But if he chance to shute himselfe in blacke, Then the earths people couet him to see, As if he were some wondrous prodegie.

The worlds perfection, at the highest rated, Was of a blacke confused thing created.

The sight, wherewith such wonders we behold, The ground of it all darke, and blacke the mold.

Since then by blacke, perfection most is knowne, Loue, if not for my sake, yet for your owne.

Mole gracing _Venus_ neuer shewed so faire, When as _Vulcan_ the black-fac'd G.o.d was there, As thou by me: the people, as we pace, By my defects shall wonder at thy grace; And seeing me so swarthie and so tawnie, Shall haue more cause for to admire thy beautie: And all shall thinke (by whom our charriots go) That tis thy beautie which hath tann'd me so.

Thy dangling tresses, if compar'd with mine, Glitter like heauen with l.u.s.tre from thine eine: And those immortall eies, which like the Sunne, The lookers on with his bright rayes doth burne, If mine be nie, will seeme to s.h.i.+ne more cleere, Than glittering _Venus_ in her Hemisphere.

So thy rich worth, compared with my pelfe, Will in excelling others match thy selfe: Euen as Merchant that hath out at sea His wealth, the hope of his posteritie, And hauing heard by flying newes, at home, That all is lost by some tempestuous storme; Comming to after-knowledge in the bay, It is arriu'd, and nothing cast away, But with redoubled wealth is backe returnd, For whose supposed losse he oft hath mournd; Is sca.r.s.e himselfe, with ioy of what he heares, And yet retaines some of his former feares It should proue false, recalling to his mind The certaine tokens which some had a.s.sign'd Of his more certaine wracke: So fareth she, Possest with ioy (euen to the highest degree) Of what she heard; and yet in this extreame, Was halfe affrayd she was but in a dreame: For well she knew, that some nights did present As pleasing visions to her owne content; Yet in the morne, when golden sleepe had left her, Of her supposed ioyes it had bereft her.

With this conceit, her iuory hand put forth, Drawes wide the curtaines which eclips'd her worth, And then she surely thinks she sees his face, (For none but his could glory of such grace) The same maiesticke courage which was wont To place it selfe vpon his gracefull front; That speaking cheeke, and that same sparkling eie; That powrfull arme, and that same l.u.s.tie thie; With all those parts, so well compact together, That Nature erd in all for him, or rather Some higher power concurr'd to beautifie So sweet a patterne of humanitie: For neuer Nature (since the world began) Could shew so true a perfect well shap't man.

While these conceits busi'd her wit-fraught braine, Poore _Philos_, who imagines through disdaine She will not speake, in these words doth beseech, She will transforme her breath into her speech: Natures chiefe wonder, and the worlds bright eie, Which shrowds _Elysium_ in humanitie, _Idea_ of all blisse, oh let me heare Those well tun'd accents which thy lips do beare: p.r.o.nounce my life or death: if death it be, Thrise happy death, the which proceeds from thee.

O let those corall lips inricht with blisses, A while forbeare such loue-steept amourous kisses, And part themselues, to story to mine eares The sad misfortune which my poore heart feares.

If all my loue must be repayd with hate, And I ordaind to be vnfortunate; If my poore heart being consecrate to thee, (Where thy sweet image sits in maiestie) Must turne to ruine; and my teere-spent eies Wholly possest with gripple auarice, Hourding the riches of the blessed sight Which they haue stolne from thee, must shade in night Their deerest chrystals of vnualued price, Since they haue gla.s.sd themselues within thine eies: Yet let me craue one happy-making boone, Though farre too worthy for so meane a groome, That thine owne voice may swanlike (ere I die) Relate the storie of my miserie.

Poore _Licia_ fain would speake, & faine would tell him He needs not doubt, for she well doth loue him; Yet fearing he (as Chapmen vse to doo) Would hold aloofe, if Sellers gin to woo, Her tongue entreats of her vnwilling heart, She may a while forbeare, and not impart Her loue-sicke pa.s.sions to his couetous minde, Lest he disdainfull proue, and so vnkinde.

O wonder worker (Loue) how thou doest force Our selues against our selues! and by that course Seem'st to erect great Trophies in our brests, By which thou tak'st away our easefull rests, Nurse to thy pa.s.sions, making seeming-hate Fewell to loue, and iealousie the bate To catch proud hearts, fearefull suspition Being forerunner to thy pa.s.sion!

