The pleasant fable of Hermaphroditus and Salmacis. by T. Peend Gent. With a morall in English verse

  • by Ovid
  • 1565
  • Allegory, Fable, Metamorphoses

THE Pleasant Fable of Her∣maphroditus and Salmacis. by T. Peend Gent. With a morall in Eng∣lish Uerse.

Anno Domini. 1565. Mense Decembris.

To M. Nycholas Sentleger Esquyer.

WHen I had employed sometime in transla∣ting Ouids Metamorphos••s, and had achyued my purpose in parte ther∣of, intendyng to haue trauayled further: I vnderstoode that another had preuented me. And so, after that I had receyued copyes therof from the Prynter, I was re∣solued to stay my laboure, & to reserue that to the vse and behofe of my pry∣uat frend: whych I intēded to haue made comen to euery man. How be it because I knowe my selfe on dyuers causes aleged to your worship, being no lesse lerned your selfe, then affecti∣oned to euery cōmendable faculty, ha∣uyng nothyng more fyt at this tyme: I thoughte it good to gratefye you wyth some part therof, and that not

altogether vnder the note and figure according to the text. Aplyenge also a morall to the Fable. And because it hath pleased you vppon youre good wyll, rather then for the worthynes hereof, to accept & cōmend my Copye in wrytyng: I am now therfore bold to publysh it in prynte vnder the pa∣tronage of your name. The rather to amēd the volume of thys other histo∣ry. And thus neither my first labours shall altogether syncke: nor I shall seeme to abuse the wryter, or reader of those foure bookes of Metamorphosis, whych be so learnedly translated all redye. Thus yours for his small powre assured. Wis••heth you Galenes health, ye good fortūe which Policrates enioyed for the most parte of hys life, and Nesters yeares.

T. Peend.

From my Chamber ouer agaynst Sergeants Inne in Chancery lane. 1564.

The pleasaunt Fable of Herma∣phroditus and Salmacis, by T. Peend. With a mor••all in Eng∣lysh Uerse.

SAME Venus once by Mercurye compress, a chylde did beare: For beuty farre excellyng all that erff before hym weare. Thys noble chylde by name was calde Hermaphroditus so, Of both hys parents names it is deryued,* 3.1 as ye kn••. Hys shape it dyd so farre excede the graces of all other: That then the countenaūce of the childe myght well dyserye hys mother. Hys portrature beuyne, it was so perfecte in eche poyncte, Hys noble lyms so fayre to syght, so set in euery ioynte, That he might seme Dame Natures w••rke' as farre for to excell: As do the Gods the shape of men, as auncyent storyes tell. As to hys face it was so fayre, and bryght wyth bewtyes shyne: That it exceld the glysteryng beames in Phaebus face deuyne.

A paterne playne to mend her moold Dame Nature there myght see. Therby appeard how merueylous the workes of god they bee. The Phrigian boy,* 3.2 by Thegle caught on Ioue tattend and wayght. Liri••pes▪ sonne Narsisus fayre, Nymphe Eccho her daynty bayte, Not Atis fyne, whych was sumtyme accepted wel wyth loue, Nor yet the boy in incest got which Venus so dyd loue.* 3.3 Al these were not to be comparde with yonge Hermaphrodite. Nor Cupide sure his brother blynde, if Poets truly wryte, Myght not with him in shape compare, but yet to fortune hee Was subiecte more then this, as we by thend may playnly see. For Cupide he doth yet now lyue a stoborne wytlesse boye: But Hermaphrodite death at laste had power for to dystroye. How be it by dolefull dome, he lost hym selfe before he dyed. Such was his lot. Yet seemes it straūge one from hym selfe to s••yed.

Some wolde not thynke that any man, myght chaunge hys nature so, That from hym selfe by desteny, he myght departe or go. How be it the straunger that it seemd, the rather dyd I choose To wryte of hym whose lot it was by ill lucke hym selfe to loose. Amonge a thousand storyes whych are worthy to be scande, In golden verse by skylfull pen, I toke thys same in hande, To shew my redy wyl to you tyll greater power in mee: As corespondent to my mynde lyke wyse it may agree. Wherfore the whylst I shall desyr•• your Maystershyp to take This same, in worthe of worthy warke, and full accompte to make, That want af wyl is not in mee, Though power therto do not agree. But now thys sonne of Mercuryes in Ida mounte was fed, And fostred: thear, full fyftene yeres hys lyfe also hee led. And then desyrous for to know the state of countreys straunge,

All Licia land, by trauayle great to Caria he dyd range. Wheras vppon a tyme, what wyth hys trauayle that was great, And eke the weather being hote he weryed then wyth heate, And redy for to rest hym selfe, by chaunce he dyd espye A well, wyth water fayre and clere as Chrystall to the eye. Whych nether bushe at any tyme nor wede it ouer grew. Much lyke vnto the well it was, wherto Acteon drew, When that Diana, and her Nymphes al naked in the same He saw, by chaunce as he dyd seke hys lately coursed game. Aboute thys sprynge an idle Nymphe, fayre Salmacis dyd vse: Whych euen as soone as wyth her eies, the yonge man fayre she vewes, Strayght set on fyre: The smoldrynge heate doth strike vnto her harte, And thorow persed by the dynte, of cruell Cupydes darte. She strayght desyres with him to ioyne, her luste for to fulfyll.

