SONNET. IX.

SOmetimes I wish that I his pillow were,So might I steale a kisse, and yet not seene,So might I gaze vpon his sleeping eine,Although I did it with a panting feare:But when I well consider how vaine my wish is,Ah foolish Bees (thinke I) that doe not suckeHis lips for hony; but poore flowers doe pluckeWhich haue no sweet in them: when his sole kisses,Are able to reuiue a dying soule.Kisse him, but sting him not, for if you doe,His angry voice your flying will pursue:But when they heare his tongue, what can controule,Their back-returne? for then they plaine may see,How hony-combs from his lips dropping bee.

Ometimes I wish that I his pillow were,

So might I steale a kisse, and yet not seene,

So might I gaze vpon his sleeping eine,

Although I did it with a panting feare:

But when I well consider how vaine my wish is,

Ah foolish Bees (thinke I) that doe not sucke

His lips for hony; but poore flowers doe plucke

Which haue no sweet in them: when his sole kisses,

Are able to reuiue a dying soule.

Kisse him, but sting him not, for if you doe,

His angry voice your flying will pursue:

But when they heare his tongue, what can controule,

Their back-returne? for then they plaine may see,

How hony-combs from his lips dropping bee.

DIana(on a time) walking the wood,To sport herselfe, of her faire traine forlorne,Chaunc't for to pricke her foote against a thorne,And from thence issu'd out a streame of blood.No sooner shee was vanisht out of sight,But loues faire Queen came there away by chance,And hauing of this hap a glym'ring glance,She put the blood into a christall bright,When being now come vnto mountRhodope,With her faire hands she formes a shape of Snow,And blends it with this blood; from whence doth growA lonely creature, brighter than the Dey.And being christned in fairePaphosshrine,She call'd himGanymede: as all diuine.

Iana(on a time) walking the wood,

To sport herselfe, of her faire traine forlorne,

Chaunc't for to pricke her foote against a thorne,

And from thence issu'd out a streame of blood.

No sooner shee was vanisht out of sight,

But loues faire Queen came there away by chance,

And hauing of this hap a glym'ring glance,

She put the blood into a christall bright,

When being now come vnto mountRhodope,

With her faire hands she formes a shape of Snow,

And blends it with this blood; from whence doth grow

A lonely creature, brighter than the Dey.

And being christned in fairePaphosshrine,

She call'd himGanymede: as all diuine.

THus was my loue, thus was myGanymed,(Heauens ioy, worlds wonder, natures fairest work,In whose aspect Hope and Dispaire doe lurke)Made of pure blood in whitest snow yshed,And for sweeteVenusonly form'd his face,And his each member delicately framed,And last of all faireGanymedehim named,His limbs (as their Creatrix) her imbrace.But as for his pure, spotles, vertuous minde,Because it sprung of chasteDianaesblood,(Goddesse of Maides, directresse of all good,)Hit wholy is to chastity inclinde.And thus it is: as far as I can proue,He loues to be beloued, but not to loue.

Hus was my loue, thus was myGanymed,

(Heauens ioy, worlds wonder, natures fairest work,

In whose aspect Hope and Dispaire doe lurke)

Made of pure blood in whitest snow yshed,

And for sweeteVenusonly form'd his face,

And his each member delicately framed,

And last of all faireGanymedehim named,

His limbs (as their Creatrix) her imbrace.

But as for his pure, spotles, vertuous minde,

Because it sprung of chasteDianaesblood,

(Goddesse of Maides, directresse of all good,)

Hit wholy is to chastity inclinde.

And thus it is: as far as I can proue,

He loues to be beloued, but not to loue.

SIghing, and sadly sitting by my Loue,He ask't the cause of my hearts sorrowing,Coniuring me by heauens eternall KingTo tell the cause which me so much did moue.Compell'd: (quoth I) to thee will I confesse,Loue is the cause; and only loue it isThat doth depriue me of my heauenly blisse.Loue is the paine that doth my heart oppresse.And what is she (quoth he) whom thou dos't loue?Looke in this glasse (quoth I) there shalt thou seeThe perfect forme of my fælicitie.When, thinking that it would strange Magique proueHe open'd it: and taking of the couer,He straight perceau'd himselfe to be my Louer.

Ighing, and sadly sitting by my Loue,

He ask't the cause of my hearts sorrowing,

Coniuring me by heauens eternall King

To tell the cause which me so much did moue.

Compell'd: (quoth I) to thee will I confesse,

Loue is the cause; and only loue it is

That doth depriue me of my heauenly blisse.

Loue is the paine that doth my heart oppresse.

And what is she (quoth he) whom thou dos't loue?

Looke in this glasse (quoth I) there shalt thou see

The perfect forme of my fælicitie.

When, thinking that it would strange Magique proue

He open'd it: and taking of the couer,

He straight perceau'd himselfe to be my Louer.

SOme talke ofGanymedeth'IdalianBoy,And some of faireAdonismake their boast,Some talke of him whom louelyLædalost,And some ofEcchoesloue that was so coy.They speake by heere-say, I of perfect truth,They partially commend the persons named,And for them, sweet Encomions haue framed:I onely t'him haue sacrifized my youth.As for those wonders of antiquitie,And those whom later ages haue inioy'd,(But ah what hath not cruell death destroide?Death, that enuies this worlds felicitie),They were (perhaps) lesse faire then Poets write.But he is fairer then I can indite.

Ome talke ofGanymedeth'IdalianBoy,

And some of faireAdonismake their boast,

Some talke of him whom louelyLædalost,

And some ofEcchoesloue that was so coy.

They speake by heere-say, I of perfect truth,

They partially commend the persons named,

And for them, sweet Encomions haue framed:

I onely t'him haue sacrifized my youth.

As for those wonders of antiquitie,

And those whom later ages haue inioy'd,

(But ah what hath not cruell death destroide?

Death, that enuies this worlds felicitie),

They were (perhaps) lesse faire then Poets write.

But he is fairer then I can indite.

SPeake Eccho, tell; how may I call my loue?Loue.But how his Lamps that are so christaline?Eyne.Oh happy starrs that make your heauens diuine:And happy Iems that admiration moue.How tearm'st his golden tresses wau'd with aire?Haire.Oh louely haire of your more-louely Maister,Image of loue, faire shape of Alablaster,Why do'st thou driue thy Louer to dispaire?How do'st thou cal the bed wher beuty grows?Rose.Faire virgine-Rose, whose mayden blossoms couerThe milke-white Lilly, thy imbracing Louer:Whose kisses makes thee oft thy red to lose.And blushing oft for shame, when he hath kist thee,He vades away, and thou raing'st where it list thee.

Peake Eccho, tell; how may I call my loue?Loue.

But how his Lamps that are so christaline?Eyne.

Oh happy starrs that make your heauens diuine:

And happy Iems that admiration moue.

How tearm'st his golden tresses wau'd with aire?Haire.

Oh louely haire of your more-louely Maister,

Image of loue, faire shape of Alablaster,

Why do'st thou driue thy Louer to dispaire?

How do'st thou cal the bed wher beuty grows?Rose.

Faire virgine-Rose, whose mayden blossoms couer

The milke-white Lilly, thy imbracing Louer:

Whose kisses makes thee oft thy red to lose.

And blushing oft for shame, when he hath kist thee,

He vades away, and thou raing'st where it list thee.

HEre, hold this gloue (this milk-white cheueril gloue)Not quaintly ouer-wrought with curious knots,Not deckt with golden spangs, nor siluer spots,Yet wholsome for thy hand as thou shalt proue.Ah no; (sweet boy) place this gloue neere thy heart,Weare it, and lodge it still within thy brest,So shalt thou make me (most vnhappy,) blest.So shalt thou rid my paine, and ease my smart:How can that be (perhaps) thou wilt reply,A gloue is for the hand not for the heart,Nor can it well be prou'd by common art,Nor reasons rule. To this, thus answere I:If thou from gloue do'st take away the g,Then gloue is loue: and so I send it thee.

Ere, hold this gloue (this milk-white cheueril gloue)

Not quaintly ouer-wrought with curious knots,

Not deckt with golden spangs, nor siluer spots,

Yet wholsome for thy hand as thou shalt proue.

Ah no; (sweet boy) place this gloue neere thy heart,

Weare it, and lodge it still within thy brest,

So shalt thou make me (most vnhappy,) blest.

So shalt thou rid my paine, and ease my smart:

How can that be (perhaps) thou wilt reply,

A gloue is for the hand not for the heart,

Nor can it well be prou'd by common art,

Nor reasons rule. To this, thus answere I:

If thou from gloue do'st take away the g,

Then gloue is loue: and so I send it thee.

A[H] fairestGanymede, disdaine me not,Though silly Sheepeheard I, presume to loue thee,Though my harsh songs and Sonnets cannot moue thee,Yet to thy beauty is my loue no blot.Apollo,Ioue, and many Gods beside,S' daind not the name of cuntry shepheards swainsNor want we pleasure, though we take some pains,We liue contentedly: a thing call'd pride,Which so corrupts the Court and euery place,(Each place I meane where learning is neglected,And yet of late, euen learnings selfe's infected)I know not what it meanes, in any case:Wee onely (whenMolorchusgins to peepe)Learne for to folde, and to vnfold our sheepe.

[H] fairestGanymede, disdaine me not,

Though silly Sheepeheard I, presume to loue thee,

Though my harsh songs and Sonnets cannot moue thee,

Yet to thy beauty is my loue no blot.

Apollo,Ioue, and many Gods beside,

S' daind not the name of cuntry shepheards swains

Nor want we pleasure, though we take some pains,

We liue contentedly: a thing call'd pride,

Which so corrupts the Court and euery place,

(Each place I meane where learning is neglected,

And yet of late, euen learnings selfe's infected)

I know not what it meanes, in any case:

Wee onely (whenMolorchusgins to peepe)

Learne for to folde, and to vnfold our sheepe.

LOng haue I long'd to see my Loue againe,Still haue I wisht, but neuer could obtaine it;Rather than all the world (if I might gaine it)Would I desire my loues sweet precious gaine.Yet in my soule I see him euerie day,See him, and see his still sterne countenaunce,But (ah) what is of long continuance,Where Maiestie and Beautie beares the sway?Sometimes, when I imagine that I see him,(As loue is full of foolish fantasies)VVeening to kisse his lips, as my loues fee's,I feele but Aire: nothing but Aire to bee him.Thus withIxion, kisse I clouds in vaine:Thus withIxion, feele I endles paine.