Who most doth loue, must seeme most to neglect it, For he that shews most loue, is least respected.

What vertue is inioyd, thats not esteemd; But what meane good we want, thats highly deemd: Which is the cause that many men do rate Their owne wiues vertues at a meane estate; Their matchlesse beautie and vnualued worth Seemes nothing in their eyes, nor bringeth forth Effects of loue, when to a meaner farre, Whose birth nor beautie comparable are; With that he's cloid, his pa.s.sions will admire The very place whereon her footsteps were.

The life of sweets is kild without varietie, One beautie still enioyd, breeds loathd satietie; And kindnesse, whose command lies in our power, We seldome relish; but if labourd for, Our very soule is rauisht with delight, It is so pleasing to our appet.i.te.

Vrg'd by these reasons, she would faine conceale The hid affection which her heart did feele; And yet compa.s.sion of her louers state (Whose outward habit shewd his inward fate) Perswade with her to lend him some by-taste, Lest through his loues griefe she his loues life waste.

Thrise happy daies (quoth she) and too soone gone, When as the deed was coupled with the tongue, And no deceitfull flattry nor guile Hung on the Louers teere-commixed stile; When now-scornd vertue was the golden end, By which all actions were performd and scand; And nothing glorious held, but what was free From va.s.sall guilt and staind impietie.

In those gold-times poore maidens might relie (Heauens sweetest treasure, dearer chast.i.tie) Vpon mens words: but since that age is fled, And that the staining of a lawfull bed Is youths best grace, and all his oaths and pa.s.sion Must still be taken on him as a fas.h.i.+on, To busie idle heads: oh, who can blame If maids grow chary, since slie men want shame!

Say I should loue, and yet I know not why I should make any such supposes, I; Not that I am of such relentlesse temper, Whose heart nor vowes, nor sighs, nor teeres can enter; Nor am I only she, who thinks it good To sprinckle Loues rites with their Louers blood.

Poore women neuer yet in loue offended, But that too quicke to loue they condescended: Their fault is pitie, which beleeues too soone Mens heart void tongue-delighted pa.s.sion.

Could women learne but that imperiousnesse, By which men vse to stint our happinesse, When they haue purchac'd vs for to be theirs By customary sighs and forced teeres, To giue vs bits of kindnesse lest we faint, But no abundance; so we euer want, And still are begging, which too well they know Endeares affection, and doth make it grow.

Had we these sleights, how happy were we then, That we might glory ouer loue-sicke men!

But arts we know not, nor haue any skill To faine a sower looke to a pleasing will; Nor couch our secretst loue in shew of hate: But if we like, must be compa.s.sionate.

Say that thy teere-discoloured cheeke should moue Relenting pitie and that long liu'd loue.

If ere thy faith should alter, and become Stranger to that which now it oft hath sworne, How were I wrapt in woe! No time to be Would euer end my datelesse miserie.

Ay me (quoth _Philos_) what man can despise Such amourous looks, sweet tongues, & most sweet eies?

Or who is glutted with the sight of heauen, Where still the more we looke, the more is seene?

To the world of beauties Nature lent, And in each beautie worlds of loues content, Wherein delight and state moues circuler, Pleasure being captaine to thy Hemisphere.

Say that the eie, wandring through white and red, Long hauing viewd Loues tower, thy wel built head, Pa.s.sing those iuory walks where gentlest aire Fannes the sweet tresses of thy scorn-gold haire, Admiring oft those redder strawberries, Ript by the Sun-s.h.i.+ne of thy loue-blest eyes, Should in this maze of pleasure, being led, Grow weary, with much time satisfied: Then might the eare be rapt with melodie Surpa.s.sing farre the seuen-spheard harmonie Deliuerd from thy pearle-enuirond tongue, Each word being sweeter then a well tun'd song.

But for the touch, all ages that are past, And times to come, would steale away, and waste Euen like a minute; and no time suffice To melt the Louer in such rarities: Each day would adde to other such excesse Of Nectar-flowing sweets, that Happinesse Would be too meane a word for to dilate The enuied blisse of his vnequall state.