She tryms her selfe, & goes foorth with for to declare her will. To whom when that she came: strayght waie With comely grace she gan to saye. O worthy child, whose shape doth shew, (as it doth seeme to mee.) That surely thou some god, and not a earthly wyght shulde bee. Ryght happy are thy parentes sure, and eke the Nurce in lap Which hath the layd oft tymes, & geuen thy louely lyps the pap. But happyest of them bothe I saye, a blessed one is shee, Whych as thy wyfe within one bead myght ioyne her selfe with thee. My dere, vouch••efe to here my ••ute, graunt my request I pray, That if you be not maryed yet then, then graunt thys I saye, That I may rest my happy lyms in blessed bed with thee, So I with Iuno for to chaunge my state wolde not agree, If thou be maryed, let me steale one turne. My harte, my ioye, She sayd, and therwyth held her peace. But lo the shame fast boye

Was dasht, and out of countenaunce cleane. he blusht as red as blood, He wyst not then what loue dyd meane. it wolde haue done one good, To see how wel the blusshyng shame, The amased boy as it became. Such was his lyuely countenaunce, such was hys comely hew. Whom when the Nymphe had long be∣held, not able to subdewe Her heat affection and desyre. not able to susteyne, The force of those so feruent flames, she doth attempte agayne By other meanes to try the boy, eche practyce doth she proue. But nought at al could moue hys harte being rude, as yet to loue. She seketh to imbrace his necke, and asketh for a kysse. But then the boy resystyng her was moued much wyth thys, And sayd leue of these wanton tryckes, no lenger troble mee, Els wyll I soone be gone, and leue the place and all with thee. Then Salmacis afrayde, dyd make as thence she wolde be gone.

But in a bushe harde by the same, she hyd her selfe anon. The boy thought now that al was safe from shame as yet now free Does of hys clothes, and thynketh sure that none the same doth see. And lyke a wanton Kyd he skyppes and in the mead doth run. Then in the well, to bathe hys feete, he so at fyrst begon But thus at last the water cleare it doth delyght hym so. He geues hys body to the streames and wadeth to and fro, And further foorth with softely foote he doth begyn to go. At last wyth armes out stretched hee hys body clene doth dyp. By swīming, through the siluer stremes hys yuery corps doth slyp. The Nimph this while, beholdyng him, no longer then could staye, But of her mantel being throwne she wold leape in strayght way. The boy amyd the waues doth swym as whyte as any snow. No swan could seme more whyte thē he that euer any sawe.

The Nimphe her hart doth pant wt ••oy, shee scant abydes to staye, Untyll her garmentes all were of. shee plyeth so her praye. Euen as the eger mastyue Dogge, whom scant hys keper stayes, But at the bayted Beare he stryues for to be gone alwayes. Euen as the Hauke doth ba••e, when that shee sees the Partryge spronge: So Salmacis, to her it seemes Eche tyme it is to longe, That lets her from the pray. But loe, as mery as a Pye, The boy doth friske and play, he thyncks that none may hym espye. But as the ••are within her fourme, when shee doth feare no ill: The hounde is on her sodeynlye, then prest the foole to kyll. So Salmacis vnto her praye, into the water goes: As though that then for al the worlde her luste she wolde not lose. Not to perswade hym how she meanes, as shee dyd erst before: But now sheys prest her lust to serue, or els to dye therfore.

She it to folly so full inclynde: That nothing then might chaunge her mind. But lo the boy, as soone as he dyd theare the Nymphe espy, Euen as the lytle Roche wyth synnes out reched fast both fiye, The rau••nyng Pyke, which after hym in greater hast doth hye: So vp and downe the springe they flete, the one hym selfe to saue. The Nymph, her ioy by spoyle doth seke of ••hother for to haue. The flyghtfull boy, lyke as the Hare, for lyfe the Hounde doth flie, The Nymphe alwaies euen as the hoūd, when he doth come so nye, That euē his nose may touche her heles: he gyrdeth foorth amayne, With gaping mouth, being alwaies like hys pray for to obteyne. The Nimphe dyd dryue him vp so neare, that euen of force at laste He is compeld for to resyste, and stryue for hym as faste, Her rage by strength for to suppresse. she forseth on hym so,

That weryed nyghe the tender boye, he wotes not what to do. To stryue he is compeld, or els to yelde agaynst hys wyll Unto hys foe, whych forceth so, her lust for to fulfyll. And yet some women say, that they be innocentes, god wot. Thys nycy Nymphe doth now dysplay whether it be true or not. In goodnes symple sure they be, Els subtle ynoughe I warrant ye So nyce and fyne, before the tyme thys weakyng Nymph dyd seme, That force and myght to breake an egge in her ye wolde scantly deme. And yet by force, she kepeth now the yonge man at a baye: As in a corner doth a dogge kepe vp the stryuyng graye. And then at last espyenge well aduantage fyt therto, She catcheth hym about the necke as lothe to let hym go. Euen as the Iuye wyndes aboute the tree, so doth she claspe The body of the stryuing boye: which trembled lyke the Aspe.