Ong haue I long'd to see my Loue againe,

Still haue I wisht, but neuer could obtaine it;

Rather than all the world (if I might gaine it)

Would I desire my loues sweet precious gaine.

Yet in my soule I see him euerie day,

See him, and see his still sterne countenaunce,

But (ah) what is of long continuance,

Where Maiestie and Beautie beares the sway?

Sometimes, when I imagine that I see him,

(As loue is full of foolish fantasies)

VVeening to kisse his lips, as my loues fee's,

I feele but Aire: nothing but Aire to bee him.

Thus withIxion, kisse I clouds in vaine:

Thus withIxion, feele I endles paine.

CHerry-liptAdonisin his snowie shape,Might not compare with his pure Iuorie white,On whose faire front a Poets pen may write,Whose rosiate red excels the crimson grape,His loue-enticing delicate soft limbs,Are rarely fram'd t'intrap poore gazing eies:His cheekes, the Lillie and Carnation dies,With louely tincture whichApolloesdims.His lips ripe strawberries in Nectar wet,His mouth a Hiue, his tongue a hony-combe,Where Muses (like Bees) make their mansion.His teeth pure Pearle in blushing Correll set.Oh how can such a body sinne-procuring,Be slow to loue, and quicke to hate, enduring?

Herry-liptAdonisin his snowie shape,

Might not compare with his pure Iuorie white,

On whose faire front a Poets pen may write,

Whose rosiate red excels the crimson grape,

His loue-enticing delicate soft limbs,

Are rarely fram'd t'intrap poore gazing eies:

His cheekes, the Lillie and Carnation dies,

With louely tincture whichApolloesdims.

His lips ripe strawberries in Nectar wet,

His mouth a Hiue, his tongue a hony-combe,

Where Muses (like Bees) make their mansion.

His teeth pure Pearle in blushing Correll set.

Oh how can such a body sinne-procuring,

Be slow to loue, and quicke to hate, enduring?

NOtMegabætesnorCleonymus,(Of whom greatPlutarchmakes such mention,Praysing their faire with rare inuention)AsGanymedewere halfe so beauteous.They onely pleas'd the eies of two great Kings,But all the worlde at my loue stands amazed,Nor one that on his Angels face hath gazed,But (rauisht with delight) him Presents brings.Some weaning Lambs, and some a suckling Kyd,Some Nuts, and fil-beards, others Peares and Plums,Another with a milk-white Heyfar comes;As latelyÆgonsman (Damætas) did:But neither he, nor all the Nymphs beside,Can win myGanymede, with them t'abide.

OtMegabætesnorCleonymus,

(Of whom greatPlutarchmakes such mention,

Praysing their faire with rare inuention)

AsGanymedewere halfe so beauteous.

They onely pleas'd the eies of two great Kings,

But all the worlde at my loue stands amazed,

Nor one that on his Angels face hath gazed,

But (rauisht with delight) him Presents brings.

Some weaning Lambs, and some a suckling Kyd,

Some Nuts, and fil-beards, others Peares and Plums,

Another with a milk-white Heyfar comes;

As latelyÆgonsman (Damætas) did:

But neither he, nor all the Nymphs beside,

Can win myGanymede, with them t'abide.

AH no; nor I my selfe: though my pure loue(SweeteGanymede) to thee hath still beene pure,And euen till my last gaspe shall aie endure,Could euer thy obdurate beuty moue:Then cease oh Goddesse sonne (for sure thou art,A Goddesse sonne that canst resist desire)Cease thy hard heart, and entertaine loues fire,Within thy sacred breast: by Natures art.And as I loue thee more then any Creature,(Loue thee, because thy beautie is diuine;Loue thee, because my selfe, my soule is thine:Wholie deuoted to thy louelie feature),Euen so of all the vowels, I and V,Are dearest vnto me, as doth ensue.

H no; nor I my selfe: though my pure loue

(SweeteGanymede) to thee hath still beene pure,

And euen till my last gaspe shall aie endure,

Could euer thy obdurate beuty moue:

Then cease oh Goddesse sonne (for sure thou art,

A Goddesse sonne that canst resist desire)

Cease thy hard heart, and entertaine loues fire,

Within thy sacred breast: by Natures art.

And as I loue thee more then any Creature,

(Loue thee, because thy beautie is diuine;

Loue thee, because my selfe, my soule is thine:

Wholie deuoted to thy louelie feature),

Euen so of all the vowels, I and V,

Are dearest vnto me, as doth ensue.

BUt now my Muse toyld with continuall care,Begins to faint, and slacke her former pace,Expecting fauour from that heauenly grace,That maie (in time) her feeble strength repaire.Till when (sweete youth) th'essence of my soule,(Thou that dost sit and sing at my hearts griefe.Thou that dost send thy shepheard no reliefe)Beholde, these lines; the sonnes of Teares and Dole.Ah had greatColinchiefe of sheepheards all,Or gentleRowland, my professed friend,Had they thy beautie, or my pennance pend,Greater had beene thy fame, and lesse my fall:But since that euerie one cannot be wittie,Pardon I craue of them, and of thee, pitty.

Ut now my Muse toyld with continuall care,

Begins to faint, and slacke her former pace,

Expecting fauour from that heauenly grace,

That maie (in time) her feeble strength repaire.

Till when (sweete youth) th'essence of my soule,

(Thou that dost sit and sing at my hearts griefe.

Thou that dost send thy shepheard no reliefe)

Beholde, these lines; the sonnes of Teares and Dole.

Ah had greatColinchiefe of sheepheards all,

Or gentleRowland, my professed friend,

Had they thy beautie, or my pennance pend,

Greater had beene thy fame, and lesse my fall:

But since that euerie one cannot be wittie,

Pardon I craue of them, and of thee, pitty.

FINIS.

NIghts were short, and daies were long;Blossoms on the Hauthorn's hung:Philomœle(Night-Musiques-King)Tolde the comming of the spring.Whose sweete siluer-sounding voiceMade the little birds reioice:Skipping light from spray to spray,TillAurorashew'd the day.Scarce might one see, when I might see(For such chaunces sudden bee)By a well of Marble-stoneA Shepheard lying all alone.Weepe he did; and his weepingMade the fading flowers spring.Daphniswas his name (I weene)Youngest Swaine of Summers Queene.WhenAurorasaw 'twas he.Weepe she did for companie:Weepe she did for her sweete sonneThat (when antiqueTroywas wonne)Suffer'd death by lucklesse fate,Whom she now laments too late:And each morning (by Cocks crew)Showers downe her siluer dew.Whose teares (falling from their spring)Giue moysture to each liuing thing,That on earth increase and grow,Through power of their friendlie foe.Whose effect whenFlorafelt,Teares, that did her bosome melt,(For who can resist teares often,But Shee whom no teares can soften?)Peering straite aboue the banks,Shew'd herselfe to giue her thanks.Wondring thus at Natures worke,(Wherein many maruailes lurke)Me thought I heard a dolefull noise,Consorted with a mournfull voice,Drawing nie to heare more plaine,Heare I did, vnto my paine,(For who is not pain'd to heareHim in griefe whom heart holdes deare?)Silly swaine (with griefe ore-gone)Thus to make his piteous mone.Loue I did, (alas the while)Loue I did, but did beguileMy deare loue with louing so,(VVhom as then I did not know.)Loue I did the fairest boy,That these fields did ere enioy.Loue I did, fairGanymed;(Venusdarling, beauties bed:)Him I thought the fairest creature;Him the quintessence of Nature:But yet (alas) I was deceiu'd,(Loue of reason is bereau'd)For since then I saw a Lasse.(Lasse) that did in beauty passe,(Passe) faireGanymedeas farreAsPhœbusdoth the smallest starre.Loue commaunded me to loue;Fancy bade me not remoueMy affection from the swaineWhich he cannot graunt the crauer?)Loue at last (though loath) preuailde;(Loue) that so my heart assailde;Whom I neuer could obtaine:(For who can obtaine that fauour,Wounding me with her faire eies,(Ah how Loue can subtelize,And deuize a thousand shifts,How to worke men to his drifts.)Her it is, for whom I mourne;Her, for whom my life I scorne;Her, for whom I weepe all day;Her, for whom I sigh, and say,Either She, or els no creature,Shall enioy my loue: whose featureThough I neuer can obtaine,Yet shall my true loue remaine:Till (my body turn'd to clay)My poore soule must passe away,To the heauens; where (I hope)Hit shall finde a resting scope:Then since I loued thee (alone)Remember me when I am gone.Scarce had he these last words spoken,But me thought his heart was broken;With great griefe that did abound,(Cares and griefe the heart confound)In whose heart (thus riu'd in three)Elizawritten I might see:In Caracters of crimson blood,(VVhose meaning well I vnderstood.)Which, for my heart might not behold,I hyed me home my sheep to folde.

Ights were short, and daies were long;

Blossoms on the Hauthorn's hung:

Philomœle(Night-Musiques-King)

Tolde the comming of the spring.

Whose sweete siluer-sounding voice

Made the little birds reioice:

Skipping light from spray to spray,

TillAurorashew'd the day.

Scarce might one see, when I might see

(For such chaunces sudden bee)

By a well of Marble-stone

A Shepheard lying all alone.

Weepe he did; and his weeping

Made the fading flowers spring.

Daphniswas his name (I weene)

Youngest Swaine of Summers Queene.

WhenAurorasaw 'twas he.

Weepe she did for companie:

Weepe she did for her sweete sonne

That (when antiqueTroywas wonne)

Suffer'd death by lucklesse fate,

Whom she now laments too late:

And each morning (by Cocks crew)

Showers downe her siluer dew.

Whose teares (falling from their spring)

Giue moysture to each liuing thing,

That on earth increase and grow,

Through power of their friendlie foe.

Whose effect whenFlorafelt,

Teares, that did her bosome melt,

(For who can resist teares often,

But Shee whom no teares can soften?)

Peering straite aboue the banks,

Shew'd herselfe to giue her thanks.

Wondring thus at Natures worke,

(Wherein many maruailes lurke)

Me thought I heard a dolefull noise,

Consorted with a mournfull voice,

Drawing nie to heare more plaine,

Heare I did, vnto my paine,

(For who is not pain'd to heare

Him in griefe whom heart holdes deare?)