No more (quoth _Licia_) thou enough hast sayd Fo to deceiue a sillie witted maid: But to the G.o.d of Loue I will reueale, How that thou keepst a tongue maids harts to steale, Whose fatall arrow with the golden head, Which (as some write) makes all enamoured, May be compared well (without offence) Vnto thy sweet tongue guilt with eloquence, Whose powrfull accents, so constraining loue, Had they beene knowen to Thunder-darting _Ioue_, He neuer needed to haue vs'd such shapes For to commit his slie stolne headdy rapes: Or to _Apollo_, when his harebraind sonne, The proud aspiring lucklesse _Phaeton_, Would guide the lampe of heauen he then had staid, And to his Sires graue counsels had obaid: Beast-mouing _Orpheus_, and stones void of sence, Ore which his musicke had preheminence, Did not inchant so by his power diuine, As doth that Adamantine tongue of thine.

Iudge me not light, that I so soone do yeeld To part from that which I so deerely held; For where a likely beautie doth request, Euen at the first, Loue ransacketh the brest: And though maids seem coy, yet the heart is strooke At the first glancing of an amourous looke: For from the Louer to the loued eie Pa.s.seth the visuall beames, which gendred nie Vnto the heart, they thither hie amaine, And there her bloud do secretly inflame With strange desires, faint hopes, and longing feares, Vnheard of wishes, thoughts begetting teares, That ere she is aware she's farre in loue, Yet knowes no cause that should affection moue.

I could be froward, techie, sullen, mute, And with loue-killing looks repell thy sute; Contemne the speaking letters which thou sends; Command thine absence, and reiect thy friends; Neglect thy presents, and thy vowes despise; And laughing at thy teeres, force teeres arise; Making thee spend a deale of precious time To get that heart which at the first was thine.

More I could say. But he content with this, Closd vp the sentence with a sugred kisse.

She seemd displeasd, till kissing her againe, _Achilles_ like, he tooke away her paine: And then in close coucht termes would faine desire Loues highest blisse, than which there is no higher: But yet the bashfull boy knew not what art, What termes to vse, or how for to impart His secret meaning; for he blusht for shame To thinke what he should aske; & then would faine Haue made his bolder hand supply the roome Of his tongues office, which was mute and dumbe; The which he layes vpon her siluer brest, Where little _Cupid_ slumbring takes his rest; Betweene the which an amourous streame doth run, That leads the way vnto _Elysium_.

I wonder much (quoth he) when _Ioue_ did make A treble night for faire _Alcmenaes_ sake, She nere perceiued that the night was long, Since all eyes wait vpon the rising sunne: But sure some melting pleasure did detaine Her willing senses, and did so enchaine Her captiue minde, that time vnthought of fled, Long nights in sweets being swiftly buried.

Might I such dalliance craue, as great _Ioue_ did Of faire _Alcmena_; or when he lay hid In the swannes shape; how happy were I then, And how farre blest aboue all other men!

For this, the G.o.ds themselues haue often woed, Courted, adored, kneeld vnto and sued, Left heauen, their glory, pompe and maiestie, And put aside their glittring deitie, To get this iewell, which yeelds true content.

When that seuerer state perhaps gan ornament Of inward woe, let mortals be excus'd, When deities such amourous tricks haue vs'd.

O wit abusing boy (sweet _Licia_ cried;) The G.o.ds for that were neuer deified: Though they did vse it, and obserue it well, When ere they did it (as all Poets tell) They from their G.o.dheads long before were turnd, And to some monstrous beast they were transformd, And in that shape did act lasciuiousnesse: For l.u.s.t transformes vs beasts, and no whit lesse Do we than they, but yet deserue more blame, We hauing reason, whose reproofe should tame Rebell-affection, and not to let it grow, To worke his owne vntimely ouerthrow.

Insatiate l.u.s.t as Spring-frosts nips the growth Of Natures fairest blossomes, crops the worth Of her best hopes, nay's foe vnto delight, Dulling the keene edge of our appet.i.te, Whose rancke desire, much like the Ocean, Whose swelling ridges no bound can containe, Oreflowes whole sands, and in her emptie wombe Buries them all; Euen so doth l.u.s.t intombe All disrancke thoughts, sin-breeding interuiewes, Disordred pa.s.sions, all dishonest shewes Of what may fatten vice; like thriftlesse heires l.u.s.ts champians are, which kill their dearest Sires For their possessions, to giue both life and growth To helborne riot. So lasciuious youth, Courting our beauties, cares not to pollute Our soules for that, though left heauens subst.i.tute To bridle pa.s.sion. Gentle boy refraine, And quench vnlawfull heat till _Hymens_ flame With sacred fire hath warmd vs, and her rites Fully performd do warrant those delites.

