THE RAPE OF PROSERPINE.
The Argument of the First Booke
Pluto e [...] would ma [...]y, threatens warre
Gainst Iupiter, the Fates preuent their iarre:
Swift Mercury Ambassador is sent
To heaun, to tell the gods of this euent.
Ioue, Ceres daughter doth resolue to giue
His brother, and the meanes doth thus contriue;
Whilst Ceres absent is in Phrygia,
Venus must egge abroad Proserpina:
Downe she descends the Virgin chaste to see,
Diana, Pallas, beare her companie.
MY loftie Muse is full, and bids me sing
The robbery of Hell's infernall king,
Grimme Pluto; and the Carre of Taenarus,
That whilome with portentionsominous
And giddie hurrie, through the blasted ayre,
Presagd the Rape of Proserpine the fayre,
Ioues daughter, and the marriges euent:
Profaner eares be you from hence exempt.
[Page 2] And now the furie of a Spirit Diuine,
Expell's all humane feare from this of mine:
Apollo breathes in me, Phoebus inspires
My braine, my quill with his most sacred fires.
Now, now (me thinkes) I on a suddaine see,
The Shrine of each immortall deitie,
Shake in it's quiu'ring seate (vnus'd to moue)
And the Coelestiall rayes (that from aboue
Disperse their glim'ring light) forerunners are,
Of Pluto's iourny and sad Ceres care.
The noyse (that in the earth's deepe wombe doth sound)
I heare, and Athens Temple so renown'd,
For her King Cecraps painfully doth grone,
(Doubling shrill Eccho's to the Cities mone:)
And Ceres lou'd Eleusis tapers blaze
With flaring lights which to the skies they raise:
Triptolem's snakes their bloudie crests aloft
Vpstretch, and with confused murmur soft,
Glide their spot-painted bodies here and there,
At which Spectators tremble, themselues feare:
They hisse, and with strange accent to my Verse
Hasten the Tragicke song that I rehearse.
The three-folde Hecate appear's in sight,
And lazy Bacchus (madding) doth affright
The eyes of mortals with his shiu'ring lance
Of wreathed Vines, and in a drunken dance
(Loading his Temples with an Yuie crowne,
Whose weight keepes his vnweldy body downe)
Knits to his necke a Parthian Tyger's pawes,
And skinne (that from his shoulder downe he drawes)
You gods (on whom Auernus wandring soules,
And multitudes of wights blacke Styx enroules)
[Page 3] Attend, and such as of their worldly crimes,
In burning Phlegeton bewaile the times.
You gods, you fathers, shew; declare to me
The secrets of earths vaste concauity;
Your gouernments reueale, and mysteries
Of all those great and powerfull deities.
Tell me, since Loue so lowe would neuer bend
His shafts, what fire could Pluto thus incend?
As snatching off from earth this Proserpine,
He makes her his eternall Concubine:
Yet comforts her (that in the Tyrants pow'r,
Laments) by giuing Lethe for her dow'r.
Tell me, did Ceres her grieu'd mother know
Before, what should succeed? or if not so,
When she was lost, in her distracted minde,
Where could she hope her Proserpine to finde?
That (longing for good newes) shee makes a vowe,
The barren earth with fairest wheate to sowe.
Long since, the dismall Prince of Erebus
(Through wrath and fury growne outragious)
To see that he (a god) and young, alone,
Must leade a solitary life in mone,
Wanting a mate, that dayes, moneths, yeeres retire
And passe (regardlesse of his quenchlesse fire)
Impatient of delaies and full of iarre,
He summons all the supreme gods to warre;
Disdaining they aboue should note his want,
Of happy marriage to be ignorant.
Redde lips, faire eyes, sweet lookes, soft cherishing
Confus'd embraces, limbes proportioning,
To their proportion all strange delight,
Two soules combin'd in one, which make one white:
[Page] Like yuie (twining) yuorie necke, that one,
One body, which one common breath alone,
Giues life vnto: this one, and yet not one
For (louers) each hath a Companion:
So two, when as two bodies striuing moue
In Cuptds lists (made one by mutuall loue.)
These two, that one and all as motiues are,
Egging sterne Pluto to ambitious warre:
The name of father, and proud hope of sonnes,
(Each) a fore-runner of new strife becomes:
Forth-with the Monsters of infemall deepe,
Ranke out their squadrons, and good order keepe.
The vgly Fiends coniur'd by Plutos wroth,
Gainst highest Iupiter take solemne oath;
And menacing the gods in sad array
Of battell, hels blacke banners they display
Before heauens walls, and discord first appeares
(Cladde all in ruth:) in armes of steele she beares
The portraict of her name, and next to her
Imperious Famine rageth, and base feare
(Plac't as a Scout, or as a Runnagate,
Against the foe to annoy them, cankred hate,
Despairefull sorrow, rashnesse out of breath
March last (led in the rere by conqu'ring death.
Gainst thundring Ioue, the pallid Furies three
Combine themselues, and bold Tisiphone
That bout her head those curled Snakes doth twine
With spinie fist, that of combustions pine
A fire-brand brandisheth, whose boading light
Compassion moues, and megar lookes affright
Of her, the sad beholder: 'gins to sound
Through all the Campe, and mongst the hel-hounds round,
[Page] A soft retreat (at whose well-knowne voyce)
The pale fac't Monsters couch, and hush their noyse.
The Elements, whose equall qualities
For many an Age in peace could simpathize,
Scarce now containe, but into discord turne,
And faine to their olde Chaos would returne:
Proud Titans off-spring hope at length to see
Their gyues knockt off, and former libertie:
That (breaking vp hels dung'ons) once againe,
Punish they may the Author of their shame.
Pluto, Aegaeons fancie now can please,
That long hath layne cubb'd vp in little ease,
And losing straight the Gyants hundred hands,
(Arm'd to obey the threatning Gods commands)
He musters vp his seu'nteene brothers more
Vnto a second Combate (for before
They plotted had gainst heau'n) and now they long
Ioues thunder to retort the gods among.
VVhen soone the reu'rend Destinies that see
Sterne warres approach, and hels infantery
Range into battaile, with stout puissance,
And fearefull march 'gainst heauens gates aduance:
So many horrid fiends that likely were
To put the gods, and all Ioues hoast in feare:
And (doubting lest the terror of this fight,
The Orbes Celestiall endanger might)
Eu'n in the heate and danger of the rowt
They gently tread, and pace the Campe throughout;
And prouidently thus themselues intrude
With modest threats, to tame the multitude:
Then prostrate 'fore the valiant General,
With bended knees and humble lookes they fall;
[Page] (Spreading their aged Cheekes and frontes seuere,
With dangling tresses of their snowie haire.)
Their hands they ioyne, those hands that spun the thred
Of many liuing, many thousans dead;
Those hands they ioyne, to whose high soueraign'ty,
The World, and all things breathing Vassals be:
First, Lachesis, the eldest of the three,
And most austere, diuides in modestie
The hoary threds, which (for she nastie keepes)
Vncomb'd, they thwart and hide her wrinkled cheekes:
In her owne name, and sisters both, she greets
Blacke Pluto, and to mitigate his threats
'Gainst Ioue, first weepes: then wiping her sad eyes,
With fainting voice she to him gently cries,
And thus begins. Thou mighty king (saith she)
Great Ruler of our vaste obscuritie,
Thou (to whose sacred iudgement) the least wight
That groanes in darkenesse, and hels horrid night
Is subiect; thou, whom loyall Fates haue seru'd
So long and from thy precepts neuer sweru'd,
With web and spindle; thou that first giu'st breath
To all things liuing, thou, whom life and death,
Equally waite on; thou, to whom the sage
Fleet time, what ruines he in euery age
Collects, doth giue; and vnto thee the state
Of present things doth likewise consecrate:
And lastly thou, by whom, the Soules condemn'd
Haue second being, torture without end.
Seeke not (great Prince) to haue thine honor stain'd
(By breach of sacred lawes wee first ordain'd:)
Cause thy robustious troopes retire, and cease
T'incense them further 'gainst high heauens peace
[Page] Desist from hostile armes (impietie)
Of making brother gods thine enemy;
But if thou needs wilt venter, be no more
A pow'r Diuine, but some wilde sauage Bore:
Must Gyant race enioy a second light,
And once againe outbraue in Martiall fight
Th'vnconquer'd gods? Fye Pluto: do not thus
Attempt a Warre so sacrilegious,
And headlong cast thy Maiestie, forbeare;
(If Marri'ge be the cause; or if thou feare
Lest Ioue deny thee issue) mildly proue
Great Iupiter: first let him heare thy loue.
Pluto heares Lachesis: and though his rage
Were such, as her faire speech could scarce asswage;
Yet when the loftie loue strooke god, might see,
The Sisters both to her soft prayers agree;
The bloud that riseth in each blacke swolne vaine,
He tempereth: the Furies straight proclaime
His alter'd purpose, cu'ry Fiend that droopes
To see this change, they lash, and force hels troopes
Retire, thus was this fatall enterprise,
Dismist, and Pluto calm'd by Destinies.
So blust'ring Boreas (when with roaring gust,
And whirle-winde arm'd) he first doth lay the dust,
Then with a suddaine and tempestuous blast,
(Enrag'd) he faine vpon earth's face would cast;
Thicke stormes of hayle eu'n at the instant, when
With full swolne cheekes he breakes his loathed denne,
And (scowring the vaste Seas) would cause their flouds
Arise (to drowne the fields and neighb'ring woods:)
Eu'n then the milder Aeolus restraines
His force, and keepes him fetter'd in strong chaines.
Ioue's sonne (being summon'd to appeare from high)
Approach his presence, and from thence be sent
To tell the gods his Vncles discontent:
The winged messenger without delay
(Swifter then thought) through the dull ayre makes way,
And with his colour'd hat, and charming rod
Forth-with appeares before th'infernall god;
Who, in the darkest Vault of all, sate (plac't
Vpon a blacke rude throne:) so meanly grac't
VVith scepter course; only his visage stout,
The horrour of his Maiestie set out:
Ouer his head hangs vp a dismall Cloud,
Which serues for cloth of state, and now aloud
'Twixt rage and griefe he groans, and faine would speak,
When, at first accent of his words (that breake
Through hearers eares) at their first hideous sound,
The royall palace and moyst chambers round
All shake againe; and at the fearefull note
The triple Porter stops his howling throat:
The three sad riuers at th'vnusuall voyce
Affrighted stand, and stop their murm'ring noise,
All hell was silent; but their king exceeds,
And to his yelling Embassie proceeds.
Ioues high-borne brood, Cylenian Mercurie:
Olde Atlas Nephew, common deity
To heauen and hell: thou, that hast passage free
Through both the Poles, and equall liberty;
Thou, that of all the gods both high and low,
The mysteries and strict comerce dost know:
Fly hence, with speedy wing cut through the winde,
To thy vngratefull Sirethus speake our minde,
[Page] What right hast thou, or what prioritie,
(Cruel'st of all thy brothers) ouer me?
Say, Fortune blind with an vnequall hand,
(To me denying) gaue thee heau'ns command?
Yet are these temples honour'd with a crowne,
As well as thine, nor can thy pride beate downe
Our glory; though we want the light, thou shalt
Perceiue our strength, when I thy walls assault:
Think'st thou the Cyclop's handy-worke I feare;
Or those vaine claps that mocke the yeelding ayre?