Silly swaine (with griefe ore-gone)

Thus to make his piteous mone.

Loue I did, (alas the while)

Loue I did, but did beguile

My deare loue with louing so,

(VVhom as then I did not know.)

Loue I did the fairest boy,

That these fields did ere enioy.

Loue I did, fairGanymed;

(Venusdarling, beauties bed:)

Him I thought the fairest creature;

Him the quintessence of Nature:

But yet (alas) I was deceiu'd,

(Loue of reason is bereau'd)

For since then I saw a Lasse.

(Lasse) that did in beauty passe,

(Passe) faireGanymedeas farre

AsPhœbusdoth the smallest starre.

Loue commaunded me to loue;

Fancy bade me not remoue

My affection from the swaine

Which he cannot graunt the crauer?)

Loue at last (though loath) preuailde;

(Loue) that so my heart assailde;

Whom I neuer could obtaine:

(For who can obtaine that fauour,

Wounding me with her faire eies,

(Ah how Loue can subtelize,

And deuize a thousand shifts,

How to worke men to his drifts.)

Her it is, for whom I mourne;

Her, for whom my life I scorne;

Her, for whom I weepe all day;

Her, for whom I sigh, and say,

Either She, or els no creature,

Shall enioy my loue: whose feature

Though I neuer can obtaine,

Yet shall my true loue remaine:

Till (my body turn'd to clay)

My poore soule must passe away,

To the heauens; where (I hope)

Hit shall finde a resting scope:

Then since I loued thee (alone)

Remember me when I am gone.

Scarce had he these last words spoken,

But me thought his heart was broken;

With great griefe that did abound,

(Cares and griefe the heart confound)

In whose heart (thus riu'd in three)

Elizawritten I might see:

In Caracters of crimson blood,

(VVhose meaning well I vnderstood.)

Which, for my heart might not behold,

I hyed me home my sheep to folde.

FINIS.