By this the Soueraigne of heauens flaming beame Had got the full height of the starrie heauen, And she requests the boy, that for a while He will depart the roome, she may beguile The clothes of her blest presence. He obaid, And in a chamber next to hers he staid.

He being gone, the sheets away she flung, Which loth to let her go, about her clung; And as she stroue to get out from the sheet, The vpper clothes imprisond both her feet; Yet out she whips, and them away she throwes, Couering her beauties with the ioyfull clothes: Her purple veluet gowne with gold-starres mixt, And euery starre with spangles set betwixt Of purest siluer, with a twist of gold, Would much amaze the gazers to behold.

This starrie garment did she first put on, Which tooke light from her face as from the Sun.

Her mantle was of richest taffatie, Where _Iupiter_ was seruing _Danae_, So liuely wrought by _Vestaes_ chastest Nun, As much delighted the sweet lookers on.

Her stomacher was all with diamonds set, Ore which a fall was plac'd with pearles with net, And at each pearle (which seemd to darke the skie) Hung glistring Rubies and rich Porpherie.

A bracelet all of pearle her hands did grace; For to her hands all orients are but base.

A scarfe of maiden-blush did seeme to hide her, Wherein _Diana_ when _Acteon_ spide her, Herselfe had wrought, looking with such disdaine, As witnest well his after-following paine; One end whereof had yong _Leanders_ shape, When through the swelling main (whose waues did gape) He sought his chastest _Hero_, beating from him The waues, which murmuring stroue for to com nere him: And at the other, matchlesse _Hero_ stood Viewing _Leander_ tossed by the flood, And how the churlish billowes beat that head On which herselfe was so enamoured; Praying to _Neptune_, not to be so cruell, But to deliuer vp her dearest iewell: To figure to the world whose s.h.i.+ning eies She set two diamonds of highest prise.

Vpon her head she ware a vaile of lawne, Eclipsing halfe her eyes, through which they shone As doth the bright Sun, being shadowed By pale thin clouds, through which white streaks are spred.

Poore _Philos_ wondred why she staid so long, And oft lookt out and mus'd she did not come.

What need she decke her selfe with art (quoth he) Or hide those beauties with her brauerie, Which addeth glory to the meanst attire?

What if she went in her loose flagging haire, Spread at his full length, that the Easterne winde Might tie loue-knots for _Cupid_ to vntwinde, With some trasparent garment ore her skin, Through which her naked glory might be seene: Then as _Diana_ a hunting might she goe; But she nor needs her arrowes nor a bow: For all the beasts that should but see her pa.s.se, With w[=o]dring straight would leaue the perled gra.s.se And feed their eyes, while with her snowy hand She take what beasts she please; nor more command Needs she to keepe them: for her iuory palme Commandeth more than any iron chaine.

But now she's come, at whose thrise radiant light As all amazd he shunnes her glorious sight, Like those which long in darke, chance to espie A candles glimmering, if it come but nie, Can not endure that weake and feeble s.h.i.+ne, But straightway shut their dim and dazled eine.

No maruell then, though in great extasie His spirits are, at glittring maiestie.

She feares the worst, and to her Louer skips, Claps his plumpe cheeks, and beats his corall lips, And seeing him fall breathlesse to the earth, She seeks with kisses to inspire his breath.

At last his eye-lids he vp heaues againe, And feeling her sweet kisses, gins to faine; Shuts his bright eyes, and stops his rosie breath, And for her kisses counterfeits his death.

With that poore _Licia_ both her hands vpholds, And those let fall, her wofull armes enfolds, With cast vp eyes in labour with her teares, Which ioy did weep for woe to leaue those spheares Which downe her face made paths vnto her necke, And setling there shewd like a carquenet; Anon she teares her haire, away it flings, Which twining on her fingers shewd like rings; Then she a.s.sayes to speake, but sighs and teares Eats vp her words and multiplies her feares.