Euen as the Crab in cruell clawes when he hath caught hys foe: With grype doth gyrd him so as though he shulde not scape hym fro. Euen so the Nimph (though Venus sonne do as he may resyste. In wordes protestyng playne how that she shal not haue her lyste.) Yet hopyng wel, with pre••••yng wayght she cleueth to hym so: That thoughe he stryue and wrythe, she sweares he shal not from her go. Wher••ore (thou froward hoy) the saies, now strogle on t••y fyll. But now by force I wyl obtayne, that shal content my wyll. Thou shalt not scape me sure. Go to with stoberne stryuyng styll. With pressed lyps perforce to hym an hundred kysses she Doth geue, wherby it may appere, she lyked hys companie. This sayd. Unto the heauens on hyghe she lifteth vp her eyes, And sayth, o Gods that see all thynges and syt aboue the skyes, ••raunt that thys wylfull boye may neuer parte fro mee.

But let vs styll in one remayne. the Gods they dyd agree To her request. And Venus then being moued wyth theyr mone, She dyd vouchsafe to ioyne theyr bodyes both in one. One countenaunce dyd set foorth a thynge full straunge to see, A man and woman both wyth one corps to agree: And yet the same no parfecte man, nor woman for to bee. But now, when that Hermaphrodite dyd see in water playne, He entred lyke a man therin, and shulde come foorth agayne But halfe a man. Hym selfe he loste. Hys fortune it was so. Wherfore he lyfted vp hys handes, and prayde hys parentes to, That who so euer entreth here, hys lot lykewyse may bee: That he to man and woman both, in shape may so agree. Theyr parents hard the plaint, y• which theyr doble shaped sonne Had made, And so wyth vertue straūge, the sprynge was spred anone.

Thus both in wysh they did agree: And now contentyd well they bee. NOw, Ouid here myght seeme to some, a tryflyng tale to tell. But yet it shewes a worthy s••nce, if it be marked we••l. The Poets vse in pleasaunt toyes great wysdome for to s••ew. A subtle sence thys tale doth beare, al be it perceyude of few. By Venus, sonne here vnderstand, such Youthes as yet be greene, And from the spot of fylthy luste the sprynglynges that be clene, which yet haue not enthrald thē selfes vnto affection vyle. Nor know the poyson strong, y• subtle baite, which louers doth begile. Euen such as newly haue cast of a boy, and entred in A yonge mans age. Such one as dothe to know hym selfe begin. Of age well able for to rule hym selfe without agu••de. Such one as first into worlde begynneth for to slyde,

To lerne and see the trades of men, to chose the good from ill. By yonge Hermaphrodite, such one here vnderstande we will. By C••••ia, sygny••ye the worlde where all temptations be. Wheras the good and i••, alwayes together we may see. By Salmacis, intende eche vyce that mou••th one to ill. And by the spring the pleasant sporte, that doth content the wyll. So that when any yonge man fyrste without a guyde or staye, Doth enter in the world so wyde, vnskylfull of the waye, Not knowyng yet the wylye bayte, nor the temptations vyle, Wherby the subtle sorte oft tymes the ••ely do beguyle: He blyndly runneth on ech wheare, and doubtryng of none ill: Because hym selfe he meaneth none, he thynckes that no man wyll (do otherwyse.) And so, by pleasaunt shape of vyce deceyued all vnware, He drownes hym selfe in fylthy sinne, •• taken in the snare.

The more he striues, entangled once the faster he is in. Such is the nature of the ••ayte, and sleyght of that same gyn. But after that he is deceyued: by practy•••• to hys payne, More wyse, alwayes he wil beware to come in lyke agayne. Then wil be ioye to see his wyshe, on others in like sorte, Which plunged be in pensyue payne, whylst that they seke for sporte. A man is sayde to lose hym selfe, when reason quyte exilde, Enthrald in slauysh wee, he is constrayned for to ye••••de To lust, and wyl. dame reasons rules (whych styll shuld rule our race.) Reiected quyte, to affec••yons: we geue the grounde and place. And lyke to beastes, esteming more to serue our sensuall ••ust, And to adorne the body braue, whych shal consume to dust, More lefe then for to decke the mynd which is imortall sure. Such is our beastly nature blynd: so is our lust vnpure.