VPona gorgious gold embossed bed,With Tissue curtaines drawne against the sunne,(Which gazers eies into amazement led,So curiously the workmanship was done,)Lay faireCassandra, in her snowie smocke,Whose lips the Rubies and the pearles did locke.And from her Iuory front hung dangling downe,A bush of long and louely curled haire;VVhose head impalled with a precious CrowneOf orient Pearle, made her to seeme more faire:And yet more faire she hardly could be thought,Then Loue and Nature in her face had wrought.By this, youngPhœbusrising from the East,Had tane a view of this rare Paragon:Wherewith he soone his radiant beames addresst,And with great ioy her (sleeping) gazed vpon:Til at the last, through her light cazements cleare,He stole a kisse; and softly call'd her Deare.Yet not so softly but (therwith awak't,)Shee gins to open her faire christall couers,Wherewith the wounded God, for terror quakt,(Viewing those darts that kill disdained louers:)And blushing red to see himselfe so shamedHe scorns his Coach, and his owne beauty blamed.Now with a trice he leaues the azure skies,(As whilomeIouedid atEuropaesrape,)And rauisht with her loue-a[l]luring eies,He turns himselfe into a humane shape:And that his wish the sooner might ensue,He sutes himselfe like one ofVenuscrew.Vpon his head he wore a Hunters hatOf crimson veluet, spangd with stars of gold,Which grac'd his louely face: and ouer thatA siluer hatband ritchly to behold:On his left shoulder hung a loose Tyara,As whilome vs'd fairePenthesilea.FairePenthesileath'AmazonianQueene,When she to Troy came with her warlike band,Of braue Viragoes glorious to be scene;Whose manlike force no power might withstand:So look'tApolloin his lonely weedes,As he vnto the Troian Damzell speedes.Not faire,Adonisin his chiefest pride,Did seeme more faire, then youngApolloseemed,When he through th'aire inuisibly did glide,T'obtaine his Loue, which he Angelike deemed;Whom finding in her chamber all alone,He thus begins t'expresse his piteous mone.O fairest, faire, aboue all faires (quoth hee)If euer Loue obtained Ladies fauour,Then shew thy selfe compassionate to me,Whose head surpriz'd with thy diuine behauior,Yeelds my selfe captiue to thy conqu'ring eies:O then shew mercy, do not tyrannize.Scarce hadApollovtter'd these last words(Rayning downe pearle from his immortall eies)When she for answere, naught but feare affords,Filling the place with lamentable cries:ButPhœbusfearing much these raging fits,With sugred kisses sweetely charm'd her lips.(And tells her softly in her softer eare)That he a God is, and no mortall creature:Wherewith abandoning all needlesse feare,(A common frailtie of weake womans nature)She boldly askes him of his deitie,Gracing her question with her wanton eie.Which charge to him no sooner was assignde,But taking faireCassandraby the hand(The true bewraier of his secrete minde)He first begins to let her vnderstand,That he fromDemogorgonwas descended:Father of th'Earth, of Gods and men commended.The tenor of which tale he now recites,Closing each period with a rauisht kisse:Which kindnes, she vnwillingly requites,Conioyning oft her Corrall lips to his:Not that she lou'd the loue of any one;But that she meant to cozen him anone.Hee briefly t'her relates his pedegree:The sonne ofIoue, sole guider of the sunne,He that sluePythonso victoriouslie,He that the name of wisdomes God hath wonne,The God of Musique, and of Poetry:Of Phisicke, Learning, and Chirurgery.All which he eloquently reckons vp,That she might know how great a God he was:And being charm'd withCupid'sgolden cupHe partiallie vnto her praise doth passe,Calling her tipe of honour, Queen of beauty:To whom all eies owe tributary duety.I loued once, (quoth hee) aie me I lou'd,As faire a shape as euer nature framed:Had she not been so hard t'haue beene remou'd,By birth a sea-Nymph; cruellDaphnenamed:Whom, for shee would not to my will agree,The Gods transform'd into a Laurell tree.Ah therefore be not, (with that word he kist her)Be not (quot[h] he) so proud asDaphnewas:Ne care thou for the anger of my sister,She cannot, nay she shall not hurt myCass:For if she doe, I vow (by dreadfull night)Neuer againe to lend her of my light.This said: he sweetly doth imbrace his loue,Yoaking his armes about her Iuory necke:And calls her wantonVenusmilk-white Doue,VVhose ruddie lips the damaske roses decke.And euer as his tongue compiles her praise,Loue daintie Dimples in her cheekes doth raise.And meaning now to worke her stratagemVpon the silly God, that thinks none ill,She hugs him in her armes, and kisses him;(Th'easlyer to intice him to her will.)And being not able to maintaine the feeld,Thus she begins (or rather seemes) to yeeld.VVoon with thy words, and rauisht with my beauty,Loe hereCassandrayeelds her selfe to thee,Requiring nothing for thy vowed duety,But only firmnesse, Loue, and secrecy:Which for that now (euen now) I meane to try thee,A boone I crave; which thou canst not deny me.Scarce were these honywords breath'd from her lips,But he, supposing that she ment good-faith,Her filed tongues temptations interceps;And (like a Nouice,) thus to her he saith:Aske what thou wilt, and I will giue it thee;Health, wealth, long life, wit, art, or dignitie.Here-with she blushing red, (for shame did addeA crimson tincture to her palish hew,)Seeming in outward semblance passing glad,(As one that th'end of her petition knew)She makes him sweare by vglyAcheron,That he his promise should performe anon.Which done: relying on his sacred oath,She askes of him the gift of prophecie:He (silent) giues consent: though seeming loathTo grant so much to fraile mortalitie:But since that he his vowes maie not recall,He giues to her the sp'rite propheticall.But she no sooner had obtain'd her wish,VVhen straite vnpris'ning her lasciuiuous armesFrom his softe bosom (th'aluary of blisse)She chastely counterchecks loues hote alarmes:And fearing lest his presence might offend her,She slips aside; and (absent) doth defend her.(Muliere ne credas, ne mortuæ quidem.)Looke how a brightsome Planet in the skie,(Spangling the Welkin with a golden spot)Shootes suddenly from the beholders eie,And leaues him looking there where she is not:Euen so amazedPhœbus(to descrie her)Lookes all about, but no where can espie her.Not th'hungry Lyon, hauing lost his pray,With greater furie runneth through the wood,(Making no signe of momentarie staie,Till he haue satisfi'd himslfe with blood,)Then angryPhœbusmounts into the skie:Threatning the world with his hot-burning eie.Now nimbly to his glist'ring Coach he skips,And churlishlie ascends his loftie chaire,Yerking his head strong Iades with yron whips,Whose fearefull neighing ecchoes through the aire,Snorting out fierie Sulphure from theire nosethrils:Whose deadly damp the worlds poore people kils.Him leaue me (for a while) amids the heauens,VVreaking his anger on his sturdie steedes:Whose speedful course the day and night now eeuens,(The earth dis-robed of her summer weedes)And nowe black-mantled night with her browne vaile,Couers each thing that all the world might quaile.When loe,Cassandralying at her rest,(Her rest were restlesse thoughts:) it so befell,Her minde with multitude of cares opprest,Requir'd some sleepe her passions to expell:Which when sadMorpheuswill did vnderstand,He clos'd her eie-lids with his leaden hand.Now sleepeth shee: and as shee sleepes, beholde;Shee seemes to see the God whom late shee wrongedStanding before her; whose fierce looks vnfold,His hidden wrath (to whom iust ire belonged)Seeing, shee sighs, and sighing quak't for feare,To see the shaddow of her shame appeare.Betwixt amaze and dread as shee thus stands,The fearefull vision drew more neere vnto her:Aud pynioning her armes in captiue bandsSo sure, that mortall wight may not vndoe her,He with a bloudy knife (oh cruell part,)With raging fury stabd her to the heart.Heerewith awaking from her slumbring sleepe,(For feare, and care, are enemies to rest:)At such time asAuroragins to peepeAnd shew her selfe; far orient in the East:Shee heard a voice which said: O wicked woman,Why dost thou stil the gods to vengeance summon?Thou shalt (indeede) fore-tell of things to come;And truely, too; (for why my vowes are past)But heare the end ofIoueseternall doome:Because thy promise did so little last,Although thou tell the truth, (this gift I giue thee)Yet for thy falsehood, no man shall beleeue thee.And (for thy sake) this pennance I imposeVpon the remnant of all woman kinde,For that they be such truth professed foes;A constant woman shall be hard to finde:And that all flesh at my dread name may tremble,When they weep most, then shall they most dissemble.This saidApollothen: And since that timeHis words haue proved true as Oracles:Whose turning thoughtes ambitiously doe climeTo heauens height; and world with lightnes fils:Whose sex are subject to inconstancie,As other creatures are to destinie.Yet famousSabrineon thy banks doth restThe fairest Maide that euer world admired:Whose constant minde, with heauenly gifts possestMakes her rare selfe of all the world desired.In whose chaste thoughts no vanitie doth enter;So pure a mindeEndymionsLove hath lent her.Queene of my thoughts, but subiect of my verse,(DivineEliza) pardon my defect:Whose artlesse pen so rudely doth reherseThy beauties worth; (for want of due respect)Oh pardon thou the follies of my youth;Pardon my faith, my loue, my zeale, my truth.But toCassandranow: who hauing heardThe cruell sentence of the threatning voice;At length (too late) begins to waxe affeard,Lamenting much her vnrepentant choice:And seeing her hard hap without reliefe,She sheeds salt teares in token of her griefe.Which whenAurorasaw, and saw t'was shee,Euen shee her selfe whose far-renowmed fameMade all the world to wonder at her beauty,It mou'd compassion in this ruthfull Dame:And thinking on her Sonnes sad destinie,With mournfull teares she beares her companie.Great was the mone, which faireCassandramade:Greater the kindnesse, whichAurorashew'd:Whose sorrow with the sunne began to fade,And her moist teares on th'earths green grasse bestow'd:Kissing the flowers with her siluer dew,Whose fading beautie, seem'd her case to rew.Scarce was the lonely Easterne Queene departed,From statelyIlion(whose proud-reared walsSeem'd to controule the cloudes, tillVulcandartedAgainst their Tower his burning fier-bals)When sweetCassandra(leauing her soft bed)In seemely sort her selfe apparelled.And hearing that her honourable Sire,(Old princelyPryamus Troy'saged King)Was gone intoIouesTemple, to conspireAgainst theGreekes, (whom he to war did bring)Shee, (like a Furie), in a bedlam rage,Runs gadding thither, his fell wrath t'assuage.But not preuailing: truely she fore-toldeThe fall ofTroy(with bold erected face:)They count her hare-brain'd, mad, and ouer-bold,To presse in presence in so graue a place:But in meane seasonParishe is gone,To bring destruction on faireIlion.What, ten-yeeres siedge by force could not subuert,That, two false traitors in one night destroi'd:Who richly guerdon'd for their bad desert,Was ofÆneasbut small time inioi'd:Who, for concealement ofAchillesloue,Was banished; fromIlionto remoue.KingPryamdead and all the Troians slaine;(His sonnes, his friends and deere confederates)And lots now cast for captiues that remaine,(Whom Death hath spared for more cruell fates)Cassandrathen toAgamemnonfell,With whom a Lemman she disdain'd to dwell.She, weepes; he, wooes; he would, but she would not:He, tell's his birth; shee, pleades virginitie:He saith, selfe-pride doth rarest beauty blot:(And with that word he kist her louingly:)Shee, yeeldingly resists; he faines to die:Shee, fall's for feare; he, on her feareleslie.But this braue generall of all theGreekes,Was quickly foyled at a womans hands,For who so rashly such incounters seekes,Of hard mis-hap in danger euer stands:Onely chaste thoughts, vertuous abstinence,Gainst such sweet poyson is the sur'st defence.But who can shun the force of beauties blow?Who is not rauisht with a lonely looke?Grac'd with a wanton eie, (the hearts dumb show)Such fish are taken with a siluer hooke:And when true loue cannot these pearles obtaineVnguentum Albumis the only meane.Farre be it from my thought (diuinest Maid)To haue relation to thy heauenly hew,(In whose sweete voice the Muses are imbaid)No pen can paint thy commendation due:Saue only that pen, which no pen can be,An Angels quill, to make a pen for thee.But to returne to these vnhappie Louers,(Sleeping securely in each others armes)Whose sugred ioies nights sable mantle couers,Little regarding their ensuing harmes:Which afterward they iointlie both repented:"Fate is fore-seene, but neuer is preuented."Which saying to be true, this lucklesse DameApproued in the sequele of her story:Now waxing pale, now blushing red (for shame),She scales her lips with silence (womens glory)TillAgamemnonvrging her replies,Thus of his death she truely prophecies.The day shall come, (quoth she) O dismal daie!When thou by falseÆgistusshalt be slaine:Heere could she tell no more; but made a stay.(From further speech as willing to refraine:)Not knowing then, nor little did she thinke,That she with him of that same cup must drinke.But what? (fond man) he laughs her skil to scorne,And iesteth at her diuination:Ah to what vnbeliefe are Princes borne?(The onely ouer-throw of many a Nation:)And so it did befall this lucklesse Prince,Whom all the world hath much lamented since.Insteede of teares, he smileth at her tale:Insteede of griefe, he makes great shew of gladnes:But after blisse, there euer followes bale;And after mirth, there alwaies commeth sadnes:But gladnesse, blisse, and mirth had so possest him,That sadnes, bale, and griefe could not molest him.Oh cruellParcæ(quothCassandrathen)Why are youParcæ, yet not mou'd with praier?Oh small security of mortall men,That liue on earth, and breathe this vitall aire:When we laugh most, then are we next to sorrow;The Birds feede vs to-day, we them to-morrow.But if the first did little moue his minde,Her later speeches lesse with him preuailed;Who beinge wholy to selfe-will inclinde,Deemes her weake braine with lunacy assailed:And still the more shee councels him to stay,The more he striueth to make haste away.How on the Seas he scap'd stormes, rocks and sholes,(Seas that enuide the conquest he had wone,Gaping like hell to swallow Greekish soules,)I heere omit; onely suppose it done:His storm-tyrde Barke safely brings him to shore,His whole Fleete els, or suncke or lost before.Lift vp thy head, thou ashie-cyndredTroy,See the commaunder of thy traitor foes,That made thy last nights woe, his first daies ioie,Now gins his night of ioy and daie of woes:His fall be thy delight, thine was his pride:As he thee then, so now thou him deride.He andCassandranow are set on shore,Which he salutes with ioy, she greetes with teares,Currors are sent that poast to Court before,Whose tidings fill th'adultrous Queene with feares,Who withÆgistusin a lust-staind bed,Her selfe, her King, her State dishonored.She wakes the lecher with a loud-strain'd shrike,Loue-toies they leaue, now doth lament begin:He flie (quoth he) but she doth that mislike,Guilt vnto guilt, and sinne she ads to sinne:Shee meanes to kill (immodest loue to couer)A kingly husband, for a caytiue louer.The peoples ioies, conceiued at his returne,Their thronging multitudes: their gladsome cries,Their gleeful hymnes, whiles piles of incense burne:Their publique shewes, kept at solemnities:We passe: and tell how King and Queene did meet,Where he with zeale, she him with guile did greet.He (noble Lord) fearelesse of hidden treason,Sweetely salutes this weeping Crocodile:Excusing euery cause with instant reasonThat kept him from her sight so long a while:She, faintly pardons him; smiling by Art:(For life was in her lookes, death in her hart.)For pledge that I am pleas'd receiue (quoth shee)This rich wrought robe, thyClytemnestrastoile:Her ten yeeres worke this day shall honour thee,For ten yeeres war, and one daies glorious spoile:Whil'st thou contendedst there, I heere did this:Weare it my loue, my life, my ioy, my blisse.Scarce had the Syren said what I haue write,But he (kind Prince) by her milde words misled,Receiu'd the robe, to trie if it were fit;(The robe) that had no issue for his head;Which, whilst he vainly hoped to haue found,Ægistuspierst him with a mortal wound.Oh how theTroyanDamzell was amazedTo see so fell and bloudy a Tragedie,Performed in one Act; she naught but gazed,Vpon the picture; whom shee dead did see,Before her face: whose body she emballms,With brennish teares, and sudden deadly qualms.Faine would she haue fled backe on her swift horseButClytemnestrabad her be content,Her time was com'n: now bootelesse vsd she force,Against so many; whom this Tygresse sentTo apprehend her: who (within one howerBrought backe againe) was lockt within a Tower.Now is she ioylesse, friendlesse, and (in fine)Without all hope of further libertie:Insteed of cates, cold water was her wine,AndAgamemnonscorps her meate must be,Or els she must for hunger starue (poore sole)What could she do but make great mone and dole.So darke the dungeon was, wherein she was,That neither Sunne (by day) nor Mone (by night)Did shew themselues: and thus it came to passe.The Sunne denide to lend his glorious lightTo such a periur'd wight, or to be scene;(What neede she light, that ouer-light had bin?)Now silent night drew on; when all things sleepe,Saue theeves, and cares; and now stil mid-night came:When sadCassandradid naught els but weepe;Oft calling on herAgamemnonsname.But seeing that the dead did not replie,Thus she begins to mourne, lament, and crie.Oh cruell Fortune (mother of despaire,)Well art thou christen'd with a cruell name:Since thou regardest not the wise, or faire,But do'st bestow thy riches (to thy shame)On fooles and lowly swaines, that care not for thee:And yet I weepe, and yet thou do'st abhorre me.Fie on ambition, fie on filthy pride,The roote of ill, the cause of all my woe:On whose fraile yce my youth first slipt aside:And falling downe, receiu'd a fatall blow.Ah who hath liu'd to see such miserieAs I haue done, and yet I cannot die?I liu'd (quoth she) to seeTroyset on fire:I liu'd to see, renownedHectorslaine:I liu'd to see, the shame of my desire:And yet I liue, to feel my grieuous paine:Let all young maides example take by me,To keepe their oathes, and spotlesse chastity.Happy are they, that neuer liu'd to knowWhat 'tis to liue in this world happily:Happy are they which neuer yet felt woe:Happy are they, that die in infancie:Whose sins are cancell'd in their mothers wombe:Whose cradle is their graue, whose lap their tomb.Here ended shee; and then her teares began,That (Chorus-like) at euery word downe rained.Which like a paire of christall fountaines ran,Along her lonely cheekes: with roses stained:Which as they wither still (for want of raine)Those siluer showers water them againe.Now had the poore-mans clock (shrill chauntcleare)Twice giuen notice of the Mornes approach,(That then began in glorie to appeare,Drawne in her stately colour'd saffron-Coach)When shee (poore Lady) almost turn'd to teares,Began to teare and rend her golden haires.Lie there (quoth shee) the workers of my woesYou trifling toies, which my liues staine haue bin:You, by whose meanes our coines chiefly growes,Clothing the backe with pride, the soule with sin:Lie there (quoth shee) the causers of my care;This said, her robes she all in pieces tare.Here-with, as weary of her wretched life,(Which shee inioy'd with small felicitie)She ends her fortune with a fatall knife;(First day of ioy, last day of miserie:)Then why is death accounted Nature's foe,Since death (indeed) is but the end of woe?For as by death, her bodie was releasedFrom that strong prison made of lime and stone;Euen so by death her purest soule was eased,From bodies prison, and from endlesse mone:Where now shee walkes in sweeteElysium(The place for wrongful Death and Martirdum.)