Cast downe thy darts of thunder, let them strike
Affrighted mortals, we are farte vnlike
To such; Know, Iupiter, I keepe my vowe,
And to reuenge my griefes, am sure (though slowe)
VVas't not enough? I then repined not
At Fates, that first to my accursed lot
Gaue this third kingdome, and depriued quite,
(Though satisfied) I neuer sought for light:
Nor wisht bright Phoebus might descend so farre
As my sad palace, or the morning starre
Lighten these vaults; when vnto thee the seau'n,
(That make Charles-wayne twinkle in spangled heau'n)
And millions more thy glorious state adorne:
Poore I, that all in darknesse sit forlorne
(Discomfortably mournfull) no glad sight
Enioy, but waste in a perpetuall night,
VVhere are no comforts to the eye or eare,
Nothing but noyse, and notes of ghastly feare,
For what harmonious musicke hath hells king?
Where ghosts keep howling time, whil'st scriech-owles sing:
Yet thou that see'st me bare of all reliefe,
(The more to aggrauate my sullen griefe)
[Page] Forbidd'st me Nuptiall rites; thus Ioue repines
At Pluto's wishes, when his Concubines
Are numberlesse; the Sea-god happier is,
(Though lesse in power then I) and hath more blisse,
That when the raging billowes he allayes,
Faire Amphitrite with her Neptune playes
And he (intangled in her soft embrace)
Forgets the vse of his three-forked mace.
When thou in midst of Tytans scorching heate,
With labour of thy thunder-claps dost sweate
To coole the partch't earth, with moist drops of raine,
And (weary of thy toyle turn'st backe againe)
Incestuous Iuno sits in longing state
VVith open lap her Lord to recreate:
Latona, Ceres, Themis: (each of which
Sufficient were) but all of these, enrich
Thee, with the name of father, and thy seate
Keepe still with hopefull successors repleace:
Thus thou, in lustfull ryot (varying)
Liu'st at thine ease, whil'st I (thy brother king)
In darkest dungeon (like a slane) am voyde
Of those delights, with which thou most art cloid:
And thus my prime of youth doth fade, and pride
Of issue, failes; (by wanting alov'd Bride)
But come reuenge, awake dull patience,
(Suffice long pardon for so iust offence)
By all the shades of night, by all the Ghosts
That houer o're blacke Styx, by all the hosts
Of dreadfull horror, mischiefe vengeance dire,
If Iupiter denie this last desire;
The walls of Tartarus shall open wide
(Thorough whose breach) the soules that there abide
[Page] (Condemn'd to endlesse ruth) shall sally out,
And hast thy downfall with confused rowt:
(Mongst whom) old Saturne once againe shall free
The golden age from her captiuitie.
(This sayd) the Tyrant ceast, and to his ire
Gaue respit. Mercury (like nimble fire)
Meane while ascends vp to the highest Spheare,
And tells his message to great Iupiter.
The god, vnto this vnexpected newes
Gaue strict attention, and forth-with' gins muse
In his diuine brest, what would be th' euent
Of such a marri'ge, who would be content
(Of all the goddesses) to lose the light
In lieu she may be queene of lasting night,
And (like a Iudge reuoluing many a doubt,
At length resolu'd) his sentence thus breakes out,
One only child the goddesse Ceres had
One daughter, which doth make her mother glad:
For though Lucina blest her with no more,
Yet is she happy in this first she bore.
This serues for many, and the want supplies,
That second birth her barren wombe denies.
This (as her dearest darling and delight)
She often hugges, still tends, and from her sight
She neuer let's her part; so Heifer young
Or first yeeres Calfe, (that other beasts among
Scarce presseth the soft grasse with wanton tread,
Nor horned Moones, yet peepe from curled head:)
The lowing Damme (that it by chance doth misse)
(Finding) doth giue it many a licking kisse.
The Virgin faire was growne now ripe and neare
To Hymens rites, a chaste and shamefast feare
[Page] Breeds in her brest new flames: now she desires
(One while) to marrie; then againe loues fires
Despitefully she quencheth; thus, her mind
Eu'n in a moment, makes her curst and kinde;
To loue, and not to like; which mysterie
Is caus'd by feare, that beares the mastery
Ouer her will (her will that oft doth call
Her passions vp) but feare straight layes them all:
Now store of suters throng and each 'gins ply
Old Ceres, for her daughter (cunningly)
Two great Competitors, with equall strife
Contend, to haue the louely Mayd to wife:
Mars with his shield, Apollo with his bowe
And shafts, their greatnesses alike both shewe.
Both offer a round earnest for their loues;
Yet neithers suite the yellow Ceres moues:
Nor though proud Iuno and Latona too
Speake for their sonnes and (seuerally woo)
VVould she consent: but (as a mother kind
In her owne thoughts) and with fond passion blind:
(Vnwitting future rape) her too too deare,
She sought to hide from those she least might feare.
And thus (descending from Olympus high,
With her faire Proserpine) both secretly
At fruitfull Scicile arriue; and there,
The carefull mother in a iealous feare,
Viewes the rich Island, and the Sea that round
Doth ring-like compasse, and its fertile ground,
Sprinkle; th'vnknowing goddesse straight conceiues
The place for purpose fitting, and so leaues
Her daughter to it's charge: thus neither she,
Nor it, soresawe th'ensuiug prodigie.
[Page] Sicilia once the Continent did touch,
And made a part of Italy, till, such
Was the Seas rage, and Nereus swelling pride,
As did the firme land seuer and diuide:
He with his subtill art, and puissance stout
The confines broke, and cut those mountaines out,
Which, to the little land did there remaine,
Contiguous were; now (parted from the maine)
He bathes them with his waues, yet men may see
'Twixt both the Lands a knowne affinitie.
The Promontories that are seene from farre,
Pachinus high, and Lilibeum are
On which the waues that (brauing play) let flee
Their force, and make continuall batterie:
Pachinus shewes vnto th' Ionian Sea
His lofty head; the top of Lylibe
Lookes to the Libian Coast, from whence (in vaine)
The waues driues through his armes, which (as a reine
And bridle serue t'abate and curbe their pride
And roaring noyse;) when Thetis to abide
Disdaineth there, and from the Thuscane shore,
Her waues vpon Pelorus beate much more.
These Promontories three, at first the Ile
(Sicilia now) Trinacria did stile:
In midst of which Aetna of old renowne
(For burning rockes) so high his flaming crowne
Lifts; that the Promontories (which before
Did Gyants seeme) like Dwarfes his height adore:
Aetna, true witnesse of Briareus
His folly, and of bold Enceladus
The Tombe and bonefire; where, he liues in death,
And spits forth fire with brimstone-pois'ning breath:
[Page] The Mountaines load, there, keeps him prisoner fast,
That when the weighty burden off to cast
He (groaning) striues, and to his vtmost straines
To quit his rebell necke from yoke and paines:
The poore Inhabitants he maketh feare
(By often shaking) lest some Earth-quake there
Should roote the Islands vp, and so, her towrs,
And walles, the violence of Seas deuours:
This Mountaines top, is only to the eye
Of mortals subiect; so you may descrie
The smoke and flames, but neuer hath it yet
Been trampled on by any humane feet:
With stately Groues and Trees, the lower part
Is deckt, that ne're were planted there by Art;
The vpper, commonly with misty fogge
Staines the Sun-beams, and dayes cleere light doth clog
With pitchy Clouds, which (lasting vntill night)
Ascend the Firmament, and dayes cleere light
Conuert to darknesse; still the flames increase
Is nourisht (though the mountaines selfe decrease.)
In midst of boiling heate, the snow doth fall
Vpon the top, and neuer melts at all:
It snowes vpon the Mountaine, and that heate
Which burneth there (albeit ne're so great)
The snow it ne're offends, whose inward cold
Condenseth it, and if dissolue some should,
(By reason of hot vapors that arise)
Yet most vpon the top congealed is,
Or neuer lower falls: but that which breeds
The greatest admiration, and exceeds
All common wonder, is the noyse within
The hollow Cliftes, that doth neuer linne
[Page] It's raging, whether caused by the wind,
That stopt in Aetnas bowels faine would find
A passage out, and cannot, till it breake
With speedy motion through some open creake
Of the torne rockes, till when, it rumbles there;
Or else the greedy Sea, whose armes doe teare
The Mountaines bosome, and the brackish waues
Mingling with fires in those hot sulf'rous caues
Within, and wanting meanes to sally thence,
Adde matter to the broiling violence
And noyse; vncertaine whether of the twaine
It is, but one may be the reason plaine.
Diuinest Ceres now most confident
Of the sure Island (to whose charge she lent
And left her dearest pledge) without all feare
Or least suspicion of her danger neere,
To Phrigia posteth, and amaine doth hie
To her torne foundresse mother Cybele.
By sixe fierce Dragons, that (taile wheeling round
With writhed limbes) her chariot lift from ground,
She carri'd is, and snatcht into the ayre,
From whence her speedy flight (they swift) prepare,
And, breaking through the clouds, that giue them way,
Them leaue behind; and (posting) lead away
With giddy gallop, the free raines they beare
Vpon their lofty crests (bemoistned were
With foamie froth) which on their golden scales
They cast, and doubly spot their winged sailes:
One while the middle Region they diuide,
And soare aloft; then suddainly they slide
Downe to the earth, and slacking of their flight,
The Chariots golden wheeles they couer (white)
[Page] With hoarie dust: their Mistris (as she goes)
Her bountie casts, and plenteously bestowes
O're all the fields: the very tract and path
(Made by her wheeles) sufficient plentie hath
Of rip'ned eares; which (as she passeth on)
Cloath all the fields and wayes they run vpon
VVith golden habit. Thus behind her quite
Aetna she leaues, and th'Island out of sight,
Till (looking backe with her presaging eies,
And moist'ned cheekes) the palace she espies
VVhere she her daughter left; then with fresh teares
She doubles her prognosticating feares
(As doubtfull of the fatall accident)
And thus the hard mishap would faine preuent
(By courting the faire Island) Dearest Earth,
Blest Soyle (saith she) farwell: my first, last birth,
I leaue vnto thy charge; looke well to her,
Be thou her guardian safe, since I preferre
Thee before other places: as thy care
Shall speed, the mindfull Ceres will not spare
For thy reward: be sure of this before,
The cruell Spade shall neuer wound thee more;
Nor rugged Clowne (when he thy fields will sowe)
Shall once, with crooked tooth of deluing plow,
Teare vp thy fruitfull entrailes; thou shalt make
Glad husbandmen to wonder, and forsake
The vse of toyling Oxen, and sharpe Goad,
VVhen (of their owne accord) thy fields shall load
Their Barnes; and (for thy seasonable fruit)
Their store-house, neighb'ring lands shall thee salute.