So we our cheefe and greatest Good, the treasure of our minde, Do lose, and so to slauysh luste, our nature free we bynd. And seruauntes bond vnto our wyll, we warke our wretched woe. So one may lose hym selfe, and be vnto hym selfe a foe. So do we chaunge the happy hope of euerlastyng ioye, Euen for the present pastyme, whych our selues doth moste anoye. We chaunge our nature cleane, being made effemynat. When we do yeeld to serue our lust, we lose our former state. It is the nature of that well, that fylthy lothsome lake, Of lust, the strengthe from lusty men by hydden force to take: And so it may now playne appere, the Poet thus dyd tell. As many as hereafter shall once enter in thys well Of vyce. He shalbe weakned so. Hys nature sure he shall forgo. Thus muche here of, as my rude Muse doth vnderstand the mind

Of Ouid, by thys pleasaunt tale, no further sence I fynde. BUt nowe the fletynge fancyes fonde, and eke the shuttle wyttes: The mad desyres of women now, theyr rage in folysh fyts I wyl dysplay. Thys Nymphe, y• boy, dyd for hys bew••y loue, For euen the sodeyne syght of hym, dyd her affectyon moue. And Eccho shee Narcissus yonge euen for his bewtyes sake, Did choose amonge all other youthes to be her faythful make. Medea and Hypsiph••le, dyd loue ••ason so, Euen for hys louely face, that they wolde from theyr countreyes go, And leue their parentes & their frēdes to go, and be wyth hym, Which to them both, not longe a go had erst a straunger bene. Demophon by hys semely shape, dyd lyke fayre Phyllys eyes. And Dido she Eneas braue therfore dyd loue lykewyse.

And in lyke sorte dyd ende her lyfe, when that she myght no more Enioye her ioyfull luste as shee was wonte some tyme before. It semed death, what so dyd them deuorse their louers fro. Fayre Helen, Menelaus wy••e. To Paris fine also Dyd ye••ld, with him to Phrigian towne a straunger for to go. To Paris armes her selfe she toke: And Menelaus olde forsoke. The lusty gerle began to lothe, such sage pastyme as hee Could make. She rather chose with Paris y••nge to bee. The learned Sapho did some time to comely Phaon sue For grace. And Biblis, she her brother dyd pursue (For bew••ye that in him did shine. She folowed him therfore So longe: till that her faynting lims could cary her no more. King Nisus d••ughter dere also, fayre Sylla was beguilde, By Minos yellow shinyng heare, whiche as her foe in feilde:

Againste the walles of Megaris, dyd be are hys seemely sheilde. And yet kynge Minos wyfe, was of another mynde. In Taurus blacke ill faced ••yre, more pleasure she dyd fynde, The captains rousy skuffe, black pol, to her so fayre did seme▪ That she her husbandes go••den heare dyd not so much esteme. The Emperour Othons doughter dere A delasie dyd so Regarde the lyuely Al••ran, that she wyth hym did go To countreyes straunge▪ content by hazarde of her lyfe, Agaynst the wyll of all her freindes, for to become hys wyfe. With pryncelyke lyfe, for hym alone an Empyre she wolde lose. With hym to leade a symple lyfe much rather she dyd chose. All pleasures in the worlde, in hym alone she then dyd take. Al freindes, for hym alone also she gladly dyd forsake. With hym for nede right wel she was contented coles to make.

To couche in cotage lowe, on symple foode to fare. For all the world, excepted hym, she toke no kynde of care. He was her blysse. Her ioye was hee. And nothing els estemed shee. And Hero fayre vnto her feare, Leander fyne dyd take. And Thishe she dyd kyll her selfe for comely Pirames sake. Orestes lyuely lookes, dyd much Hermione delyghte. Kyng Tancreds, doughter Gysmond, dyd loue Guistardes bewty bryght. The Nymphes dyd Hiacinthus, for hys seemely shape desire. Hys louely chere ful, soone did set theyr youthly hartes on fyre. And Iuliet, Romeus yonge, for bewty dyd imbrace, Yet dyd hy•• manhode well agree, vnto hys worthy grace. So seemely shape dyd loue procu••e: And Venu•• byrdes came to the lure. 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Aphrodite dame so coye 〈◊〉〈◊〉 loue Adonis so, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 she wyth hym, alwayes ••••••tented was to go▪

In slender hand, the craggy bowe she did vouchsafe to beare, And run a huntyng after hym, to kyll the flyghtfull Deare. The stoberne boy, blynd Cupide here, with shaft, did strike his mother dere. Sythe bewtyes grace, as pleasaunt baite, these ladies did deceiue. What did Adonis mother, in her father olde perceyue: Why she shuld seke by incest vyle, Her mothers bed for to defyle. What flynging fyt dyd force her so? what mad desyre doth moue Her thus? why shulde she seke an olde and cancred lad to loue? And why dyd Phaedra sue vnto her boystous sonne in lawe, Hypolite blunt (being rude to loue) vnto her lust to drawe. Why did hys ferce & frownyng face, hys harde complexion seeme To her a fayre and manlyke hewe. what made her so to deme? Syth beutyes goodly grace, somtyme so well it lyked her, That the aboue her countrey, dyd yonge Theseus prefer.