Pona gorgious gold embossed bed,

With Tissue curtaines drawne against the sunne,

(Which gazers eies into amazement led,

So curiously the workmanship was done,)

Lay faireCassandra, in her snowie smocke,

Whose lips the Rubies and the pearles did locke.

And from her Iuory front hung dangling downe,A bush of long and louely curled haire;VVhose head impalled with a precious CrowneOf orient Pearle, made her to seeme more faire:And yet more faire she hardly could be thought,Then Loue and Nature in her face had wrought.

And from her Iuory front hung dangling downe,

A bush of long and louely curled haire;

VVhose head impalled with a precious Crowne

Of orient Pearle, made her to seeme more faire:

And yet more faire she hardly could be thought,

Then Loue and Nature in her face had wrought.

By this, youngPhœbusrising from the East,Had tane a view of this rare Paragon:Wherewith he soone his radiant beames addresst,And with great ioy her (sleeping) gazed vpon:Til at the last, through her light cazements cleare,He stole a kisse; and softly call'd her Deare.

By this, youngPhœbusrising from the East,

Had tane a view of this rare Paragon:

Wherewith he soone his radiant beames addresst,

And with great ioy her (sleeping) gazed vpon:

Til at the last, through her light cazements cleare,

He stole a kisse; and softly call'd her Deare.

Yet not so softly but (therwith awak't,)Shee gins to open her faire christall couers,Wherewith the wounded God, for terror quakt,(Viewing those darts that kill disdained louers:)And blushing red to see himselfe so shamedHe scorns his Coach, and his owne beauty blamed.

Yet not so softly but (therwith awak't,)

Shee gins to open her faire christall couers,

Wherewith the wounded God, for terror quakt,

(Viewing those darts that kill disdained louers:)

And blushing red to see himselfe so shamed

He scorns his Coach, and his owne beauty blamed.

Now with a trice he leaues the azure skies,(As whilomeIouedid atEuropaesrape,)And rauisht with her loue-a[l]luring eies,He turns himselfe into a humane shape:And that his wish the sooner might ensue,He sutes himselfe like one ofVenuscrew.

Now with a trice he leaues the azure skies,

(As whilomeIouedid atEuropaesrape,)

And rauisht with her loue-a[l]luring eies,

He turns himselfe into a humane shape:

And that his wish the sooner might ensue,

He sutes himselfe like one ofVenuscrew.

Vpon his head he wore a Hunters hatOf crimson veluet, spangd with stars of gold,Which grac'd his louely face: and ouer thatA siluer hatband ritchly to behold:On his left shoulder hung a loose Tyara,As whilome vs'd fairePenthesilea.

Vpon his head he wore a Hunters hat

Of crimson veluet, spangd with stars of gold,

Which grac'd his louely face: and ouer that

A siluer hatband ritchly to behold:

On his left shoulder hung a loose Tyara,

As whilome vs'd fairePenthesilea.

FairePenthesileath'AmazonianQueene,When she to Troy came with her warlike band,Of braue Viragoes glorious to be scene;Whose manlike force no power might withstand:So look'tApolloin his lonely weedes,As he vnto the Troian Damzell speedes.

FairePenthesileath'AmazonianQueene,

When she to Troy came with her warlike band,

Of braue Viragoes glorious to be scene;

Whose manlike force no power might withstand:

So look'tApolloin his lonely weedes,

As he vnto the Troian Damzell speedes.

Not faire,Adonisin his chiefest pride,Did seeme more faire, then youngApolloseemed,When he through th'aire inuisibly did glide,T'obtaine his Loue, which he Angelike deemed;Whom finding in her chamber all alone,He thus begins t'expresse his piteous mone.

Not faire,Adonisin his chiefest pride,

Did seeme more faire, then youngApolloseemed,

When he through th'aire inuisibly did glide,

T'obtaine his Loue, which he Angelike deemed;

Whom finding in her chamber all alone,

He thus begins t'expresse his piteous mone.

O fairest, faire, aboue all faires (quoth hee)If euer Loue obtained Ladies fauour,Then shew thy selfe compassionate to me,Whose head surpriz'd with thy diuine behauior,Yeelds my selfe captiue to thy conqu'ring eies:O then shew mercy, do not tyrannize.

O fairest, faire, aboue all faires (quoth hee)

If euer Loue obtained Ladies fauour,

Then shew thy selfe compassionate to me,

Whose head surpriz'd with thy diuine behauior,

Yeelds my selfe captiue to thy conqu'ring eies:

O then shew mercy, do not tyrannize.

Scarce hadApollovtter'd these last words(Rayning downe pearle from his immortall eies)When she for answere, naught but feare affords,Filling the place with lamentable cries:ButPhœbusfearing much these raging fits,With sugred kisses sweetely charm'd her lips.

Scarce hadApollovtter'd these last words

(Rayning downe pearle from his immortall eies)

When she for answere, naught but feare affords,

Filling the place with lamentable cries:

ButPhœbusfearing much these raging fits,

With sugred kisses sweetely charm'd her lips.

(And tells her softly in her softer eare)That he a God is, and no mortall creature:Wherewith abandoning all needlesse feare,(A common frailtie of weake womans nature)She boldly askes him of his deitie,Gracing her question with her wanton eie.

(And tells her softly in her softer eare)

That he a God is, and no mortall creature:

Wherewith abandoning all needlesse feare,

(A common frailtie of weake womans nature)

She boldly askes him of his deitie,

Gracing her question with her wanton eie.

Which charge to him no sooner was assignde,But taking faireCassandraby the hand(The true bewraier of his secrete minde)He first begins to let her vnderstand,That he fromDemogorgonwas descended:Father of th'Earth, of Gods and men commended.

Which charge to him no sooner was assignde,

But taking faireCassandraby the hand

(The true bewraier of his secrete minde)

He first begins to let her vnderstand,

That he fromDemogorgonwas descended:

Father of th'Earth, of Gods and men commended.

The tenor of which tale he now recites,Closing each period with a rauisht kisse:Which kindnes, she vnwillingly requites,Conioyning oft her Corrall lips to his:Not that she lou'd the loue of any one;But that she meant to cozen him anone.

The tenor of which tale he now recites,

Closing each period with a rauisht kisse:

Which kindnes, she vnwillingly requites,

Conioyning oft her Corrall lips to his:

Not that she lou'd the loue of any one;

But that she meant to cozen him anone.

Hee briefly t'her relates his pedegree:The sonne ofIoue, sole guider of the sunne,He that sluePythonso victoriouslie,He that the name of wisdomes God hath wonne,The God of Musique, and of Poetry:Of Phisicke, Learning, and Chirurgery.

Hee briefly t'her relates his pedegree:

The sonne ofIoue, sole guider of the sunne,

He that sluePythonso victoriouslie,

He that the name of wisdomes God hath wonne,

The God of Musique, and of Poetry:

Of Phisicke, Learning, and Chirurgery.

All which he eloquently reckons vp,That she might know how great a God he was:And being charm'd withCupid'sgolden cupHe partiallie vnto her praise doth passe,Calling her tipe of honour, Queen of beauty:To whom all eies owe tributary duety.

All which he eloquently reckons vp,

That she might know how great a God he was:

And being charm'd withCupid'sgolden cup

He partiallie vnto her praise doth passe,

Calling her tipe of honour, Queen of beauty:

To whom all eies owe tributary duety.

I loued once, (quoth hee) aie me I lou'd,As faire a shape as euer nature framed:Had she not been so hard t'haue beene remou'd,By birth a sea-Nymph; cruellDaphnenamed:Whom, for shee would not to my will agree,The Gods transform'd into a Laurell tree.

I loued once, (quoth hee) aie me I lou'd,

As faire a shape as euer nature framed:

Had she not been so hard t'haue beene remou'd,

By birth a sea-Nymph; cruellDaphnenamed:

Whom, for shee would not to my will agree,

The Gods transform'd into a Laurell tree.

Ah therefore be not, (with that word he kist her)Be not (quot[h] he) so proud asDaphnewas:Ne care thou for the anger of my sister,She cannot, nay she shall not hurt myCass:For if she doe, I vow (by dreadfull night)Neuer againe to lend her of my light.

Ah therefore be not, (with that word he kist her)

Be not (quot[h] he) so proud asDaphnewas:

Ne care thou for the anger of my sister,

She cannot, nay she shall not hurt myCass:

For if she doe, I vow (by dreadfull night)

Neuer againe to lend her of my light.

This said: he sweetly doth imbrace his loue,Yoaking his armes about her Iuory necke:And calls her wantonVenusmilk-white Doue,VVhose ruddie lips the damaske roses decke.And euer as his tongue compiles her praise,Loue daintie Dimples in her cheekes doth raise.

This said: he sweetly doth imbrace his loue,

Yoaking his armes about her Iuory necke:

And calls her wantonVenusmilk-white Doue,

VVhose ruddie lips the damaske roses decke.

And euer as his tongue compiles her praise,

Loue daintie Dimples in her cheekes doth raise.

And meaning now to worke her stratagemVpon the silly God, that thinks none ill,She hugs him in her armes, and kisses him;(Th'easlyer to intice him to her will.)And being not able to maintaine the feeld,Thus she begins (or rather seemes) to yeeld.

And meaning now to worke her stratagem

Vpon the silly God, that thinks none ill,

She hugs him in her armes, and kisses him;

(Th'easlyer to intice him to her will.)