This said, her Dragons haste, and she arriues
Vpon Mount Ida, where Cybete liues:
[Page] Her Temple, there, with marble statue stands,
(That worshipt is by many vprear'd hands,
Couer'd with thickest boughes of blazing Pine)
That seldome subiect is to stormes or winde:
The furious Ayre doth seldome lash, or beate
This consecrated Tree to goddesse great;
But (gently whistling 'mongst the leaues) it beares
And formes soft musicke to the hearers eares:
VVithin the Temple, nought but dancing is
To Bacchus, and confused melodies
Of men, that (with their howling consorts round
Of squeaking Pipes and rusticke Tabors sound)
Shake Idas top; the holy shrines within
The Temple groane (mou'd with the noyse and dinne:)
At sight of Ceres all growes husht and still,
The balling Quire, the Drumme and Trumpets shrill
Desist; the Corybantes cease to waue
Their glitt'ring blades, the Lions fierce and braue
Are tamed, and their gentlenesse is such,
As they their shaggy maines to euery touch
Submit; the longing Ceres enters in,
And by the mother of the gods within
She welcom'd is, that at first entring place
Bowes downe her Towr's to do the goddesse grace.
Ioue from his supreme throne of maiestie
This passage viewes, and his most strict decree
To Venus lou'd reueales, to thee, I will,
(Saith he) ô Cytherea shew my will
And heauenly pleasure: know, I am resolu'd
That my firme purpose long agoe reuolu'd
In hidden thoughts, doe now it selfe declare,
Be now fulfill'd, that Ceres daughter faire
[Page] Be giuen to hels blacke king; for Destinies
Do so command, and Themis prophecies
Haue thus foretold: the time inuites to this,
Her carelesse mother farre off wandring is;
Goe then, and to Sicilia take thy flight,
That (when bright Sol, the mournfull robe of night
Displayes, and clads the fields in gorgeous ray)
Entice thou maist the mayd, to sport and play
In Floras walkes; that (when thy skill is tri'd,
Pluto may seyze vpon his louely Bride:
Vnfitting 'twere (since all the gods, and me
Thou burn'st) the lowerkingdomes should be free.
No, no; let fell Erynnis feele thy flame,
And Acheron acknowledge the great name
Of Venus; she gaue eare, and (hauing heard
Her fathers mind) to iourney straight prepar'd:
Pallas and she (that with the horne-bent bowe,
Arcadian Maenalus affrights) both goe
(Together) with their sister, for so Ioue
Commanded had; they out of filiall loue
Their Sire obey, and (taking solemne leaue
Of all the gods) them of their sight bereaue.
Looke how a Comet (seldome seene) appeares
To vulgar eyes, and fils men with strange feares:
When (streaming o're the world with bloudy light)
It boades vnto the peoples gazing sight
Some rare euent: (as death of Monarke great,
Or rage of sicknes sprung from Dog-dayes heate:)
That, to the trembling Mariner (at hand)
Threatens huge stormes, plagues, famine to the land;
So shew'd the ayry tracke this troope diuine
Had made (amazing with it's glorious shine.)
[Page] At length, they Ceres palace had espy'd
And glorious lust're of it's top descride,
And pinacles; that (as they neerer drew)
The goodly frame they might at leisure view:
(A wondrous worke) erected first of all
By the blacke lab'ring Cyclop's; the high wall
Of hard and strongest Thracian Ir'n was made,
The massy posts that sustain'd and stai'd
The weightie building vp, of steele: and wrought
The rest was, with the Metall thither brought
By those industrious Chalybes; who found
The first vse of it vnderneath the ground.
Neuer was great Pyracmon busied more,
Or toyling Sterops sweate so much before,
As ('bout this curious worke:) neuer (till then)
So (puffing, breathlesse) Vulcans iourny-men
Knocke on their batter'd Anuiles sparkling steele,
(Held by the crooked biting tongs) that feele
Their hammers loade: neuer was huger flame
Rais'd from the weary Fornace, then that same
Which, from the softned masse of metall thence
Arose; nor bellowes, with more violence
Breath'd on the burning Forge. Behold you might
From far, the gates (shining with yu'ry) white,
The top and battlements that outwardly
Appear'd, with siluer and blacke Ebonie
Checkr'd; the sollid beames the roofe vphold
VVithin, of brasse; and pillars of pure gold?
Here louely Proserpine, with melting tone,
Sat, to her dying honour (all alone)
VVarbling a swan-like farewell: for, she meant
VVith worke in hand, and needle, to present
[Page] Vnto her Mother (whom she longs to see
And still expects) her painefull industrie
Drawne out in curious sampler; and so thought,
(In vaine) to frame a robe of it (being wrought:)
There she her fathers kingdome first began
In liuely colours to paint out; and than
Foure Elements (each in their order plac't)
With cunning hand she flourisht, and so grac't
The patterne with her skill, you could not know
Whether the fire were burning there or no:
Somewhat beneath (in region cleere and faire)
She figur'd had the fresh and liuely aire,
And next, the water, where she often makes
A period to her handy-worke; and takes
Fresh silke to thred her needle, for she here
Had much adoe to make the Sea appeare
In all his formes; the waues she to the life
Describes, and set out their tumultuous strife:
The waters were with purple wrought, the shore
With Emeralds and Pearles all shadow'd o're;
Behold you might the sedge and greenish weed
Flote from the Rockes (as if they there did breed
Where she had plac't them) with such Art conceiu'd,
That warie Pilots well might be deceiu'd
In viewing them; then forth a different skeine
Of silke she sorts, and fresh to worke againe
Begins, those sands, the brackish waters drinke:
Those sands, so like; that lookers on would thinke
They heard the Seas hoarse murmure: last of all,
To th' earth she comes, yet (for th' originall
Was but a dull piece, and grosse element)
Lesse labour in describing that she spent:
[Page] Only some greene and yellow would bestow
Vpon the fields and flowr's that in them grow:
And (for vartety) amongst the rest,
That of Narcissus story she exprest;
Where (opposite) the new transformed Rose,
The thorne-prick't goddesse loue to Adon showes.
(These Elements thus finisht to her mind)
Fiue diff'rent Zones, each in a seu'rall kinde
And quality she notes, a crimson thred
The middle woue (flaming all fiery redde
Inhabitable) on both sides of that
She plac't the other two, more temperate:
The two most cold (as needlesse to be drawne)
She prettily thus figur'd in the Lawne
Wherein she work't; (a space there left) and so
The Samplers white alone exprest their snow.
Next to her Vncles palace she descends,
(Proportioning his Furies, Fates and Fiends;
But here she stopp't: for (looking on her worke,
As if some ominous euent did lurke
Vnder these dismall Pictures) from her eyes
Teares (forming pearles) dropt on the Destinies:
And (weary of that sad taske) she began
To sort new colours to the Ocean;
VVhose Crystall winding streames, she there drew out
Vpon the vtmost border of her clowt.
But suddainely the hinges of her dore,
With creaking noyse were turn'd, and her before
The goddesses she spies, so all in haste
Th' imperfect worke and robe shee from her cast;
With maiden blush and fearefull modestie,
Vpon her siluer cheekes a skarlet dye
[Page] She spradde; vnlike to this, the Lydian Dame
With Tyrian purple spots her yu'rie frame;
Now Phaebus diu'd into the west, and night
With lazie Carre, and dulnesse doth inuite
The world to rest; whil'st Pluto warn'd by Ioue
His iourney plot's, and conquest of his loue.
And loe, th'vnseene Commandresse, secretly,
Of fearefull wagon; to her axletree,
The harnest thongs, and coupled horses ties
Horses, that, on the filth and scumme which rise
From bottome of Cocytus, feede: that graze
In fields of Erebus and hels blacke laies,
When (drunke with Let he) vp into the world
Obliuion from their frothy mouthes is hurl'd.
Orphnaeus (shaking his vnruly head)
And Aethon (swift as flight) together tread
And (trampling in th'infernall entrie) beate
Each fire strucke flint from it's vnpaued seare:
Nicteus, with his staring maine, the best
Of Stygian brood, with braue Alaster drest
And ready harnest; both together stand
And (rear'd on end) Alectos sterne command.
With scornefull neighing mocke: (full of disdaine)
The cole black foure, scarcely themselues containe
Within hell gates (madde) on their masters prize
VVhich he expects, vpon the mornes vprise.
Finis Libri Primi.
THE RAPE OF PROSERPINE.
The Argument of the Second Booke.
Proserpina suspectlesse of her woes
With Venus, Pallas, and Diana goes
To Aetna, on whose skirts the morning howr's
They spend, and crowne their temples with his flowr's:
Pluto his prey doth snatch; the goddesses
Pallas and Dian, followe to release
Their Sister: Ioue his clowdie sonne defends,
That with loud triumph downe to bell descends.
BY this, the sable vaile of night, from farre
Vnsprad; and Phaebus in his golden Carre,
Prickes on the fiery Steeds, that force their way
And make new breach thorow th' Ionian Sea,
Whilst (day yet mask't in night) his flaring beames,
Play with the waues, and mocke the blue gods streames,
About this morne peepe moment, the lost mayd
Lost, for she now by Venus was betrayd,
(Vnmindfull of her mothers strict command)
For who can stricter Destinies with-stand?
[Page] Boldly awakes, forgets all feare or doubt,
And to the dewy fields she sallies out;
Out went she, but no sooner tripped o're
The humble threshold, when her creaking dore,
VVith turned hinge thrice squeak't; as if it meant
To warne her from the desperate attempt.
Thrice it presag'd, thrice (guilty of her fate)
The neighbouring Aetna groan'd: but ah, too late!
For headlong will of woman, now, in her,
Rebellion nourished' gainst iuster feare.
Out went she, and with her the sisters three,
Those goddesses, that bore her companie;
First iocund Venus hugg'd with her deceit,
Glad, that the houre for which she long did wait
Drew neere; but giaddest that her pow'rfull skill
Could draw the pow'rs infernall to her will.
The smooth-comb'd locks, that (on her golden head
She weares) part (like two skeines) and as in thread
Intangled, some crumples vp: so shee
Some longer wore, some crispt and curled bee;
In a rich purple mantle was she clad,
O're which, a belt (her sweating husband had
Fram'd in his Forge) she cast, which kept it on,
Buckled ther'to with a rich Orient stone:
Next Venus march't Licoeus beautious queene:
She (whom th' Arcadian Swaines full oft haue seene
Fell their wilde Bores; and she) whose stately lance
Pandions Towr's protects, who doth aduance
The Cities Trophies: this, in strife and iarre
Bestirres her selfe (best pleas'd with bloudy warre.
The other (a bold huntresse) loues to fright
The wildest beasts that tremble at her sight.
[Page] Caru'd on a golden Helmet, Pallas bore
Huge Typhons picture, (whom she long before
Slew in Ioues quarrell:) Typhons vpper part
Is dead, the lower liuing; so in part
He liues, part dyes, that monstrous bulke of his,
Halfe man, halfe serpent, vpward, down-ward is
In her right hand a mighty speare she wields,
That tow'rs vp to the sky, no wood that yeelds
A tree so tall; and in her left hand, grac't
With dazling shield was vgly Gorgon plac't,
Crown'd with a head of snakes, whose visage grim
And killing looke, she with a vaile keepes in.
Dian appeares in a more mild aspect,
More louely, and in euery respect
So like her brother, that each siluer ray,
(Vpon her glorious head) shin'd it (by day)
Were Phoebus selfe: whose light, whose eminence
She bore (Sex only breeding difference)
Her azure plumpe vein'd armes discouered bare,
And carelesse lockes playd with the gentle aire.