Her sister Ariadne aye, hys shape estemed so: That she her brother did betray, and fled her parentes fro. Such be the fond and frantike fits which in the blinded brayne Of wanton women often times, with swinging swey doth reigne. And Venus eke, which liked so Ad••nis louely grace, Tha•• she from hym wolde not abide in anye place. In warlike Mars that blody knight: Sometime also she did delyght. Sith she for comely bewty then, these lustie youthes dyd loue. To marry with dame Iunoes sonne what od conceyt did moue Her so: to serue that grislie sire, the Coper••mith deformde. Whom Nature neither with good grace, nor learning had adornd. But euen a rude & boystous carle. whose colour in his face: A Croyden sangwine right did seme. This is a doubtfull case. That she which erst did seke so muche for bewtyes goodly grace,

To loue Adonis faire alone, shulde seke sometime to imbrace Syr Vulcane, wi••h his drousie poll, A smyth whych did on stythy, towl, I dare not sure disolue thys doubt. I feare to iudge on thys. To haue to do wyth gods aboue, how do unge••ous it is: Tiresias olde, which was sometyme a Iudge of Iunoes game. In iestyng stryfe, for tellyng trueth the Iudge dyd beare the blame. He loste hys syght, for iudgyng right. O Iudg vnwise, thou knowest y• price Of telling trueth, more was y• ••uoth. Tiresias, thou Prophet olde, whych hadst the grace, for to vnfolde, the secrets hyd of thynges to come: Though Iuno shee, did make the blind, Yet loue to thee, was not vnkynd. He dyd restore, as good therfore. Thy lacke of sight, thy knowledg doth Right wel aquight. That is the troth. For by the same, vnto the skyes, Thy worthy name, it dyd aryse. How be it I, am not so bolde With iudgement thys for to vnfolde. The Goddesse gra••e I more regarde:

Then hope, to haue of loues reward. For doubt of blame, I dare not say Or shew the same, whych erst alway I thought. For sure, if I may chose, Dame Venus loue I wyll not lose. Sith mē bear blame, for telling troth: To shew the same I wolde be loth. Wherfore now I, wil cease to writ. And you hardly, by iudgement ryght, As one exempt from Venus might: May be more bolde, thys to vnfolde. And so to you, I leue it now, that this moste weyghty doubt: At further leasure (when you lyste) your selfe may fynde it out.

T. D. Peend.

That the vnlearned myght the better vnderstande these, I haue compendeouslye noted the histories, & names not familier to oure eng∣lysh phrase.

VEnus,* 4.1 wyfe to Vulcane, fayned of the Poets to be the Godesse of loue. And by another name is called Aphrodite.

MErcurye,* 4.2 the sonne of Iupiter and Maia, one of the daughters of Atlas. Whom the Poets called god of eloquence, and is called Hermes, otherwise the messenger of Iupiter.

PHaebus, Apollo.* 4.3 And is taken for the Sonne.

NArcissus,* 4.4 sonne of ••iriope, a chylde of passyng bewtye, whych did so much delyght in hys owne shape, as the Poets fayned, that he died for loue of his owne shadowe, and was turned into a flowre.

PHrigian.* 4.5 One of the Lande of Phri∣gia.

CVpide,* 4.6 sonne of Bacchus and Venus, and is fayned of the Poets, to be the God of loue. And is called blynde: because luste blindeth iudge∣mentes of men.

ECcho.* 4.7 A Nymphe, whiche loued Narcissus. And the sounde that commeth from the valleys and hollowe places, & doth sounde againe syx or seuen words, in some places, by reason of the reuerberatiō of the aire. (as some saye.)

IOue,* 4.8 sonne of Saturne and Ops. King of Creta, and was fayned cheefe of the Gods.

IVno.* 4.9 Sys••er & wyfe of Ioue or Iupiter.

MEdea,* 4.10 doughter of Oeta, Kynge of Cholcus, which loued Iason. Who, when he had sworne neuer to forsake her. She did help him to kill the Serpente, and wyn the golden fleece. And so when she did pryuely go away with Iason, she kyled her yonge brother

Absirtus, and did plucke him in peces, to stay her father which pursued after her: & when she had lyued many yeres in Grece, with Iason, and had children by hym. At last Iason forsoke her, and ma∣ryed Glauca, doughter of kynge Creon. Medea so refused, slew the sones which she had by Iason, & settynge hys Palace on fyre: she burned Glauca, and her fa∣ther therin.

HIpsiphile,* 4.11 doughter of Thoas, Kyng of Lemnus, whyche lo••ed Iason ex∣cedinglye, & bare hym two chyl∣dren at a burden.

IAson,* 4.12 sonne of Aeson, whom Pelias hys Unkell being kyng of Thessalye, dyd sende wyth manye other valy∣ente Gentlemen, to fetche the Golden Fleece. Whych (the aduenters ther of achyeued,) by the helpe of Medea, he wan, and brought it away.