And being not able to maintaine the feeld,

Thus she begins (or rather seemes) to yeeld.

VVoon with thy words, and rauisht with my beauty,Loe hereCassandrayeelds her selfe to thee,Requiring nothing for thy vowed duety,But only firmnesse, Loue, and secrecy:Which for that now (euen now) I meane to try thee,A boone I crave; which thou canst not deny me.

VVoon with thy words, and rauisht with my beauty,

Loe hereCassandrayeelds her selfe to thee,

Requiring nothing for thy vowed duety,

But only firmnesse, Loue, and secrecy:

Which for that now (euen now) I meane to try thee,

A boone I crave; which thou canst not deny me.

Scarce were these honywords breath'd from her lips,But he, supposing that she ment good-faith,Her filed tongues temptations interceps;And (like a Nouice,) thus to her he saith:Aske what thou wilt, and I will giue it thee;Health, wealth, long life, wit, art, or dignitie.

Scarce were these honywords breath'd from her lips,

But he, supposing that she ment good-faith,

Her filed tongues temptations interceps;

And (like a Nouice,) thus to her he saith:

Aske what thou wilt, and I will giue it thee;

Health, wealth, long life, wit, art, or dignitie.

Here-with she blushing red, (for shame did addeA crimson tincture to her palish hew,)Seeming in outward semblance passing glad,(As one that th'end of her petition knew)She makes him sweare by vglyAcheron,That he his promise should performe anon.

Here-with she blushing red, (for shame did adde

A crimson tincture to her palish hew,)

Seeming in outward semblance passing glad,

(As one that th'end of her petition knew)

She makes him sweare by vglyAcheron,

That he his promise should performe anon.

Which done: relying on his sacred oath,She askes of him the gift of prophecie:He (silent) giues consent: though seeming loathTo grant so much to fraile mortalitie:But since that he his vowes maie not recall,He giues to her the sp'rite propheticall.

Which done: relying on his sacred oath,

She askes of him the gift of prophecie:

He (silent) giues consent: though seeming loath

To grant so much to fraile mortalitie:

But since that he his vowes maie not recall,

He giues to her the sp'rite propheticall.

But she no sooner had obtain'd her wish,VVhen straite vnpris'ning her lasciuiuous armesFrom his softe bosom (th'aluary of blisse)She chastely counterchecks loues hote alarmes:And fearing lest his presence might offend her,She slips aside; and (absent) doth defend her.

But she no sooner had obtain'd her wish,

VVhen straite vnpris'ning her lasciuiuous armes

From his softe bosom (th'aluary of blisse)

She chastely counterchecks loues hote alarmes:

And fearing lest his presence might offend her,

She slips aside; and (absent) doth defend her.

(Muliere ne credas, ne mortuæ quidem.)

Looke how a brightsome Planet in the skie,(Spangling the Welkin with a golden spot)Shootes suddenly from the beholders eie,And leaues him looking there where she is not:Euen so amazedPhœbus(to descrie her)Lookes all about, but no where can espie her.

Looke how a brightsome Planet in the skie,

(Spangling the Welkin with a golden spot)

Shootes suddenly from the beholders eie,

And leaues him looking there where she is not:

Euen so amazedPhœbus(to descrie her)

Lookes all about, but no where can espie her.

Not th'hungry Lyon, hauing lost his pray,With greater furie runneth through the wood,(Making no signe of momentarie staie,Till he haue satisfi'd himslfe with blood,)Then angryPhœbusmounts into the skie:Threatning the world with his hot-burning eie.

Not th'hungry Lyon, hauing lost his pray,

With greater furie runneth through the wood,

(Making no signe of momentarie staie,

Till he haue satisfi'd himslfe with blood,)

Then angryPhœbusmounts into the skie:

Threatning the world with his hot-burning eie.

Now nimbly to his glist'ring Coach he skips,And churlishlie ascends his loftie chaire,Yerking his head strong Iades with yron whips,Whose fearefull neighing ecchoes through the aire,Snorting out fierie Sulphure from theire nosethrils:Whose deadly damp the worlds poore people kils.

Now nimbly to his glist'ring Coach he skips,

And churlishlie ascends his loftie chaire,

Yerking his head strong Iades with yron whips,

Whose fearefull neighing ecchoes through the aire,

Snorting out fierie Sulphure from theire nosethrils:

Whose deadly damp the worlds poore people kils.

Him leaue me (for a while) amids the heauens,VVreaking his anger on his sturdie steedes:Whose speedful course the day and night now eeuens,(The earth dis-robed of her summer weedes)And nowe black-mantled night with her browne vaile,Couers each thing that all the world might quaile.

Him leaue me (for a while) amids the heauens,

VVreaking his anger on his sturdie steedes:

Whose speedful course the day and night now eeuens,

(The earth dis-robed of her summer weedes)

And nowe black-mantled night with her browne vaile,

Couers each thing that all the world might quaile.

When loe,Cassandralying at her rest,(Her rest were restlesse thoughts:) it so befell,Her minde with multitude of cares opprest,Requir'd some sleepe her passions to expell:Which when sadMorpheuswill did vnderstand,He clos'd her eie-lids with his leaden hand.

When loe,Cassandralying at her rest,

(Her rest were restlesse thoughts:) it so befell,

Her minde with multitude of cares opprest,

Requir'd some sleepe her passions to expell:

Which when sadMorpheuswill did vnderstand,

He clos'd her eie-lids with his leaden hand.

Now sleepeth shee: and as shee sleepes, beholde;Shee seemes to see the God whom late shee wrongedStanding before her; whose fierce looks vnfold,His hidden wrath (to whom iust ire belonged)Seeing, shee sighs, and sighing quak't for feare,To see the shaddow of her shame appeare.

Now sleepeth shee: and as shee sleepes, beholde;

Shee seemes to see the God whom late shee wronged

Standing before her; whose fierce looks vnfold,

His hidden wrath (to whom iust ire belonged)

Seeing, shee sighs, and sighing quak't for feare,

To see the shaddow of her shame appeare.

Betwixt amaze and dread as shee thus stands,The fearefull vision drew more neere vnto her:Aud pynioning her armes in captiue bandsSo sure, that mortall wight may not vndoe her,He with a bloudy knife (oh cruell part,)With raging fury stabd her to the heart.

Betwixt amaze and dread as shee thus stands,

The fearefull vision drew more neere vnto her:

Aud pynioning her armes in captiue bands

So sure, that mortall wight may not vndoe her,

He with a bloudy knife (oh cruell part,)

With raging fury stabd her to the heart.

Heerewith awaking from her slumbring sleepe,(For feare, and care, are enemies to rest:)At such time asAuroragins to peepeAnd shew her selfe; far orient in the East:Shee heard a voice which said: O wicked woman,Why dost thou stil the gods to vengeance summon?

Heerewith awaking from her slumbring sleepe,

(For feare, and care, are enemies to rest:)

At such time asAuroragins to peepe

And shew her selfe; far orient in the East:

Shee heard a voice which said: O wicked woman,

Why dost thou stil the gods to vengeance summon?

Thou shalt (indeede) fore-tell of things to come;And truely, too; (for why my vowes are past)But heare the end ofIoueseternall doome:Because thy promise did so little last,Although thou tell the truth, (this gift I giue thee)Yet for thy falsehood, no man shall beleeue thee.

Thou shalt (indeede) fore-tell of things to come;

And truely, too; (for why my vowes are past)

But heare the end ofIoueseternall doome:

Because thy promise did so little last,

Although thou tell the truth, (this gift I giue thee)

Yet for thy falsehood, no man shall beleeue thee.

And (for thy sake) this pennance I imposeVpon the remnant of all woman kinde,For that they be such truth professed foes;A constant woman shall be hard to finde:And that all flesh at my dread name may tremble,When they weep most, then shall they most dissemble.

And (for thy sake) this pennance I impose

Vpon the remnant of all woman kinde,

For that they be such truth professed foes;

A constant woman shall be hard to finde:

And that all flesh at my dread name may tremble,

When they weep most, then shall they most dissemble.

This saidApollothen: And since that timeHis words haue proved true as Oracles:Whose turning thoughtes ambitiously doe climeTo heauens height; and world with lightnes fils:Whose sex are subject to inconstancie,As other creatures are to destinie.

This saidApollothen: And since that time

His words haue proved true as Oracles:

Whose turning thoughtes ambitiously doe clime

To heauens height; and world with lightnes fils:

Whose sex are subject to inconstancie,

As other creatures are to destinie.

Yet famousSabrineon thy banks doth restThe fairest Maide that euer world admired:Whose constant minde, with heauenly gifts possestMakes her rare selfe of all the world desired.In whose chaste thoughts no vanitie doth enter;So pure a mindeEndymionsLove hath lent her.

Yet famousSabrineon thy banks doth rest

The fairest Maide that euer world admired:

Whose constant minde, with heauenly gifts possest

Makes her rare selfe of all the world desired.

In whose chaste thoughts no vanitie doth enter;

So pure a mindeEndymionsLove hath lent her.

Queene of my thoughts, but subiect of my verse,(DivineEliza) pardon my defect:Whose artlesse pen so rudely doth reherseThy beauties worth; (for want of due respect)Oh pardon thou the follies of my youth;Pardon my faith, my loue, my zeale, my truth.

Queene of my thoughts, but subiect of my verse,

(DivineEliza) pardon my defect:

Whose artlesse pen so rudely doth reherse

Thy beauties worth; (for want of due respect)

Oh pardon thou the follies of my youth;

Pardon my faith, my loue, my zeale, my truth.

But toCassandranow: who hauing heardThe cruell sentence of the threatning voice;At length (too late) begins to waxe affeard,Lamenting much her vnrepentant choice:And seeing her hard hap without reliefe,She sheeds salt teares in token of her griefe.

But toCassandranow: who hauing heard

The cruell sentence of the threatning voice;

At length (too late) begins to waxe affeard,

Lamenting much her vnrepentant choice:

And seeing her hard hap without reliefe,

She sheeds salt teares in token of her griefe.

Which whenAurorasaw, and saw t'was shee,Euen shee her selfe whose far-renowmed fameMade all the world to wonder at her beauty,It mou'd compassion in this ruthfull Dame:And thinking on her Sonnes sad destinie,With mournfull teares she beares her companie.