Th'vnbended bowe now gaue her sinewes rest,
And at her backe the shafts in quiuer rest:
A short loose garment that she (fastned) weares
With double girt, scarce from her knee appeares;
On whose light ground (vnmatched to behold)
The wandring Delos floats in seas of gold:
With these, the ioy of Ceres, her deere child,
But soone, neere griefe, keepes equall pace in field,
Equall in limbes and honour, and might seeme
Either of both; for euery one would deeme
He saw a goddesse, and would thinke her so,
Bore she but Pallas shield, or Phoebus bowe:
[Page] Her gather'd garment fastned with a knot
By smoothest Iasper was; and she was not
Inferior to the Sisters nor their skill,
For she could couzen Natures selfe (at will)
With art, which neuer happ'lier was showne,
Then in the rare bestowing of her combe,
On those two golden fleeces, that adorne
Her wel-shap't head; where they so eu'n were worn
That not the finest thred in loome of Lawne
Agreed, or could more equally be drawne:
Th'Imagery in silkes so liuely wrought
On her loose robe, might please the very thought
Of nice beholders; who, when they should see
These pictures, and would iudge them but to bee,
Inanimate dead trunkes, might Proserpine
Pricke them but tongues, they'd speake and be diuine.
The bults she workt were of a goddesse breed,
(Resembling Sunne and Moone Hyperions seed)
But in their shapes she fashion'd different quite,
These two great Captaines of Aurora 'nd Night:
Such, as when Thetis (they but tender, young,
Short breathed Infants) with a Nurse-like song
Rock't sleepe into their cradles, and doth take
To her warme lappe those sucklings when they wake;
Tytan, thus weake: (in his minoritie)
Dimme lighted, and not clamber'd vp so high
(As now) with mounting wing; in which first age
Men faine him mild, and free from scorching rage:
Thus, feeble Tytan, at his Dammes right side
Lay panting; and as often as he cry'd,
(For wantonnesse) so euer and anon
It sobb's, and spits a gentle fire, vpon
[Page] The louing Mother; who to still and rest,
Turnes to his sister her left side and brest:
From whence, and at her Cristall dugge, she drinks
That milke-sweet liquor, whil'st her Sire bethinks
Him of the younglings: and the prettie Moone
Viewes in the Mothers arme, vnto her soone;
He (sporting) calls, the wayward babe, that showes
With one eye turned vpward, that it knowes
Nought but the dugge and Thetis, all else scornes,
Mockes him (kind father) with her little hornes.
In such great pompe, glitt'ring attire, she went:
The Naides (on both sides of her) bent
In friendly troope, to wait and beare her traine,
Compasse her round, each stroue to be most faine.
Those Nymphes Crymnisus, which thy fountaine cleere
And thine Pantagia (whose swift course doth beare,
And headlong rowle downe rocks:) do famous make
That Riuer too from whence Gela doth take
The Cities name, and they (slow Camarine)
Which in those fennie shallow lakes of thine
Are nourished; those that in Crystall brooke,
And streames of Arethusa, all forsooke
Their loued homes; and to make full the feast
Alpheus sends his Nymphes, and 'mongst the rest
That there attend in gratefull companie,
None did excell the fairest Cyane.
So Amazones in a triumphant band
With sloped shields march through the foe-mans land:
When man-like braue Hyppolita, with spoyle
(From Arcton hill, laden with goods and toyle)
Retires her snowy troopes; then, when they sweate
In bloud of yellow Scythians, or beate,
[Page] And breake with sharpest axe the tougher Ice
That stops the current of swift Tanais:
So, the Moeonian Nymphes are wont to rise
From Hermus, when their vs'd solemnities
They giue to Bacchus, on whose festiuall
Each, seuerally, and then, together, all
Vpon their fathers gold swolne bankes run mad,
Frisking about: the aged riuer (glad)
Sits in his denne, and as their want he viewes
VVater in plenty from moist vrne renewes;
No sooner had flow'r-bearing Aetna spi'd,
And from his hearby top farre off descri'd
The sacred people; when milde Zepherus
He forceth with entreates, and vrgeth thus:
Thou grateful (wisht for father) of the Spring,
That'bout my medowes (with lasciuious wing)
Fly'st, and there reign'st, that with perpetuall blast
Bedew'st the ground, mak'st it with freshnesse last:
Looke yonder, looke vpon those Nymphes that play
('Mongst whom) the thund'rers plants to sport this day,
Daigne midst my walkes; be thou propitious,
Be present with thy odoriferous
Sweet flowr's, now to their fulnesse blow them forth,
Ripen the blossomes and those sprouts of worth,
That fertile Hybla may at length confesse
(But enuie) that her fuitfulnesse is lesse.
VVhat euer sents the drie Arabia
Breathes from her spices on the morning grey;
VVhat odours flatt'ring sence Hydaspes sends
From farre; what ere the rare bird (that extends
Her flight to swartie Indians (there can find
That (though she want a mate) can raise her kind
[Page] From her owne death and ashes, and renewes
Past yeeres with youth: sweet Zephirus infuse
The summe and all into these veines, and blow
With fullest cheeks: cherish these fields, that so
I may deserue the touch diuine, and pure
Of goddesse finger; and so farre allure
Those heau'nly pow'rs, they may be couetous
To weare our flowry garlands on their browes:
Here Aetna stopt, when straight the West-wind threw
Shak't (from his madid wings) a Nectar new
On the dry turfes, and ioines the clefted-earth,
Begets in it a second fruitfull birth:
Where e're he flies a Spring of Aprill show'rs
Followes; the ground swels vp with hearbs and flow'rs,
Which with their load (the moisture quickly spent)
Bend downe againe, and (fading) lose their sent.
This place he clotheth with the bloud-bright Rose,
That, with young Hyacinthus, there bestowes
The purple-painted (neere blacke) Violet.
What belt on Parthian King was euer set
In richer Iemmes? what more varietie
In fleeces spotted with Assyrian dye?
The Bird of Iuno in his greatest pride,
Shewes but dull eyes (with these faire colours tride:)
Not so (when watrish winter doth begin)
The Raine-bow crownes him with oft varying,
When streaking the pale Sunne with redder fire
The moystned tracke, through clouds disperc't shewes cleere:
The place exceeds the flowers: for a plaine
Here crooking swels; there, seemes to rise againe
In hillockes soft, till, farther it becomes
A hill, where from a liuely punice runs
[Page] A bubling Spring, which growes into a Brooke,
From which it's moisture the dew'd grasse doth sucke;
For (as the Snake-like streame winds in and out)
It snares the hearbes and flow'rs round about:
The Woods coole leaues here serue for summers shade,
(By whose thicke boughes VVinters cold frost's allayd)
Where growes the Firre, the hard strong Cherrie-tree
For ships, for bowes (in warre) that fittest be:
Ioues loued Oke, young, and in vig'rous heat,
The old, with luscious hony combes repleat:
The mournfull Cypresse couering sepulchre,
And Bay presaging Lawrel tree grew there:
The thicke-topt, spreading, crisped Boxe, (whose weight)
Doth make it waue, and totter from it's height:
The Serpent-like slow Yuie, and the Elme
Lac't with the Vine, makes it with Grapes o're-whelme.
A Lake which the Sicilians, Pergus name,
Was neere at hand; and to adorne the same,
A rowe of well-plac't trees begirt it round,
Whose silent water (free from noyse or sound)
Lookes pale, and suffers the beholders eyes
(Vnhurt) to search the bottomes secresies.
The traine be'ing here arriu'd they ioy and sport
To see the flowry Country, to exhort,
Thus, Cytherea, them begins: Come, come,
Sisters, and gather till the morning Sunne
Drie the ayres sweat, whil'st yet my Lucifer
(Mounted on dewy Courser) euery where
Waters the yellow fields: so, hauing spoke,
She first began to plucke a flow'r, first tooke
The badge of her old griefe, then each doth striue
And fall to worke; as when of Bees a Hiue
[Page] Snatches the sweets of Hyblas Tyme; or when
Their Leaders with an Army (as 'mongst men)
Remoue their waxen tents: or, when they creepe
From hollow Beeches wombe, and (swarming) sweepe
The dustie ayre; when (swolne with their cropt store)
(Buzzing) they seeme to grumble yet for more.
So they made hauocke of the flow'rs, and spoile
Of all their glory, in a moments toyle.
The Lilly to the darker Violet
One weaues; another in her brest doth set
The soft-sweet Marioram; a third must goe
Starre-deckt with Roses; this in diff'ring showe
Prankes vp her selfe with Priuet white, and thee
They gather, and thy weeping Tragedie
(Poore Hyacinth) renew; nor doe they spare
Narcissus (both of you now branches rare
Of the fresh spring, and in your liues, the ioyes
Of Nature, two most excellent sweet boyes)
Thee the tiles errour strooke, but thee, thine owne;
When in the fountaine that selfe-loue was knowne:
Apollo, with sad brow thy losse laments;
At thine Cephissus broken reed relents:
Proserpina, more greedy then the rest
(Most hot vpon the spoile) culs out the best,
And stuffes her Osier baskets full; that smile
To see their Mistris the poore fields beguile
Of their rich habit; she with garlands crownes
Her temples (ignorant of fate) that frownes
Vpon the wreath she weares (propheticall
Swiftly fore-running the blacke Nuptiall)
The warlike Goddesse, her right hand, that scowres
The lustie troopes, that teares downe walls and towres,
[Page] Giues to an easier taske; layes by her speare
Her glist'ring shield (vnus'd such toyes to beare)
She teacheth now the garland to embrace,
Her steele-topp't helmet sweetest garlands grace:
Nor she, that in Parthenian Mountaines seekes
With sure nos'd senters after chase, dislikes
The sport, but her licentious lockes keepes downe,
And bridles them with a faire garland crowne:
Whil'st thus the scatter'd Virgins pull the flow'rs,
Behold a noyse 'gan bellow, as if two tow'rs
(Falling) had rush't together, or some Towne
From it's foundations firme had bin cast downe,
The cause none gest, but Paphos goddesse: she
Was preinstructed in the mystery,
And had this double passion at her choyse
To feare with them, but inwardly reioice:
And now the rector of the damn'd, below;
Through secret windings bustles to and fro,
To find a way to earth: first doth he fetch
A compasse here and there; then makes a breach
Aloft; his foggy Coursers trample on
Enceladus, that with their weight doth groane,
(The Gyants huge vaste limbes cut by their wheeles)
Addes to the former torments that he feeles;
And lab'ring, with a double yoke, in paine:
(For he beares Dis and Aetna now) would faine
Finde ease; the wearie Serpents (clinging) stay
Their axletree, the horses force their way,
And scudde along (too swift for them too slacke)
Their fiery wheeles slide from his sulph'rous backe.