DEmophon,* 4.13 sōne of Theseus & Phaedra. Which returninge from the ba∣tayle of Troy, was by tempeste broughte into Thracia, wheare Phillis

doughter of Licurgus, then Queene, re∣ceyued hym, and after maryed hym, whyche from thence wente to Athens, promysynge her to returne shortlye. Which when he performed not, Phillis not able to susteine the ragyng fyttes of so feruent loue. Honge her selfe on an Almonde tree.

And so the Poets fained that she was turned into an Almonde tree.

DIdo,* 4.14 doughter of Belus, kynge of Tirus. And wyfe of Sicheus: whom when Pigmalion the kinge, & bro∣ther to Dido had s••a••ne for his richesse. Dido sayled into Africa with hys trea∣sure, and theare buylded the famous Cytie of Carthage. And afterwarde in loue with Aeneas, when he had depar∣ted from her, to seke the lande of Italye: (according to Cassandra her prophesie.) she brake her necke for sorow, falling into the fire. &c. Or according to Virgill flew her selfe with Aeneas his swerde.

AEneas.* 4.15 A noble man of Troy, sonn•• of Anchises and Venus. Which es∣capynge with his father, wyfe, and other hys countrey men. After

great trauaile, and many chaunces: aryued in Italy, wheare after great batayle he slewe kyng Turnus, and maryed Lauinia, daughter to kyng Latinus. And so became king of Italy.

HElena.* 4.16 Begotten of Iupiter, in the lykenes of a Swanne, on Laeda wyfe of Tindar••s, kynge of Laconia. And was for her passyng bewtie ••wyse stollen Fyrst by Th••s••∣us, being but a gerle: & the seconde time being wife to Menelaus, by Paris. For whom the Grecians warred ten yeares space with the Troyans. And so Troy beyng burned, receyued her agayne.

PAris.* 4.17 Sonne of Priam kynge of Troy, by hys wyfe Hecuba, with whom when shee was greate with chylde, shee dreamed that shee had broughte foorthe a fyrebrande, whych shulde burne Troye: whear∣fore the kynge afrayde, cōmaunded that the chylde shulde be kylled as soone as hee was borne. Hys mo∣ther Hecuba, moued wyth motherly

pytie, did pryuelye sende hym to a Shepard to be brought vp. And whē he waxed a yonge man, Iuno, Pallas, and Venus, Goddesses, stryuynge in beutye for a golden Apple, wheron was written: be it geuen to the fay∣rest They were sente by Iupiter, to the iudgemente of Paris. To whom when Iuno had promysed rule and kyngdome, Pallas wysedome, and Venus pleasure, and the fayrest wo∣man in the worlde. He gaue the ap∣ple to Venus. And so after came in fauour with his father, and sayling to Sparta, he brought fayre Helen a∣way wyth hym. And so the batayle of Troy began.

SApho.* 4.18 A womā of the Ile Lesbos, lerned in Poetrye, beinge for∣saken of a yonge man, called Phaon, whom she loued: she caste her selfe from the hyll Leucates, into the Sea, & so peryshed by loue of hym.

PHaon.* 4.19 When he had caryed Vee∣nus ouer a Fery: she gaue hym to be the fairest, and best shaped man alyue.

BIblis.* 4.20 daughter of Miletus, which inflamed with detestable loue of her brother Caunus, when he forsoke hys coūtrey to auoyde that myscheyfe: she folowed hym tyl she dyed for fayn••nes.

SCylla.* 4.21 Daughter of Nisus, kynge of Megaris. Whyche for the loue of Minos then besegyng the Cy∣tie of Megaris, she brought to hym a purple heare, which she cut of from her fathers heade. And that heare being on hys heade, he could not be ouercome, and by lyke destenye: wt the heare, he loste hys kyngdome. And Minos dyspysed her for her mis∣cheuous dede. And tyenge her with a corde to the ende of hys shyp: he hanged her in the water.

MInos.* 4.22 begotten by Iupit••r in the likenes of a white Bull, on the fayre Europa, daughter to Agenor kyng of Phaenicia. And for his iustyce is fayned of the Poets to be a Iudge in Hell.

ADonis.* 4.23 A yonge man of passing bewtye, whom Cinaras kynge of Phaenicia, made dronke by polycy of hys doughter, & a Nurce, ••egat on his owne doughter M••rrha. whom Venus loued.

Hippolitus.* 4.24 Sōne of Theseus, duke of Athens, by Hippolite. Whom when hys stepmother Phaedra could not winne to her lust, she ac∣cused him to Theseus, as thoughe hee woulde haue oppressed her by force. Thes••us then trustynge hys wyfe to much, desyred hys father Aegeus, a God of the Sea, that he wolde kyll hys sonne. Wherfore when Hippo∣litus dyd ryde in a Charyot by the Sea syde, Aegeus sente out certaine monsters of the Sea, called Phoces, wherwith his horses afraide, brake the Charyot, and rente hym in pe∣ces. But at the requeste of Diana, Goddesse of Chastytie (louyng her chast knight Hippolitus,) Aesculapius, the fyrste that inuented Physyke: restored hym to lyfe agayne.