Which whenAurorasaw, and saw t'was shee,

Euen shee her selfe whose far-renowmed fame

Made all the world to wonder at her beauty,

It mou'd compassion in this ruthfull Dame:

And thinking on her Sonnes sad destinie,

With mournfull teares she beares her companie.

Great was the mone, which faireCassandramade:Greater the kindnesse, whichAurorashew'd:Whose sorrow with the sunne began to fade,And her moist teares on th'earths green grasse bestow'd:Kissing the flowers with her siluer dew,Whose fading beautie, seem'd her case to rew.

Great was the mone, which faireCassandramade:

Greater the kindnesse, whichAurorashew'd:

Whose sorrow with the sunne began to fade,

And her moist teares on th'earths green grasse bestow'd:

Kissing the flowers with her siluer dew,

Whose fading beautie, seem'd her case to rew.

Scarce was the lonely Easterne Queene departed,From statelyIlion(whose proud-reared walsSeem'd to controule the cloudes, tillVulcandartedAgainst their Tower his burning fier-bals)When sweetCassandra(leauing her soft bed)In seemely sort her selfe apparelled.

Scarce was the lonely Easterne Queene departed,

From statelyIlion(whose proud-reared wals

Seem'd to controule the cloudes, tillVulcandarted

Against their Tower his burning fier-bals)

When sweetCassandra(leauing her soft bed)

In seemely sort her selfe apparelled.

And hearing that her honourable Sire,(Old princelyPryamus Troy'saged King)Was gone intoIouesTemple, to conspireAgainst theGreekes, (whom he to war did bring)Shee, (like a Furie), in a bedlam rage,Runs gadding thither, his fell wrath t'assuage.

And hearing that her honourable Sire,

(Old princelyPryamus Troy'saged King)

Was gone intoIouesTemple, to conspire

Against theGreekes, (whom he to war did bring)

Shee, (like a Furie), in a bedlam rage,

Runs gadding thither, his fell wrath t'assuage.

But not preuailing: truely she fore-toldeThe fall ofTroy(with bold erected face:)They count her hare-brain'd, mad, and ouer-bold,To presse in presence in so graue a place:But in meane seasonParishe is gone,To bring destruction on faireIlion.

But not preuailing: truely she fore-tolde

The fall ofTroy(with bold erected face:)

They count her hare-brain'd, mad, and ouer-bold,

To presse in presence in so graue a place:

But in meane seasonParishe is gone,

To bring destruction on faireIlion.

What, ten-yeeres siedge by force could not subuert,That, two false traitors in one night destroi'd:Who richly guerdon'd for their bad desert,Was ofÆneasbut small time inioi'd:Who, for concealement ofAchillesloue,Was banished; fromIlionto remoue.

What, ten-yeeres siedge by force could not subuert,

That, two false traitors in one night destroi'd:

Who richly guerdon'd for their bad desert,

Was ofÆneasbut small time inioi'd:

Who, for concealement ofAchillesloue,

Was banished; fromIlionto remoue.

KingPryamdead and all the Troians slaine;(His sonnes, his friends and deere confederates)And lots now cast for captiues that remaine,(Whom Death hath spared for more cruell fates)Cassandrathen toAgamemnonfell,With whom a Lemman she disdain'd to dwell.

KingPryamdead and all the Troians slaine;

(His sonnes, his friends and deere confederates)

And lots now cast for captiues that remaine,

(Whom Death hath spared for more cruell fates)

Cassandrathen toAgamemnonfell,

With whom a Lemman she disdain'd to dwell.

She, weepes; he, wooes; he would, but she would not:He, tell's his birth; shee, pleades virginitie:He saith, selfe-pride doth rarest beauty blot:(And with that word he kist her louingly:)Shee, yeeldingly resists; he faines to die:Shee, fall's for feare; he, on her feareleslie.

She, weepes; he, wooes; he would, but she would not:

He, tell's his birth; shee, pleades virginitie:

He saith, selfe-pride doth rarest beauty blot:

(And with that word he kist her louingly:)

Shee, yeeldingly resists; he faines to die:

Shee, fall's for feare; he, on her feareleslie.

But this braue generall of all theGreekes,Was quickly foyled at a womans hands,For who so rashly such incounters seekes,Of hard mis-hap in danger euer stands:Onely chaste thoughts, vertuous abstinence,Gainst such sweet poyson is the sur'st defence.

But this braue generall of all theGreekes,

Was quickly foyled at a womans hands,

For who so rashly such incounters seekes,

Of hard mis-hap in danger euer stands:

Onely chaste thoughts, vertuous abstinence,

Gainst such sweet poyson is the sur'st defence.

But who can shun the force of beauties blow?Who is not rauisht with a lonely looke?Grac'd with a wanton eie, (the hearts dumb show)Such fish are taken with a siluer hooke:And when true loue cannot these pearles obtaineVnguentum Albumis the only meane.

But who can shun the force of beauties blow?

Who is not rauisht with a lonely looke?

Grac'd with a wanton eie, (the hearts dumb show)

Such fish are taken with a siluer hooke:

And when true loue cannot these pearles obtaine

Vnguentum Albumis the only meane.

Farre be it from my thought (diuinest Maid)To haue relation to thy heauenly hew,(In whose sweete voice the Muses are imbaid)No pen can paint thy commendation due:Saue only that pen, which no pen can be,An Angels quill, to make a pen for thee.

Farre be it from my thought (diuinest Maid)

To haue relation to thy heauenly hew,

(In whose sweete voice the Muses are imbaid)

No pen can paint thy commendation due:

Saue only that pen, which no pen can be,

An Angels quill, to make a pen for thee.

But to returne to these vnhappie Louers,(Sleeping securely in each others armes)Whose sugred ioies nights sable mantle couers,Little regarding their ensuing harmes:Which afterward they iointlie both repented:"Fate is fore-seene, but neuer is preuented."

But to returne to these vnhappie Louers,

(Sleeping securely in each others armes)

Whose sugred ioies nights sable mantle couers,

Little regarding their ensuing harmes:

Which afterward they iointlie both repented:

"Fate is fore-seene, but neuer is preuented."

Which saying to be true, this lucklesse DameApproued in the sequele of her story:Now waxing pale, now blushing red (for shame),She scales her lips with silence (womens glory)TillAgamemnonvrging her replies,Thus of his death she truely prophecies.

Which saying to be true, this lucklesse Dame

Approued in the sequele of her story:

Now waxing pale, now blushing red (for shame),

She scales her lips with silence (womens glory)

TillAgamemnonvrging her replies,

Thus of his death she truely prophecies.

The day shall come, (quoth she) O dismal daie!When thou by falseÆgistusshalt be slaine:Heere could she tell no more; but made a stay.(From further speech as willing to refraine:)Not knowing then, nor little did she thinke,That she with him of that same cup must drinke.

The day shall come, (quoth she) O dismal daie!

When thou by falseÆgistusshalt be slaine:

Heere could she tell no more; but made a stay.

(From further speech as willing to refraine:)

Not knowing then, nor little did she thinke,

That she with him of that same cup must drinke.

But what? (fond man) he laughs her skil to scorne,And iesteth at her diuination:Ah to what vnbeliefe are Princes borne?(The onely ouer-throw of many a Nation:)And so it did befall this lucklesse Prince,Whom all the world hath much lamented since.

But what? (fond man) he laughs her skil to scorne,

And iesteth at her diuination:

Ah to what vnbeliefe are Princes borne?

(The onely ouer-throw of many a Nation:)

And so it did befall this lucklesse Prince,

Whom all the world hath much lamented since.

Insteede of teares, he smileth at her tale:Insteede of griefe, he makes great shew of gladnes:But after blisse, there euer followes bale;And after mirth, there alwaies commeth sadnes:But gladnesse, blisse, and mirth had so possest him,That sadnes, bale, and griefe could not molest him.

Insteede of teares, he smileth at her tale:

Insteede of griefe, he makes great shew of gladnes:

But after blisse, there euer followes bale;

And after mirth, there alwaies commeth sadnes:

But gladnesse, blisse, and mirth had so possest him,

That sadnes, bale, and griefe could not molest him.

Oh cruellParcæ(quothCassandrathen)Why are youParcæ, yet not mou'd with praier?Oh small security of mortall men,That liue on earth, and breathe this vitall aire:When we laugh most, then are we next to sorrow;The Birds feede vs to-day, we them to-morrow.

Oh cruellParcæ(quothCassandrathen)

Why are youParcæ, yet not mou'd with praier?

Oh small security of mortall men,

That liue on earth, and breathe this vitall aire:

When we laugh most, then are we next to sorrow;

The Birds feede vs to-day, we them to-morrow.

But if the first did little moue his minde,Her later speeches lesse with him preuailed;Who beinge wholy to selfe-will inclinde,Deemes her weake braine with lunacy assailed:And still the more shee councels him to stay,The more he striueth to make haste away.

But if the first did little moue his minde,

Her later speeches lesse with him preuailed;

Who beinge wholy to selfe-will inclinde,

Deemes her weake braine with lunacy assailed:

And still the more shee councels him to stay,

The more he striueth to make haste away.

How on the Seas he scap'd stormes, rocks and sholes,(Seas that enuide the conquest he had wone,Gaping like hell to swallow Greekish soules,)I heere omit; onely suppose it done:His storm-tyrde Barke safely brings him to shore,His whole Fleete els, or suncke or lost before.

How on the Seas he scap'd stormes, rocks and sholes,

(Seas that enuide the conquest he had wone,

Gaping like hell to swallow Greekish soules,)

I heere omit; onely suppose it done:

His storm-tyrde Barke safely brings him to shore,

His whole Fleete els, or suncke or lost before.

Lift vp thy head, thou ashie-cyndredTroy,See the commaunder of thy traitor foes,That made thy last nights woe, his first daies ioie,Now gins his night of ioy and daie of woes:His fall be thy delight, thine was his pride:As he thee then, so now thou him deride.

Lift vp thy head, thou ashie-cyndredTroy,

See the commaunder of thy traitor foes,

That made thy last nights woe, his first daies ioie,

Now gins his night of ioy and daie of woes:

His fall be thy delight, thine was his pride:

As he thee then, so now thou him deride.

He andCassandranow are set on shore,Which he salutes with ioy, she greetes with teares,Currors are sent that poast to Court before,Whose tidings fill th'adultrous Queene with feares,Who withÆgistusin a lust-staind bed,Her selfe, her King, her State dishonored.