And as the close besieger, by degrees
Steales on his mu'd vp foe, that nought foresees,
[Page] VVhil'st he (by a laborious countermine
And secret) the mockt wals doth vndermine;
Whose strength and stricter guard none now protect,
(The Conqu'rours entring, where they least expect)
Like to these earth-borne men. Saturnes third heire
Contriues a passage vp to the VVorld's aire
His brothers Orbe, and giues his Steeds free reine
Searcheth through eu'ry corner: but (in vaine)
No gate appeares, huge heapes of rokces and stones
Damme vp his passage eu'ry where; not once
Discou'ring light, as purposely to keepe
The god close pris'ner in that dungeon deepe;
But he (enrag'd) brook't no delayes, and straight
Aduanc't his beamy scepter, with whose weight
He breakes the Rocks; teares the resisting ground,
The blow caus'd all Sicilia's Caues resound,
And Riuers rore; th'adiacent Islands shake,
Amazed Vulcane suddaine flight doth take,
(Leauing his forge) the trembling Cyclop's hide
Their fearefull heads, and cast Ioues bolts aside;
The poore cold dweller on steepe Appenine,
And frozen passengers, that slowly climbe
The hoary Alpes, amazed stand, and doubt
Of some new broile 'twixt Ioue and Gyant rowt:
Those that (along thy streames) with naked limbe
Perpetuall trophie bearing Tyber, swimme,
And those that to thy current famous Po
Launch out their little barkes, heard that great blowe:
So when (on lower Plaines of Thessalie)
A standing poole (by rockie Mountaines high
Inclos'd) denies vnto the marish ground
Tillage; and pasture to the medowes drown'd;
Pierceth high Ossa, and cold Olympus strikes;
Whose wounded sides open a passage wide,
At which th'imprison'd waters (loos'ned) slide,
The Floods vnto the Sea, and drier land
Restored are, vnto the Husbandman.
No sooner was Earths knotty vaile vndone
(By Pluto) when Trinacria begun
To spread her large and op'ning wombe; and now
A suddaine fright, vpon the pallid brow
Of heau'n appeares; the stars vnus'd to stray
From their first course, seeke an vncertaine way:
The two celestiall Beares that shone so bright
In the forbidden Sea dash their dimme light.
Lazy Boötes feare doth headlong cast,
Orion trembles, Atlas stands aghast
At hels Iades neighing, whose breath, misty steams
Obscure heau'ns face, and Phoebus golden beams;
His radiant brightnesse in the beasts doth breed
A suddaine terror, for they vse to feed
Perpetually in darknesse: now by fits,
Betwixt their teeth they catch the champed bits,
And (winding sidelong) their Coach beame would turne
Backward to hell, and Chaos to returne.
But when they once the Tarry whip perceiue
Lash their blacke buttockes, quickly then they leaue
Their strife; and (forc't to the new light) depart
Swifter then winter floud, or Parthian dart:
The violence of Southerne stormes is slowe
To their quicke pace, that nimblest thoughts outgoe:
The reines grow hot with their ranke bloud, and breath
From fornace of their nostrils sends pale death
[Page] Into the purer ayre: their froth, vpon
Th'vntroden sands leaues strong infection.
The Nymphs all fled, saue Proserpine; (who caught
And snatcht into the Chariot) besought
The goddesses with screaking loud for ayde;
Pallas that viewes her (how she was betrayd)
Discouers Gorgons visage; Delta too
To her reliefe hastens the horne-bent bowe:
Nor giue they way vnto their Vncle, for
Ioint Charitie incites them to this warre,
Virginity in them and Proserpine
(Alike) exasperates the fault and crime
Of the bold rauisher; he keepes his way
(Fearelesse:) as when the Lion makes a prey
On some young Steere the beauty of the stall
And herd, when with his pawes besmeared all
In bloud, he diues into the naked brest
Vntill his rau'nous hunger there supprest,
Quarters out more, at length his appetite
Quite slak't (with staring gaze that would affright)
He carelesse stands, shaking his knotted maine
(As if the Herdsmans threats hee did disdaine.)
Thou ruler of the sluggish Orbe, thou worst
(Quoth Pallas) of thy brothers; thou accurst:
What Furies with their whips and brands profane
Haue moou'd thee? that (thy kingdome left in vain)
Thou dar'st pollute the earth: Away, begone:
Chuse'mongst thy Dirae a Companion
Worthy thy bed; thy brothers kingdome leaue
And doe not others of their lot bereaue:
Backe to thy night, why minglest thou the dead
To liuers? why (a stranger) dost thou tread
[Page] Vpon our Globe? She thus exclaimes, and wounds
The horn-hoof'd steeds (making them keep their bounds
With her opposed shield) they stoppe, and shee
With vprear'd launce was readie to let flee
Against the Chariot, had not Heauens King
(In signe of Truce) bow'd his red thund' ring Wing
(Acknowledging his sonne) and from aboue
The gaping Clouds, doth Hymen reapproue
Th' eternall Knot; and with their blazing light,
His flames, are witnesses to Pluto's right:
The Goddesses forbore, Cinthia her Bow
Vnbends, but addes these words vnto her woe.
Be mindfull (ah farewell) the iust respect
Of father, hath deni'de vs to protect
Thy person, nor can wee in armes withstand
Him, that inflicts on vs his dread command:
Thy Sire is bent against thee, thou must goe
Vnto those silent people (there below;)
(Alas poore Virgin) and shalt neuer see
Thy sisters more, nor equall companie.
What fate? what fortune from aboue thee beares
(Dooming the starres vnto perpetuall teares)
No more my Nets shall bout Parthenian Caue
Be spred, no more will I my Quiuer haue;
And now securely may the wilder Boare
Foame, and the raging Lyon freely roare:
Taygetus and Arcadia shall bewaile
Thee; when my hunting them begins to faile,
Sad Cynthus-will bemoane thy destinie,
And Delfo's Oracle must silent be:
Whil'st thus she mournes, the wofull Proserpine
(Her loose haire scatter'd to the Southerne wind)
[Page] (In swift▪drawne Chariot wringing her soft hands
On sorrow-beaten brest) these vaine demands
Powr's against heauen: why? ah why (quoth she)
Didd'st thou not (father) cast thy darts at me
By hands of Cyclops made? and not expell
Thy daughter hence in dismall shades to dwell?
No loue of father? could no pittie moue
What fault of mine hath thus incenst great Ioue?
When Phlegra rag'd in suddaine tumults, I
No Banner waued' gainst their enemy,
The gods; nor then by strength of mine at all
Did frosty' Olympus on cold Ossa fall:
What mischiefe haue I practis'd? of what fault
Made guilty? am I banisht to hells Vault,
Vaste op'ning iawes? happy, oh happy they,
VVhom other Rauishers haue made their prey,
And borne with them! at least in their annoy
The common light, the Sun-shine such enioy:
But I; Heau'n, Earth, Virginitie must leaue,
The Stygian king doth me of shame bereaue:
Oh ill lou'd flow'rs, mockt Parents counsailes ill,
Sad triall learn't (too late) of Venus skill!
My dearest Mother, whether Lydian song
In Vale of Ida, thee detaine thus long:
Or, whether thou to Dyndimus bee'st gone
To bloudy sacrifice, there (looking on
Cybels mad Priests, that with their drawn swords roame
About those hils:) make haste and quickly come
To my reliefe: succour my franticke griefe,
Hold in the loose raines of this cruell thiefe.
He at these words, and seemely mourning grew,
A stronger melting passion to renew;
[Page] And with his sooty garment dries her teares
(Temp'ring with mildest voice her cause-lesse feares:)
Cease, sweetest Proserpine, to vexe thy minde
With vaine laments, a husband thou shalt find
Worthy thy loue; know, we are Saturnes sonne,
That ouer all things beare dominion:
Nor thinke that thou the gladsome day hast lost,
Since we of starres and purer light may boast;
VVhen thou th' Elizian brightnesse shalt admire,
And happy soules free from tormenting fire,
VVhere the more precious golden age doth keepe
(In an eternall quiet lul'd asleepe:)
Where Zephirus, faire flowr's of richest worth
Breathes out (such as thy Aetna ne're brought forth)
Where in the shadie Groues a rich tree growes,
Whose arched boughes the golden Apple shews,
That consecrate I to thee, and will make
A happie lasting Autumne for thy sake:
What e're the liquid ayre, what Aeolus
Containes (my louely queene shall bee for vs,
Earth, Seas and Riuers, all that in them liue,
To thy commands shall their obeisance giue,
The rich-clad purple kings shall humbly fall
Before thy throne (mixt with the poore) for all
Death equals; thou the guilty and vniust
Shalt iudge, with them, the Innocent and Iust,
Those shal bewaile their crimes, these shall be blest
By thee, and sent into eternall rest:
The Destinies vpon thy will shall waite,
And what thou orderest be held for fate
Immoueable: (this sayd) they now drew neere
Hell gates, he enter'd with vnusuall cheere.
[Page] Like shaken leaues in saplesse Autumne cast,
From trees to earth, by furious Southerne blast,
Or rainie drops in a thicke Cloud or sand,
By broken waues cast vp into the land:
The damned soules in thronging multitude,
To view their queene, boldly themselues intrude:
At entrance of his Lords great Phlegeton
Ariseth, and from boiling streames, vpon
His bristled beard casts moisture, and that face
All on a flame: the Fiends, each to his place
And seuerall office them addresse; some chuse
To set the Chariot vp, whil'st others loose
Th'vnharnest couples (turning them to graze
On their knowne pastures, blacke Cocytus layes:
Part decke the Palace with rich Tapistrie
(Set out with curious wrought Imagerie:)
Part drest the windowes with fresh flow'rs; within,
The Nuptiall bed, others with Cou'rings trimme:
Th' Elizian Matrons round begirt their queene
In a chaste troope (whose tender sorrow seene
By sweet words eas'd) they order her loose haire,
And hide with flaming vaile the shame-fac't faire
The Region pale and bleak, wanne ghosts now free,
Doc frolicke in triumphant iollity;
(Darke silence interrupted) loud they sing,
And horrid peales with noyse (vndaunted) ring
Hels grones now ceast, and (filth of vgly night
Disperc't) she's rarifi'd with purer light:
Minos no more casts lotts, the soules condemn'd
Of their dilated paines now find an end;
No lash resounds; Ixion from his wheele
Is loos'ned, and (refresht) doth comfort feele:
[Page] Poore Tantalus the enuious water sippes,
And tast's the fruit erst mockt his thirsty lippes:
Tytius vaste limbes are raysed from the ground,
(Where he nine Acres couer'd) and vnbound,
(The rau'nous Vulture from his panting brest
Dissolu'd) laments (as a forbidden guest:)
The Furies now forgetfull of their rage,
With softest notes, their strict reuenge asswage,
Huge goblets they prepare, and drinke a fill
Of wine, in which their monstrous locks they swil;
To the Cerastes powre carowses deepe,
(Whil'st with new light still burning fresh they keepe
The festiuall spent Torches:) now, you take
A safer flight ouer Auernus Lake
(Then erst) you birds; (still wont to sacrifice
Your selues to vapours thicke that thence arise.)
(Amsanctus current swift now stopt) the noyse
Ceas't, boiling Acheron 'gan loud rejoice,
That his hot waues (turn'd to a fountaine) run
Coole streames of milke; which, they had neuer done
Till now; And now Cocytus flourishing
(All clad in Yuie) offers to hells king
A standing Poole, and of Lyaeus store,
Of sacred liquor. Atropos forbore
(In signe of triumph now) with cruell hand
Lifes thred to cut: at Plutos dire command
Death stops his progresse, now no teares are spent,
Nor Kindred, Kindreds Funerals lament:
The Sea man scapes all stormes; the Souldier, he
Securely fights (from shot and sharp pike free;)
Free from contagion healthy Cities are,
Free from the plagues of famine, sicknesse, warre:
[Page] Old Charon crown'd with reedsbetwixt each shore
Keepes singing time with stroke of idle Oare:
The Eu'ning Hesperus (descending) fled
To th'Orbes below: now to her Nuptiall bed
The Virgin's brought, starre-painted night lookes on
As (witnesse) to the marriage: she, vpon
Them both show'rs happy blessings to ensue
From this eternall vnion, and a crew
Of blest Elizian Saints thus sweetly sing,
Presaging notes to their faire Queene and King.