MEnelaus.* 4.25 Sonne of A••reus, bro∣ther to Agamemn••n, and kyng of the Cytie of Sparta.

VVlcane.* 4.26 Sonne of Iupiter & Iuno, whyche being borne ill fauo∣red, and liked not Iuno: he was cast into the Ile Lemnus, who are be∣ing noryshed wyth Apes, he became lame of one foote therby. And he is fayned to be the god of fyre, and the Smyth to make thunder boltes for Iupit••r. Whych askyng to marrye Minerua, Iupiters doughter, and God∣desse of wysdome: he was denyed. Wherfore Virgill 〈◊〉〈◊〉

* The Gods wolde not vouchsafe,* 4.27 that hee shulde at theyr table fyt. And to her bed, the Goddesse shee wolde neuer hym admyt:
But afterwarde, thys gay Squyer maried to Venus, when he had taken her a bed wyth lustye Ma••s, the god of batayle. He had framed such fine chaynes to bynde them, that they could not get a sunder: tyll he had brought all the Gods to laugh at the game.

PAsiphae.* 4.28 Wy••e of Minos kynge of Creta, whych loued a stowte Captayne called Taurus, and conceyued by him the cruel and de∣formed Minotaurus, whō for his fierce¦nes, and ill shape, the Poets fayned to haue bene halfe a man, and halfe a bull: & therfore was enclosed in a Laberinthe, (made by the co••ynge De∣dalus,) and theare fed wych fleshe of men.

HEro.* 4.29 A mayden of synguler bewtye, of the Cytye Sestos, in ••ellespont.

LEander.* 4.30 A yonge gentleman of the Cyty Abidos, whych a great Ryuer dyd deuyde from Sestos, who are he was wonte to swym by nyghte, to hys louer Hero, and so at laste was drowned.

PIramus.* 4.31 A yonge gentleman of Babylon whyche loued Thisbe.

THisbe.* 4.32 A mayde of synguler bewtye, whyche when shee

loued P••riamus excedyngly: And they were kept a sunder by their parēts, yet o••e night they escaped out, and had agreed before, to haue met vn∣der a tree without the towne: Thisbe commynge thyther fyrste, seinge a Lyon? dyd flye into the wood, her rayle beynge fallen of, the Ly∣on 〈◊〉〈◊〉 it in peces. Piramus com∣mynge after, fyndynge the cloth ren••e, thoughte that Thisbe had bene denoured of some beast, and so 〈◊〉〈◊〉 hym selfe. Whyche when Thisbe returnynge agayne dyd see: shee kylled her selfe wyth the same swe••de.

OReste••.* 4.33 Sonne of kynge Aga∣me••••ion. Whyche ••lew hys mo∣ther Clitemnestia, because that shee for loue of Aegisthus, had slayne hys father. And he maryed H••rmi∣one. And after being 〈◊〉〈◊〉, (hys most faythful frend Pylades kepyng him) he came into the country of Tauric••: Where, accordyng to the custome, he shulde haue bene slayne, and sa∣cryfysed.

But being knowen of hys syster Iphigenia, hee slewe the kynge Thoas, and escaped with hys syster. And after had hys wyttes perfecte agayne.

HErmione.* 4.34 Daughter of Menelaus, and that Helen: so renowmed for her bewtye, Whych being a gerle was marryed to Orestes. And when kyng Pirrhus, sonne of the va∣lyante. Achilles, had marryed her af∣terward. Hermione by letters requy∣red him humbly, to claime his right and delyuer her. And so Orestes slew Pirrhus, & receyued Hermione agayne.

HIacinthus.* 4.35 A yong man, of pas∣synge bewtye.

MArs.* 4.36 God of warre, and sōne of Iupiter and Iuno.

THeseus.* 4.37 Sonne of Aegeus kyng of Athens, & of Aethra, dough∣ter to Pytheus, kyng of the Cy∣tye Troezen. A puyssante knyghte, whych dyd many greate feates a••d

aduentures: As Hercules dyd. Being but a yonge man, he foughte wyth Hercules against the Amazones, war∣full women. He slew Creon kynge of Thebes, which suffered not mē slaine in warre to be buryed. He slew Mi∣notaurus, and deliuered hys coūtrey, from the trybute of fourtene noble chyldren, euery nyne yeres, sent to Creta to be slayne, for that the Cyty∣zens of Athens had slaine Androgeus, sonne of Minos kynge of Creta. Hee slewe a monstrous Bull whych had spoyled the coūtrey Attica. He slew ••eyron, and Procustes, robbers. And af∣terwarde wyth his faythfull freind Pirithous he wente to Hell to fetche Proserpina, whom Pluto had stollen, from her mother C••res, Goddesse of corne, and Queene of Sicilye.