Why wert thou borne (quoth she) to die so soone, And leaue the world poore of perfection; Or why did high heauen frame thee such a creature, So soone to perish: o selfe-hurting Nature, Why didst thou suffer death to steale him hence, Who was thy glory and thy excellence.

What are the Roses red, now he is gone, But like the broke sparks of a diamond, Whose scattred pieces shadow to the eye What the whole was, and adde to miserie?

Such this faire casket of a fairer iem, Whose beautie matchlesse now, what was it then When that his precious breath gaue life and sent To those dead flowers whose feruor now is spent?

O starueling Death, thou ruiner of Kings, Thou foe to youth and beautie-sealed things, Thou friend to none but sepulchers and graues, High reared monuments, lasting Epitaphs, Poore Clearks & s.e.xtons, and some thriftlesse heires, Depriued Priests, and a few Courtiers, Who hauing liuings in reuersion, Do dayly pray for quicke possession; Who had offended thee, that blinde with rage Thou strookst at him, for whom succeeding age Will curse thy bones? Physitians be thy baine, And chase thee hence to lowest h.e.l.l againe.

He hearing this, from pleasing death reuiues, And drunke those teeres from her immortall eies, Which drop by drop sought other to displace, That each might kisse that sweet and daintie face.

Nor doth the Soueraigne of heauens golden fires, After a storme so answer mens desires, When with a smiling countenance he orelooks The flowrie fields and siluer streaming brooks, As _Licia_ in his life was comforted, Whom new before she thought for to be dead: She locks her fingers in his crisped haire, And pulles it out at length, which leauing there, The haire bands backe at it for ioy had leapt, To be a prisoner to hand so white: And then she stroaks his alabaster skin, And chucks the boy on his immortall chin, Gla.s.sing herselfe within his matchlesse eyes, Where little _Cupids_ conquering forces lies.

Faire Deere (quoth he) to night now wil I leaue you, But in your charge my heart I will bequeath you; Securely sleepe, lest in your troubled brest If you chance sigh, you keepe my heart from rest; Which I protest hath many a tedious night Counted times minutes for your absent sight: What for the nuptials will seeme requisit, That to your charge (faire creature) I commit, Which ere the bright Sun with his burning beame Hath twice more coold his tresses in the maine, Shall be performd. This sayd, away he's gone.

Farewell (quoth she:) and at that word a groane Waited with sighs and teeres, which to preuent, For feare his sweet heart she should discontent, Vnto her needle in all haste she goes, For to beguile her pa.s.sions and her woes.

She first begins a smocke, of greater cost Than _Helen_ wore that night when as she lost Her husbands fame and honour, and thereby Had almost kept our now lost dignitie: For _Paris_ first, when as he came to bed, On that rich smocke was so enamoured, And so attentiuely beheld the same, That he forgot almost for what he came: For on the coller and the seame before Was big-bon'd _Hercules_ and the _Minetaure_, Both wrought so liuely, that the bloud which came From that deformed beast, did seeme to staine Her smocke below; which running here and there Workt in red silke, did new and fresh appeare; Which made yong _Paris_ doubt, and thinke indeed She was not well, and askt and she did bleed; And would needs see: but wide the curtains drawn, There was some iewell sparkled through the lawn, Which pleasd him so, that he had quite forgot The curious working of the rich wrought smocke.

But loue-blest _Licia_ in her smocke delights To worke of pleasing tales and marriage rites, Of louers sweet stolne sports, and of the rapes Of G.o.ds immortall, and of maidens scapes: There might you see _Mars_ conquering _Venus_ shrowd, Sea-torne _aeneas_ in a foggie cloud Making for Carthage; entring all vnseene To the rich temple where the Tyrian Queene (Flas.h.i.+ng forth beautie from her star-like eies) Sate in her throne to heare the Troians cries.

Beneath this same she wrought a boistrous storme, Whereas the mercy-wanting winds had torne The tops of loftie trees, and rent the roots Of stately Cedars and of aged oakes: The horrid thunder with his dreadfull claps Made yawn the mouth of heauen, from whose great gaps The fearefull lightning flasht: and then againe _Ioue_ squeesd the clouds, & powrd down snow & rain.

In this same storme she wrought the Tyrian Queene And great _aeneas_, who that day had beene Hunting the fallow deere, and thither came To shrowd themselues from tempest and raine.