Our Mother Iuno, and of thundring Ioue
(Thou Sonne in lawe, and brother) may all loue
Beget soft rest vnto you both; and knit
Those mutuall neckes in your embraces fit.
A prosp'rous race growes toward now; and glad
Nature expects more gods: oh may you adde
New deities, new pow'rs to hells affaires,
Make Ceres Grandam to your wished heires.
Finis Libri Secundi.
THE RAPE OF PROSERPINE.
The Argument of the Third Booke.
Ioue calls a Synode of the gods, reueales
His will: each of them, secretly, concealcs
The rape, from Ceres vnto Phrigia gone,
She dreames, returneth home (her losse being knowne)
'Gainst gods sh'exclaimes (enrag'd) the world about
Searcheth with lights her daughter to find out.
WHil'st hell thus triumphs, Iupiter aboue
Commands Thaumantis (girt with clowds to moue,
And summon vp the pow'rs of earth and seas,
(Clad all in red) she downeward slides, with ease,
On Zephires wings; the gods, the Sea Nymphes all,
And riuers, from their humid dens doth call:
('Twixt feare and doubt they rowse themselues) but muse
What new occasion, or what suddaine newes
Disturbes their quiet rest; and (being come
To heauens starre-Chamber) each their proper roome
And place prouided haue, with order fit;
In the first ranke the gods Celestiall sit:
[Page] And in the second, the Sea pow'rs are plac't,
Calme Nereus, and aged Phorcus, grac't
With comely hoarinesse; (next these, biform'd
Glaucus was set, and Proteus (vntransform'd)
In his owne shape: the ancient and great
Riuers were honour'd with a seu'rall seate;
But thousand lesser Brookes (as was most meet
For youth) like common rowt stood on their feet:
The VVater-Nymphes, each, to her liquid Sire
Leanes, and dumbe gazing Fawns, heau'ns stars admire.
Then the graue father from Olympus high
Thus spoke, and breathed forth this mysterie:
At length, the care of mans affaires, againe
Solicites me, which, since the lazie reigne
Of idle Saturne long neglected were;
VVhen we perceiu'd how men secure from feare,
Lay steep't and buri'd in my fathers sloth,
Then to giue further suff'rance we were loth:
But (willing to reforme the same in part)
Spurr'd vp inuention, and gaue reines to Art:
Then were we pleased that th' vntilled field
(Lesse liberall) lesse store of Graine should yeeld:
That hony in the woods more scarce should grow,
And wine no more from swelling Fountaines flow:
Not that we enuious were, or basely prone
To pois'nous malice; but, when ouer-growne
VVe plenty saw, and easefull ryot, blind
The light of reason, to disswade mankind
VVe willing were, dull spirits to reuiue:
That each man might by his owne labour liue,
That, sharpe necessity should then produce
And bring forth arts (to be brought vp by vse.)
[Page] But Nature vrgeth vs (with sad complaint)
To ease poore man (for such a burden faint)
And (hauing to my charge the Tyrant layd)
VVith former golden age doth vs vpbrayd;
She calls Ioue, Miser, sayes; that she is franke,
Exclaimes, that we, the fields with thistles ranke
And to growe barren, suffer: that the yeere
Doth fruitlesse passe.
That she, (who vnto mortals long did vowe
Her selfe Kinde mother) is turn'd Stepdame now▪
And thus proceeds: what boots it, wretched man
To haue a soule (from heauen infus'd) that can
Discourse and reason, and his lofty head
Lift vp; if he like beasts a life must lead,
(VVandring with them in the wild woods, to get
The fruit of Swinish acorns for his meate?
Is this (sayth she) to liue? with such distast
The common mother vrg'd, that we; at last
Contented were, she thus much should obtaine,
That from Chaonian food her sonnes abstaine;
To which effect, we solemnly decree:
That, Ceres, of her daughters Destinie
Witlesse (who now with her curst Damme remaines,
Lashing th' Idean Lyons o're those Plaines)
With wailefull mourning search the world throughout,
Till (hauing in th' end of her pledge found out)
In signe of her new ioy (for old griefe past)
Huge heapes of haruest she may from her cast,
From golden Carre, and spread ripe eares of corne
Vpon the fields by her blue Dragons borne.
But list, you gods; if any here reueale
The rape of Proserpine; or not conceale
[Page] The Rauisher from Ceres, I protest
A gen'rall ruine to the peace and rest
Of things; (be he a sonne, or sister she,
Or wife of mine, or that deere daughter be
That from my brain-pan boasts her birth) shal feele
The stroke of thunder and reuengefull steele
Of Gorgons fury: and though she must liue,
(For deities dye not) yet shall she grieue
To haue been borne of heauen, and wish for death.
Like punishment my vengeance shall vnsheath
On any of you (Riuers) that withstand
The secresie of this my strict command:
(By me first wounded) him, my sonne in lawe
Repunish shall; this for a sacred lawe
Establish't stand: (this sayd) and past for fate,
The starres were shak't, and seate whereon he sate.
And now the apparitions of blacke night,
And fearefull mischiefe Ceres do affright:
Who (absent from this Synode, and secure)
To her still thought could sweetest rest procure;
But now each moment doth ingeminate
Her doubtfull feares, and vgly night (as fate)
Whispers the sad mishap of Proserpine,
Who, (in each dreame of hers) seemes to decline
More from her pristine being; eu'ry sleepe
Of Ceres, her vext soule in cares doth steepe.
So still she groanes in night, and when day comes,
Cold wonderment her stupid sence benummes,
Till next night's fantasies, in which; a dart,
One while (her seemeth) to her daughters heart
Fast'ned appeares; and (as a horrid sight)
She loathes her garment chang'd from chastest white:
[Page] The trees that in her walkes she long did know
Barren, now fresh (she thinkes) and fruitfull growe:
But one (amongst them all) she liked best,
Whose shamefac't leaues seru'd for a shade in rest
To Proserpine: the Bay tree that, she sees
Cut from the root, and by strange cruelties
Of art, the boughes lopt off; boughes, that abouud
In freshnesse, now ly wither'd on the ground,
And (as she thought) of this great wickednesse
Enquiring, wofull Driades expresse
The lamentable Storie; here (say they)
The raging Fiends haue made a bloudy Fray
VVith hellish axe; and layd the dust along
Thy lawrell greene, fresh feeling of it's wrong.
At length, all circumstances, all disguise
Vnmask'd, poore Ceres her ill fortune spies
In her owne child, that now her selfe appeares
Her owne forc't-messenger, wet-visage, cleeres
All wau'ring doubts, which (when the goddesse wakes)
She puts away, and on her, new griefe takes;
For Proserpine appear'd, as if she seem'd
Shut in close prison, and her mother deem'd
Her fetter'd with strong shackles, not as she
VVas left by her in fruitfull Stcilie;
Nor (as the goddesses her found, when they
In Aetnas rosie vallies her astray
Did leade, but now; those lockes she might behold
(VVhilome surprissing ambar and faire gold
In brightnes) squallid blacke, the sparkling light
Fire of her eyes, extinguisht is by night,
A night of sorrow, and that blushing red
Vpon her cheeke (exhaust with cold) growne dead.
[Page] The Rubies, of her well grac't lippes quite spent,
And limbes, then snow erst whiter, with the sent
And colour of hels pitch, defil'd, to view
Of Ceres, were so strange, she scarce her knew:
Yet, seeing her so chang'd: goods! what a sight
Is here (sayth she?) what bitter wofull plight?
What fault? what punishments are these? what face?
What macerated monster of disgrace
Is this? (she addes:) who thus hath pow'r (she cries)
Hath pow'r thus much on vs to tyrannize?
Why bearest thou these bonds, this chaine, vnfit
For wild beasts? Doe thy soft armes merit it?
Art thou (quoth she) my child, or dreame I, art mine?
VVhen the vex't Image of poore Proserpine
Reply'd with terrour: Mother, oh, thou blinde
Mother; oh thou to thy lost child vnkinde
Could'st thou (more cruell then the Lyons) whom
Thou kept'st in awe, so long thy comming home
Deferre; and me that was thine only deare,
So long forget, was I despis'd? then heare
A dolefull truth, that name of Proserpine
So sweet to thee; so lou'd, so only thine,
Only that name remaines: for, see, behold
VVhat punishment, what bonds do me infold:
But (cruell) thou in vprore with a song
Through Phrigian Cities hurri'st, and of wrong
To me art witlesse; yet, if mothers brest
Haue not quite lest thee: if thou yet, it blest
And holy Ceres bear'st the name, let me
Begge one boone at thy hands (my liberty:)
Carry me vp againe, but if too late
I striue 'gainst Ioue, and my prefixed fate:
[Page] If backe I neuer must returne; yet thou,
At least, with comfortable visit now
Come see mee: thus she spake, and going about
To stretch her hands, she could not hold them out,
(So clogg'd with yr'ns) that (as she vanisht) shook:
(At which noyse) Ceres fearefully awoke,
Glad, that the vision had no trewer prou'd,
But sorry for the want of her belou'd;
Vp straight she gets in a distracted mood,
And to Cybele doth her griefes vnloade:
No longer (sacred Parent) can I stay
In Phrigian ground; the care calls me away
Of dearest child, she's yet a Girle and young,
Knowes not the danger of a flatt'ring tongue:
Her tender yeeres vnto all hazard yet
Doe her expose, nor do those buildings great
And trustie, of the Cyclops, me assure:
Each blast of fame, doth make me lesse secure
Of safety (lest she to the gods reueale
My secret house) nor can the Isle conceale
My daughters being there (it being a place
So famous) and withall th'apparent blaze
Of Aetna, and Enceladus deepe groanes
Cannot be hid, nor silenced his moanes.
My boading dreames in sundry vncouth formes
Presage, and eu'ry dreame sends fresh alar'mes
Of doubts vnto me, my Propheticke thought
Still threatens, and hath still vpon me wrought.
As often as the crowne of golden eares
Falls from my head of't selfe, vp get my feares
As oft, and stirre the bloud that on my brest
Stands in a sweat, whil'st I (perplext) no rest
[Page] Can take: then on a suddaine doe arise
Two streames, that breake from my vnwilling eyes,
My rebell hand doth beate my trembling heart,
VVhen I would touch my pipe (it seemes) all Art
And sweetnesse failes; that nothing doth remaine
But the dead sound, and (being in this vaine)
My Tymbrel's strokes, nought but sad sounds forth send;
All things (I feare) my griefes to come portend:
Delay is dangerous, such words (replyes
Cybele) may they frustrate mount the skies;
Ioue's not so slacke: but (to her latest end)
VVith thunder, will be ready to defend
His pledge; but thou thy iourney onward haste,
And backe returne, when thy false feare's ore'past:
Ceres takes leaue, the Temple leaues, and set
Vpon her Chariot) thinkes the Dragons yet
Are dull and lazy, with her lash that rings
In th'ayre, belabours their alternate wings:
Tow'rd Sicilie she driues amaine, and scant
O're Ida, but despaires, suspects her want.