But Pirith••uis beynge slayne by the three headed Hounde Cerberus, Por∣ter of Hell: Theseus was kept in pri¦son theare, tyll he was delyuered by myghty Hercules.

ARiadne.* 4.38 Doughter to Minos, king of Creta, whyche by a botom of

thred, taught Theseus to come out of the Laberinthe, after he had kylled her brother Minotaurus. She forsoke her countrey and folowed hym, whom he lefte in the Ile of Naxus▪ So Bacchus the God of wyne, tooke her to wyfe. And Venus gaue her a crowne, wheron Bacchus se•• nyne starres, & fyred it in the skye. And so the starre is called the Gnossian crowne.

PHaed••a.* 4.39 Doughter of kynge Minos, and Pasiphae, wyth her syster Ariadne dyd flye her countrey, with Theseus: and became hys wyfe, after he had for∣saken Ariadne.

ADelasie* 4.40 Doughter and onelye chylde of the Emperour Otho the thyrde, so excedynglye she was enamoured of the most valiant Ale∣ran, sonne of a Duke of Saxony that she procured hym pryuelye to con∣uey her awaye, whych by the helpe of an old lady her nurce, he brought to pass••. And afterwarde beinge

robed of suche money as they had prouyded, they lyued long in a woode, and made coles for theyr ly∣uynge, and bare hym seucn sonnes theare, and afterwarde by the va∣lyante feates of her eldest sonne, they were knowen to the Empe∣roure▪ and so had hys fauoure a∣gayne, and enioyed the Empyre af∣ter hym.

IVliet.* 4.41 A noble mayden of the Cy∣tye Ve••ona in Italye, whyche loued Romeus, eldest sonne of the Lorde Montesche, and beinge pryuely ma∣ryed togyther: he at last poysoned hym selfe for loue of her. she for so∣rowe of hys deathe, slewe her selfe in the same Tombe, wyth hys dag∣ger▪

TIresias.* 4.42 An olde Prophet of the Cytie Thebes, in Boetia, a countrey in Attica. And is nowe called Vanda••ia.

DIana.* 4.43 Daughter of Iupiter and Latona, and sy••er of Apollo, & is called goddesse of hunting, and Chastytie. & is the Moone also.

NYmphes,* 4.44 were maydens which fo¦lowed Diana, and worshyppyng her, did lyue solytarye, in woodes, by ryuers sides, and other pleasant places: to auoyde companye. And cheifly vsed huntyng: to subdue the tedyousnes of tyme.

ACteon.* 4.45 Sonne of Aristaeus, by A••tonoe daughter of Camus, buylder of the Cytye Thebes, whych after he had bene a hunting, came by chaunce to a secret wel or spryng, where he saw Diana naked, wasshyng of her selfe. Wherat shee takyng displeasure, turned him in∣to a Harte, and so, as he wold haue returned home,* 4.46 he was rente in pe∣ces of his owne hoūds.

Ouid Epist.Acteon once ••vnwyttyng, did Dian•• naked▪ see: Wherfo••e vnto his Houndes, shee made Him then a praye to bee.

All whych was ••ained, for that he had spente hys substaunce, and vndone him selfe by hun••ynge, and kepyng of houndes.

GYsmonde.* 4.47 Onelye daughter of Tanc••ede, kyng of Sa••e••ne: which loued a seruaunte of her fathers: & beinge taken in adultery together, in a Caue in the grounde the kinge caused her louer Guistarde to be han∣ged therfore, and sent his harte vn∣to her▪ whych imbracynge it, layd it on her breste, agaynste her owne hart, and dranke a cuppe of poyson immedyatly, wherof dyenge: shee desyred that they myghte be buryed together.

FINIS.

Faultes escaped

In A. the .6. page, in the margent, for Gaminides, read Ganimedes.

In the same page, the .7. lyne, for Narsisus read Narcissus. In A. the .7. page, the .19. line, for worthy warke read worthier warke. In A. the .12. page, the .25. line, for how read now. In A. the .14. page the 13. line, for the read that. In the same page, the .14. line for weakyng read weaklyng.

In B. the fyrst page, the .16, line for springlinges read striplinges. In the same page, the .27. line, for into worlde read into the worlde.

In B. the .4. page, the .22. lyne, for the Poet thus dyd tell, reade the Poet trueth dyd tell. In B. the .6. page, the last vers, for Sylla, read Scylla. In B. the .15. page, the 21. lyne, for aduenters read aduen∣tures. In C. the .12. page, the 15. line for Antonoc reade Autonoe. In the same page, the same lyne, for Camus read Cadmus.

Imprinted at London in Fletestreat beneath the Con∣duyt, at the sygne of S. Iohn Euangelyste, by Thomas Col| (well.)

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Notes

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“the Quintessence and the hidden things of our Stone is nothing else than our viscous, celestial and glorious Soul drawn by our magistery out of its mine, which engenders itself, and that it is not possible for us to make that water by Art, but Nature alone begets it, and that water is the most sharp Vinegar, which makes Gold to be a pure spirit”

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