He andCassandranow are set on shore,

Which he salutes with ioy, she greetes with teares,

Currors are sent that poast to Court before,

Whose tidings fill th'adultrous Queene with feares,

Who withÆgistusin a lust-staind bed,

Her selfe, her King, her State dishonored.

She wakes the lecher with a loud-strain'd shrike,Loue-toies they leaue, now doth lament begin:He flie (quoth he) but she doth that mislike,Guilt vnto guilt, and sinne she ads to sinne:Shee meanes to kill (immodest loue to couer)A kingly husband, for a caytiue louer.

She wakes the lecher with a loud-strain'd shrike,

Loue-toies they leaue, now doth lament begin:

He flie (quoth he) but she doth that mislike,

Guilt vnto guilt, and sinne she ads to sinne:

Shee meanes to kill (immodest loue to couer)

A kingly husband, for a caytiue louer.

The peoples ioies, conceiued at his returne,Their thronging multitudes: their gladsome cries,Their gleeful hymnes, whiles piles of incense burne:Their publique shewes, kept at solemnities:We passe: and tell how King and Queene did meet,Where he with zeale, she him with guile did greet.

The peoples ioies, conceiued at his returne,

Their thronging multitudes: their gladsome cries,

Their gleeful hymnes, whiles piles of incense burne:

Their publique shewes, kept at solemnities:

We passe: and tell how King and Queene did meet,

Where he with zeale, she him with guile did greet.

He (noble Lord) fearelesse of hidden treason,Sweetely salutes this weeping Crocodile:Excusing euery cause with instant reasonThat kept him from her sight so long a while:She, faintly pardons him; smiling by Art:(For life was in her lookes, death in her hart.)

He (noble Lord) fearelesse of hidden treason,

Sweetely salutes this weeping Crocodile:

Excusing euery cause with instant reason

That kept him from her sight so long a while:

She, faintly pardons him; smiling by Art:

(For life was in her lookes, death in her hart.)

For pledge that I am pleas'd receiue (quoth shee)This rich wrought robe, thyClytemnestrastoile:Her ten yeeres worke this day shall honour thee,For ten yeeres war, and one daies glorious spoile:Whil'st thou contendedst there, I heere did this:Weare it my loue, my life, my ioy, my blisse.

For pledge that I am pleas'd receiue (quoth shee)

This rich wrought robe, thyClytemnestrastoile:

Her ten yeeres worke this day shall honour thee,

For ten yeeres war, and one daies glorious spoile:

Whil'st thou contendedst there, I heere did this:

Weare it my loue, my life, my ioy, my blisse.

Scarce had the Syren said what I haue write,But he (kind Prince) by her milde words misled,Receiu'd the robe, to trie if it were fit;(The robe) that had no issue for his head;Which, whilst he vainly hoped to haue found,Ægistuspierst him with a mortal wound.

Scarce had the Syren said what I haue write,

But he (kind Prince) by her milde words misled,

Receiu'd the robe, to trie if it were fit;

(The robe) that had no issue for his head;

Which, whilst he vainly hoped to haue found,

Ægistuspierst him with a mortal wound.

Oh how theTroyanDamzell was amazedTo see so fell and bloudy a Tragedie,Performed in one Act; she naught but gazed,Vpon the picture; whom shee dead did see,Before her face: whose body she emballms,With brennish teares, and sudden deadly qualms.

Oh how theTroyanDamzell was amazed

To see so fell and bloudy a Tragedie,

Performed in one Act; she naught but gazed,

Vpon the picture; whom shee dead did see,

Before her face: whose body she emballms,

With brennish teares, and sudden deadly qualms.

Faine would she haue fled backe on her swift horseButClytemnestrabad her be content,Her time was com'n: now bootelesse vsd she force,Against so many; whom this Tygresse sentTo apprehend her: who (within one howerBrought backe againe) was lockt within a Tower.

Faine would she haue fled backe on her swift horse

ButClytemnestrabad her be content,

Her time was com'n: now bootelesse vsd she force,

Against so many; whom this Tygresse sent

To apprehend her: who (within one hower

Brought backe againe) was lockt within a Tower.

Now is she ioylesse, friendlesse, and (in fine)Without all hope of further libertie:Insteed of cates, cold water was her wine,AndAgamemnonscorps her meate must be,Or els she must for hunger starue (poore sole)What could she do but make great mone and dole.

Now is she ioylesse, friendlesse, and (in fine)

Without all hope of further libertie:

Insteed of cates, cold water was her wine,

AndAgamemnonscorps her meate must be,

Or els she must for hunger starue (poore sole)

What could she do but make great mone and dole.

So darke the dungeon was, wherein she was,That neither Sunne (by day) nor Mone (by night)Did shew themselues: and thus it came to passe.The Sunne denide to lend his glorious lightTo such a periur'd wight, or to be scene;(What neede she light, that ouer-light had bin?)

So darke the dungeon was, wherein she was,

That neither Sunne (by day) nor Mone (by night)

Did shew themselues: and thus it came to passe.

The Sunne denide to lend his glorious light

To such a periur'd wight, or to be scene;

(What neede she light, that ouer-light had bin?)

Now silent night drew on; when all things sleepe,Saue theeves, and cares; and now stil mid-night came:When sadCassandradid naught els but weepe;Oft calling on herAgamemnonsname.But seeing that the dead did not replie,Thus she begins to mourne, lament, and crie.

Now silent night drew on; when all things sleepe,

Saue theeves, and cares; and now stil mid-night came:

When sadCassandradid naught els but weepe;

Oft calling on herAgamemnonsname.

But seeing that the dead did not replie,

Thus she begins to mourne, lament, and crie.

Oh cruell Fortune (mother of despaire,)Well art thou christen'd with a cruell name:Since thou regardest not the wise, or faire,But do'st bestow thy riches (to thy shame)On fooles and lowly swaines, that care not for thee:And yet I weepe, and yet thou do'st abhorre me.

Oh cruell Fortune (mother of despaire,)

Well art thou christen'd with a cruell name:

Since thou regardest not the wise, or faire,

But do'st bestow thy riches (to thy shame)

On fooles and lowly swaines, that care not for thee:

And yet I weepe, and yet thou do'st abhorre me.

Fie on ambition, fie on filthy pride,The roote of ill, the cause of all my woe:On whose fraile yce my youth first slipt aside:And falling downe, receiu'd a fatall blow.Ah who hath liu'd to see such miserieAs I haue done, and yet I cannot die?

Fie on ambition, fie on filthy pride,

The roote of ill, the cause of all my woe:

On whose fraile yce my youth first slipt aside:

And falling downe, receiu'd a fatall blow.

Ah who hath liu'd to see such miserie

As I haue done, and yet I cannot die?

I liu'd (quoth she) to seeTroyset on fire:I liu'd to see, renownedHectorslaine:I liu'd to see, the shame of my desire:And yet I liue, to feel my grieuous paine:Let all young maides example take by me,To keepe their oathes, and spotlesse chastity.

I liu'd (quoth she) to seeTroyset on fire:

I liu'd to see, renownedHectorslaine:

I liu'd to see, the shame of my desire:

And yet I liue, to feel my grieuous paine:

Let all young maides example take by me,

To keepe their oathes, and spotlesse chastity.

Happy are they, that neuer liu'd to knowWhat 'tis to liue in this world happily:Happy are they which neuer yet felt woe:Happy are they, that die in infancie:Whose sins are cancell'd in their mothers wombe:Whose cradle is their graue, whose lap their tomb.

Happy are they, that neuer liu'd to know

What 'tis to liue in this world happily:

Happy are they which neuer yet felt woe:

Happy are they, that die in infancie:

Whose sins are cancell'd in their mothers wombe:

Whose cradle is their graue, whose lap their tomb.

Here ended shee; and then her teares began,That (Chorus-like) at euery word downe rained.Which like a paire of christall fountaines ran,Along her lonely cheekes: with roses stained:Which as they wither still (for want of raine)Those siluer showers water them againe.

Here ended shee; and then her teares began,

That (Chorus-like) at euery word downe rained.

Which like a paire of christall fountaines ran,

Along her lonely cheekes: with roses stained:

Which as they wither still (for want of raine)

Those siluer showers water them againe.

Now had the poore-mans clock (shrill chauntcleare)Twice giuen notice of the Mornes approach,(That then began in glorie to appeare,Drawne in her stately colour'd saffron-Coach)When shee (poore Lady) almost turn'd to teares,Began to teare and rend her golden haires.

Now had the poore-mans clock (shrill chauntcleare)

Twice giuen notice of the Mornes approach,

(That then began in glorie to appeare,

Drawne in her stately colour'd saffron-Coach)

When shee (poore Lady) almost turn'd to teares,

Began to teare and rend her golden haires.

Lie there (quoth shee) the workers of my woesYou trifling toies, which my liues staine haue bin:You, by whose meanes our coines chiefly growes,Clothing the backe with pride, the soule with sin:Lie there (quoth shee) the causers of my care;This said, her robes she all in pieces tare.

Lie there (quoth shee) the workers of my woes

You trifling toies, which my liues staine haue bin:

You, by whose meanes our coines chiefly growes,

Clothing the backe with pride, the soule with sin:

Lie there (quoth shee) the causers of my care;

This said, her robes she all in pieces tare.

Here-with, as weary of her wretched life,(Which shee inioy'd with small felicitie)She ends her fortune with a fatall knife;(First day of ioy, last day of miserie:)Then why is death accounted Nature's foe,Since death (indeed) is but the end of woe?

Here-with, as weary of her wretched life,

(Which shee inioy'd with small felicitie)

She ends her fortune with a fatall knife;

(First day of ioy, last day of miserie:)

Then why is death accounted Nature's foe,

Since death (indeed) is but the end of woe?

For as by death, her bodie was releasedFrom that strong prison made of lime and stone;Euen so by death her purest soule was eased,From bodies prison, and from endlesse mone:Where now shee walkes in sweeteElysium(The place for wrongful Death and Martirdum.)

For as by death, her bodie was released

From that strong prison made of lime and stone;

Euen so by death her purest soule was eased,

From bodies prison, and from endlesse mone:

Where now shee walkes in sweeteElysium

(The place for wrongful Death and Martirdum.)

FINIS.

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