As a poore bird (of tender young bereft,
VVho to some tree or lower hedge were left,
Whil'st she prepar'd them food; euer from whence
Her flight she takes, a kind of troubled sence,
Tender remorse she hath: first, lest the wind
Her nest blowe downe; next, lest she empty find
The same (to men or Snakes a prey) so she,
So Ceres, when she saw the custodie
Faile, and the watch-folke of her house all gone,
The postes broke vp, hinges cast downe, vpon
Her out-roomes desolate; with such a sight
And vnexpected change, all in a fright
[Page] Her clothes she rent, and from her soft haire teares
The sprigges and it; this madnesse dry'd her teares,
Nor had she breath to speake; but hauing spent
VVith trembling, all her spirits (as she went
Forward) the first step was a stumble still,
Yet on she goes, and with a madding will
VVanders about, to view these emptie roomes:
(As she from one into another comes)
On a disorder'd frame at length she lights,
The worker well she knew, but poorely slights
Th'imperfect piece, for (the diuine worke, spy'd)
She found, that the bold Spider had supply'd
VVith sacrilegious webbe, that emptie space:
Yet she nor wept, nor grieu'd; but kist the place
And cloth vnfinished, vpon those threds
She spends her dumbe complaints, and thinks she reades
Her daughter, on those faces: eu'ry toy
About the scatter'd roomes, doth she enjoy
And hugge for Proserpine: now the chast couch
And forlorne bed inuites her to approach,
Which sluttishly (vnmade) seemes to complaine
For want of the soft waight it did sustaine.
Amaz'd she stands, (strook dumbe, in such distresse
Like a poore Swaine, or simple Shepheardesse,
(Whose flocke, whil'st she was farre from their reliefe
To Africke Lyons rage, or cunning thiefe,
Expos'd) too late can she returne, and calls
The beasts (in vaine) within their hurdle walls;
So Ceres: and in th'vtmost roome she spy'd
Electra, Nurse vnto her child, a tride
Seruant of hers; and of the Ocean
The most knowne ancient Nymph (from whence shee came.
[Page] Like Ceres selfe, in goodnesse; this was she
That Proserpine from tender infancie
Bore at her brest; and, till she went alone,
Was vs'd for sport, Ioues thigh to set her on.
This her Companion was, her Guard select,
Whom (next her Mother) she would most respect.
When her thus Ceres found, rob'd of her trust,
With hoarie lockes now scatter'd in the dust,
(After a volley of loud sighes) the reines
To griefe she loosens, and breathes out her paines:
VVhat sacke is this (said she?) And are we giu'n
A prey to Titans hoast? Reignes Ioue in Heau'n?
(The Thund'rer liuing) who durst be so bold?
VVho durst commit this outrage, vncontrol'd?
Typhoeus, Alcyoneus, haue these
Broke from the Mountaines, giu'n their yoakt-necks ease?
Or hath my neighbour Aetna, Enceladus
Freed? Or my household gods, Briareus
And seat destroy'd? Ah, where art thou (my Deare)
Those handmaids that attended on thee, where?
VVhere, where is Cyane? what violence,
My chanting Syrens, hath remou'd you hence?
Is this your faith? is this your loyaltie,
To keepe anothers Pledge from danger free?
The poore Nurse trembled, and her griefe gaue place
To stronger feare; not to haue seene the face
Of wofull Ceres, she would gladly'haue dy'de:
Sencelesse, amaz'd, a while she doth abide,
(As loth the doubtfull mischiefe to disclose)
Vntill at length, dispensing with her woes
And passions, thus she spake: I would the mad
And raging Armie of the Gyants had
[Page] Beene actors in this mischiefe; common things
Doe lesse affect vs, sorrow that most wrings
Is that which by our neerest friends is sought,
And such is thine, for goddesses haue wrought,
Conspir'd thy ruine, nay (which least of all
Thou migh'tst suspect) sisters, did cause our fall:
The trech'rous gods and woundes here behold
Ofenui'ous kindred, that their bloods haue sold.
Phlegra 'gainst heau'n was ne're so furious,
As heau'n 'gainst thee (all vnpropitious)
Thy house a happy quiet did possesse,
While the chaste Virgin neuer would expresse
A thought of gadding, or scarce once bestowe
Her dainty foote (one only step to goe
Ouer the threshold) neither durst she make
A sally to the fields, fresh ayre to take.
So strict she was to thy commands, so bent
To herlou'd worke: at which (though tyr'd and spent)
All the delight and solace she desir'd
Was, from her Syrens songs and notes admir'd.
I was her bosome friend, she would impart
To me, the ioyes or sorrowes of her heart;
I was her bed-fellow, and to each sport
(As a companion should I still resort:)
Thus past we fairely on, till Venus came
Drawne hither (doubtfull) by what blast of fame;
And that she might the lesse suspected be,
Phoebe and Pallas are her companie:
With cunning smiles, and fain'd embraces soft
She often hugges thy daughter, and as oft
The name of sister iterates; complaines,
On her hard Mother: that so much restraines
[Page] Her, from wisht libertie; and thinkes it strange
That thou abroad so farre from home could'st range,
And leaue her in this solitarie place;
Farre from her fathers kingdome, that the face
Of heauen scarce she sees: and (that which most
Doth pittie moue, her conuersation lost
With kindred gods) the simple Mayd gaue care
(Caught by this wily chat, and free from feare)
The goddesses she makes her welcome ghests,
Whom, with quaint cates and Nectar store she feasts:
The banquet done in sport and merriment
She wore Diana's robe, and her bowe bent
With tender finger drew; and sought to wield
Minerua's golden head-piece, and huge shield:
But Venus, straight, deceitfully' gan prayse
Aetna's high top, and to the skies to rayse
The Vallies flow'rs, and something her admir'd,
Of which, she wittingly, witlesse enquir'd:
She could not thinke, or easily beleeue
The Rose, from all those frosts preseru'd, should liue:
Or that the colder Months should there retaine
The Summers grasse, all winter to remaine;
Nor, that the tender blossomes of the Spring
Are nip't, by ang'ry Bootes blustering:
(Thus praysing and thus doubting) with desire
To see the place, her brest was set on fire;
Thy tender Virgins fraile, vnwary yeeres
Made her consent to goe, t'encrease my feares.
What teares spent I, to hinder her (in vaine?)
How little did my'ntreaties (fruitlesse) gaine
From her? that (now resolu'd and confident)
In sisters guard (together with them went?)
[Page] And (a large traine of Nymphs t'attend them seene
Vnto the Medowes cloth'd in lasting greene)
With the first morning light, when as the field
Yet chill with dewe, heau'ns liquid iuice doth yeeld
To banke of Violets; they gather'd there
The moyst'ned flow'rs, that, with perle drops appeare:
But when the Sunne grew to the mid-dayes height,
The Pole was ceaz'd on, by vnlook't-for night:
The trembling Island then began to reele
And nod (shak't by the noyse of Chariot wheele,
Of horses neighing) nor could it appeare
(Whether the Coach-man Deaths fore-runner were,
Or death her selfe:) the grasse and riuers great
Were dri'd, the fields, straight burnt with parching heat:
All things were blasted; there, the Priuet white
We sawe, the Rose and Lilly alter'd quite
From natiue sent and colour: eu'ry flow'r
The pestilent contagion blasteth o're:
And (as the hoarse fell steers-man turn'd againe,
With horrid out-cries of each beast the raine)
Backe with the hell-blacke Chariot returnes night,
And to the World the day-restored light
Discouers our sad losse and heauinesse:
For now no Proserpine, nor goddesses
Were seene; for she deare soule was rapt away,
And they (that act performed) made no stay:
Poore Cyane vpon the Meddow ground
Strooke dead, with cold amazement next we found;
And (as she lay) the garland from her browe.
We tooke, whose fresher flow'rs were wither'd now
VVith the hot steame: there each of vs enquires,
And of our Mistris hap to know desires
[Page] Of her (who neerest was to the successe)
Each of vs with vncertaine doubtfulnesse
Demands the colour of the Steeds, and who
The Coach-man was; but she (that melts in woe)
Nothing replyes, of nothing vs resolues:
But (metamorphos'd) secretly dissolues
Her selfe into a Fountaine; that soft haire
Vpon her head, her feet new turned are
Into a dew; those armes diffused growe
In streams, that (following our foot-steps) o're-flow.
The rest fled, and our Mer-mayds with swift wing
Trudge to Pelorus, and (for griefe) to sing,
Since, cease: and now (in stead of melody)
Plagues they portend, and dire mortality;
And their soft voices now serue but t'entice
Th'vnheedy Mariner, that in a trice
(Answ'ring their calls) finds his vnhappy end;
Of all thy seruants, I alone t'attend
Thy sorrowes liue: Ceres in deepe suspence,
(Foole that she was) hop't that yet no offence
Was past, and still to come; but by and by
That moode she changeth, and (with fi'ry eye
Turn'd in her head, her brest enrag'd) aboue
Vp to the gods she flings (with plaints to moue)
As a fierce Tygresse, when her den's forlorne
Of tender young, (by fearefull horse-man borne
To Persian king, madding) out strips the wind;
(Dispersing all her rage, and fury blind
In shining spots:) at length she ouertakes
The Hunter, and with yawning wide mouth makes
Him leaue his prey; but in a shape of glasse
He coozens the poore beast, and safe doth passe
[Page] Onward his way: th'enraged Mother thus
Throughout all heauen stormes: restore to vs
Restore, sh'exclaimes; we are no wandring brood
Of some base Riuer, nor Plebeian blood
Of Driades flowes from vs; Saturne high
Begot me on the tow'ry Cybele:
Where is the priuiledge of gods then? where
You gods, of those drad lawes the sacred feare?
What bootes a vertuous life, or what? the faire
Title of good, if Cytherea dare,
If shamelesse she presume to shew that face
(Vnmask't by Lemnian nets, to her disgrace?)
That wholsome sleep, the couch, those twynings chaste
Of her and Mars, made her thus bold at last
With me and mine: since when (no maruaile) though
Such deeds, and such base actions from her flowe:
But what? are you turn'd Pandoresses, your;
Dian and Pallas, that yet neuer knew
What lust meant? Is your mayden honour gone?
Are your vowes chang'd, that thus you waited on
Venus and her bolde Ruffian? (suffice:)
You both deseru'd the bloudy sacrifice
Of thirsty Scythian altar: let me know
The reason of your rage; what mou'd you so
'Gainst Proserpine? did she in word or thought
Offend you euer, had she euer sought
Texpell thee, Delia, from thy groues? or e're
Did she, Tritonia, thy strong armes beare.
Or was sh'offenfiue in her speech? or rude,
(Her selfe into your dances to intrude?)
Oh no: Trinacria was her loued home,
She neuer stirr'd, neuer from thence would roame:
[Page] But what auail'd such priuacie? no day,
No time, could keepe your enuious eyes away:
Thus she the goddesses (that silent were,
Aw'd by great Ioue) blam'd with her speech seuere:
(Silent) they nought would know, and no reliefe
Could giue, but teares (sad Eccho's to her griefe)
VVhat should she doe? yet to another straine
She (falls) into intreaties mild againe.
Pardon (quoth shee) yee deities, if loue,
If my too strong affection, did moue
A wretch to those extremes, that were vnfit;
Pardon ye Powr's diuine and pittie it.
Looke, how I kneele; looke, how mine age doth bow
Lowe at your feete: (thus prostrate) let me know
(Only) the certainty of my sad state,
The manner of my woes vnfortunate:
(VVhat e're) let me but knowe it; I shall thinke,
That fate (not mischiefe) made my fortunes sinke:
Let me but see my daughter once: not? no?
Shall I, the search of mine owne bloud forgoe?
But, feare not (whosoe're thou art: thy prey
Safely enioy; I, to thy choyse giue way.
And if the Rauisher (you goddesses)
Haue brib'd you, for your silence? yet confesse,
At least (Latona) thou, thou that too well,
Lucina's name, and our great paines canst tell;
That double birth, the twinnes (which thou didst beare)
VVell testifie, how much the loue and feare
Of children costs vs; thou, still happy art
In two, whil'st I of one haue lost my part:
So maist thou euer (to thy wisht desire)
Enioy thy yellow sonne and daughter deere.
[Page] The goddesses (at these fresh plaint's) no pow'r
Had, to refraine; but with a second show'r
Of teares, they wash't their cheekes: poore remedie
(She sayth) your weeping silence giues to me:
Ay me! they all are fled; why stand'st thou here?
VVhy stay'st thou longer, and perceiu'st not cleere,
That heauen is arm'd against thee? rather haste,
Search eu'ry nooke of land, the Ocean vaste:
I will, and follow the diurnall Sunne
(Vnweari'd) with him in swift course to runne,
Through hidden wayes; not an houre of rest,
No sleepe shall seyze vpon his troubled brest,
Till my lost pledge I finde: (whether her graue
Be digg'd by Thetis in Iberian waue;
Or in the Red-Sea she intrenched be)
No place, no secret corner shall goe free:
Not frosty Rhenus, or Riphaean cold,
Nor heate of Lybian sands, shall me with-hold
From strictest search; and (till I find her out)
The vtmost limits will I prye throughout,
Of Southerne winde, and (for a further proofe)
Will visit Boreas in his snowie roofe:
Then, will I tread on Atlas in the West;
Next, with my flaming torches in the East
Hidaspcs shines; then looke vpon me, Ioue:
Looke, how this wandring vagamund shall roue,
Through Townes and Countries: doe thou look on me,
Thou Iuno; and in my destruction, see
And reape thy full content: then, then, no more
Grieue at this riuall (thy base husbands whore.)
Insult yee proud gods at my fortunes mocke,
Boast your great triumph on poore Ceres stocke.
[Page] Thus spoke she, and from off the lofty top
Of her knowne Aetna downeward slid, to lop
The branches from those trees that must giue light,
And guide her errant labours in the night:
Neere to the Riuer Acis, stood a Groue
(Whose little streames, in memorie of loue)
Faire Galatea to the Sea prefers,
And oft there bathes the beautious limbes of hers:
The trees grew thick here; their intangled boughs
On eu'ry side shadow high Aetna's browes;
Thither brought Iupiter the captiu'd prey
Which, he (long since) had got in Gyant frey:
The wood grew proud of that Phlegraean broile,
And victorie, cloath'd eu'ry tree with spoile;
Here, the vast iawes, and each prodigious limbe
Of Gyants hung, their heads, their faces grimme.
(Yet threatning) to those boughlesse trunks are fixt
And fastned: ('mongst which) the bones are mixt,
Of scatter'd Serpents, and their rugged skinnes
(Shrunk vp by thunder from their wither'd finnes:)
No tree, here grew, that not preseru'd the fame,
And of some conquer'd Gyant bore a name.
This, of Aegeons hundred hands, the steele,
(Whose waight her crooked branches bent:) did feele
That Caeus Armes, this shield of Mimas wore,
A groaning fourth naked Ophton bore.
And last, a Firre tree (taller then the rest,
For broad shade-spreading leaues, 'mongst all, the best)
The smoakie Trophies of Enceladus
Their king, did load: the waight (so ponderous)
Had broke the body of that goodly tree
(Did not a strong Oake prop with neere supplie:
[Page] So sacred was the feare and piety
To this most memorable groue, that free
From least offence, the heauenly Trophies hung;
Nor durst rude shepheards rustick pipe and song
Draw hither, their faint bleating flocks to shade;
Nor Cyclop's once with cruell axe inuade
The lustie Oake: when Poliphemus spies
This place, he from the sacred shadow flyes.
But neither deity, nor reuerence
Of zeale, religion of the place; from thence
Long kept th'incensed Ceres, whose strong arme
VVith wheeling Sythe (to their lamented harme)
Cuts downe the trunklesse bodies: (in this mood)
Eu'n Ioue she wounds; the Pine tree falls, nor stood
The smoother Cedar, but doth prostrate fall,
Here, she destroies; there, leaues: and (last of all)
She lookes vpon her handy-worke, and viewes
The mangled bodies (which of them to chuse
Fit'st for her purpose:) so, the Marchants care
Prouides (for safety of his life and ware,
VVhich he transports, to some long voyage bent)
('Gainst angry stormes and tempests prouident.)
(First, the tall Cedar and hard Beech applyde
To the maine mast and rudder, the Barkes guide)
The softer wood to the light Oare he giues,
And strongest trees for moisture Keele contriues.
Two neighb'ring Cypresses, there, lift on high
Their tow'ring, vntouch't heads (that kisse the skie)
Such two on Ida's toppe, fleete Simois
Did neuer see; Orontes, such (as these)
Did neuer sprinkle with swift streames (that flow
Vnto Apollo's Groue, where none such grow)
[Page] So equall in their height, and boughs esteem'd,
So eu'n they grew, that brother-twins they seem'd;
(Despising with their fellow-tops, the groue:)
These, Ceres chose for torches; and would proue
Her stubborn strength vpon them both; when (first)
Her armes she tuck't, then folded vp her skirt:
Next, with sharpe axe, she hewes alternately
The two, (that on the ground straight grouelingly
Alike, they suffer'd in their fall) alike,
Their locks they shed, the Fawns & wet Nymphs shricke
(For griefe) to view their ruine (as they lay)
Shee lifts them vp, and beares with her away:
(The loose haire turn'd ouer her shoulder) she
Descends from panting Mountaines suddainely,
Through flames she goes, through craggy rockes doth teare
A passage; the parch't sands (that skorne to beare
Her steppes) she kickes.
So, curs'd Maegaera hastens the wisht light
Of fatall Yew trees, when some horrid slight
She practiseth 'gainst Cadmus, Theban walls;
Or, when her malice and pale veng'ance falls
On poore Thyesti'an towne; darknesse and Fiends
Make her a lane to passe (as she descends
To Phlegeton) in whose hot waues she dipp't
The deadly lights, that with his flames were typ't:
So, when the goddesse was arriu'd at last;
At the Rockes scorching mouth, she from her cast
The Cypresses, into those iawes (her face
Turn'd from the smoake) now eu'ry hollow place
Was fill'd, and the contracted fire (with-drawne)
Kept in the flames, and stopt their wauing yawne:
[Page] The Mountaine rumbles, Mulciber 'gan striue
(Halfe choak't) th'imprison'd vapours to relieue.
When, loe; the berry-bearing Cypresse leaues
Did shine, and sulphure mixt (that to them cleaues)
Made the boughs crackle, and high Aetna raise
His old flames higher by this new-come blaze.
Then tooke she vp the fire-brands (whose dimme light
Lest it should faile her in the tedious flight)
She 'nointed with the iuice that Phaeton
His Steeds; and liquor that the Moone, vpon
Her Heifers, sprinkles. Now soft rest doth creepe
On mortall browes, their eye-lids folds in sleepe:
Whil'st she (with griefe-torne heart vpon her way
And progresse) something thus t'her selfe would say:
Full little did I thinke (while thou wert mine)
To looke thee with these lights (my Proserpine;)
Lou'd Mothers wishes, feruent strong desire
Of marri'ge bed, and holy Nuptiall fire
Were my delights: and oh! how I did long,
In heau'n to heare the Saffron Hymens song.
But Lachesis (that makes no difference
'Twixt men and gods) would not with me dispence:
How honour'd was I lately, how ador'd
By Suters great, that me for thee implor'd?
What Mother (though she ne're so fruitfull were)
But thought me happier then her selfe (to beare
Eu'n thee alone) my first, my latestioy:
By thee my barrennesse did fruit enjoy:
By thee was I a goddesse (deifi'd)
(Whil'st thou my glory wer't, thy Mothers pride:)
I neuer vnto Iuno 'inferior was
(Whil'st thou had'st being squallid now and base)
[Page] Gramercie, Ioue: but why giue I a part
To him? (my selfe the causer of my smart)
'Twas I, 'twas cruell I; now I disclose
My carelesnesse, that thee, to busie foes
Forsaken, left: whil'st I (securely glad)
Frisk't to the noyse of Bacchus daunces (madde)
And with the sound of ratling armes (vnkind)
(Whil'st thou wert rapt) the Phrigian Lion ioin'd
To the swift Chariot; but behold (my sweet)
The punishment for these deseruings meet.
Looke on the gaping wounds vpon my face,
The red-turn'd furrowes, that my brest deface;
My wombe (vnmindfull) that it thee had borne,
Looke, how by frequent strokes 'tis rent and torne:
Where shall I seeke thee, in which heauen aboue?
Vnder what Clymate here, on earth do'st moue?
What guide, what tracke shall leade me? (might I know
But in what kind of Chariotthou didst goe,
Where the damn'd thiefe doth liue, in earth or seas?)
The print of the swift wheeles my sight would please.
I goe, I goe, where my faint plants shall guide,
Whether blind chance: sorrow, like this betide
Diona (all forsaken) may she looke.
For her lost Venus.
Shall it be lawfull, will some Destinie
Giue way (my child) that once more I may see,
Once more embrace thee? doth that beauty reigne
Vpon thy cheekes, and freshnesse still remaine?
Or shall I hap (vnhappy) to behold
Thee such, as night and dreams haue oft foretold?
Thus sayd she; and the first step she aduanc't
From Aetna, on the flow'rs to light, she chanc't:
[Page] Those flowr's, that to her griefe, her daughters fate
Were conscious: she detests with cursing hate
Those, and the place (made priuie to the rape:)
Then (through confus'd pathes) she her course doth shape,
Pryes through the fields with blazing light, and lowe
Sh'inclines the brands (all comfortlesse) in woe,
With teares she bathes her cheekes: teares, that abound;
(Producing sighes and groanes, that with their sound
Ring in th'ayre and woods) the flaming light
Now spreds on farre, whose shadow in calme night
Swimmes on the Seas; the blaze of it doth flie
To Lybian coast, and bankes of Italy;
Th' Etruscan shore was bright and cleerly seene,
And (from th' inflamed Seas) the Sirtes shine.
Next vnto Scilla's dennes she goes, the light
Vnusuall, those mad dogges did affright:
VVhl'st (some astonisht) silent were (the rest
More hardy) bark't at their vnwelcome guest.
Finis Libri Tertij.
FINIS.