FOOTNOTES:

Canto VI.ProudChange (not pleasd, in mortall things,beneath the Moone, to raigne)Pretends, as well of Gods, as Men,to be the Soueraine.

Canto VI.

ProudChange (not pleasd, in mortall things,beneath the Moone, to raigne)Pretends, as well of Gods, as Men,to be the Soueraine.

ProudChange (not pleasd, in mortall things,

beneath the Moone, to raigne)

Pretends, as well of Gods, as Men,

to be the Soueraine.

What man that sees the euer-whirling wheeleiOfChange, the which all mortall things doth sway,But that therby doth find, and plainly feele,HowMVTABILITYin them doth playHer cruell sports, to many mens decay?Which that to all may better yet appeare,I will rehearse that whylome I heard say,How she at first her selfe began to reare,Gainst all the Gods, and th’empire sought from them to beare.But first, here falleth fittest to vnfoldiiHer antique race and linage ancient,As I haue found it registred of old,InFaeryLand mongst records permanent:She was, to weet, a daughter by descentOf those oldTitans, that did whylome striueWithSaturnessonne for heauens regiment.Whom, though highIoueof kingdome did depriue,Yet many of their stemme long after did surviue.And many of them, afterwards obtain’diiiGreat power ofIoue, and high authority;AsHecaté, in whose almighty hand,He plac’t all rule and principality,To be by her disposed diuersly,To Gods, and men, as she them list diuide:And dradBellona, that doth sound on hieWarres and allarums vnto Nations wide,That makes both heauen and earth to tremble at her pride.So likewise did thisTitanesseaspire,ivRule and dominion to her selfe to gaine;That as a Goddesse, men might her admire,And heauenly honours yield, as to them twaine.At first, on earth she sought it to obtaine;Where she such proofe and sad examples shewedOf her great power, to many ones great paine,That not men onely (whom she soone subdewed)But eke all other creatures, her bad dooings rewed.For, she the face of earthly things so changed,vThat all which Nature had establisht firstIn good estate, and in meet order ranged,She did pervert, and all their statutes burst:And all the worlds faire frame (which none yet durstOf Gods or men to alter or misguide)She alter’d quite, and made them all accurstThat God had blest; and did at first prouideIn that still happy state for euer to abide.Ne shee the lawes of Nature onely brake,viBut eke of Iustice, and of Policie;And wrong of right, and bad of good did make,And death for life exchanged foolishlie:Since which, all liuing wights haue learn’d to die,And all this world is woxen daily worse.O pittious worke ofMVTABILITIE!By which, we all are subiect to that curse,And death in stead of life haue sucked from our Nurse.And now, when all the earth she thus had broughtviiTo her behest, and thralled to her might,She gan to cast in her ambitious thought,T’attempt the empire[608]of the heauens hight,AndIouehimselfe to shoulder from his right.And first, she past the region of the ayre,And of the fire, whose substance thin and slight,Made no resistance, ne could her contraire,But ready passage to her pleasure did prepaire.Thence, to the Circle of the Moone she clambe,viiiWhereCynthiaraignes in euerlasting glory,To whose bright shining palace straight she came,All fairely deckt with heauens goodly story;Whose siluer gates (by which there sate an horyOld aged Sire, with hower-glasse in hand,HightTyme) she entred, were he liefe or sory:Ne staide till she the highest stage had scand,WhereCynthiadid sit, that neuer still did stand.Her sitting on an Iuory throne shee found,ixDrawne of two steeds, th’one black, the other white,Environd with tenne thousand starres around,That duly her attended day and night;And by her side, there ran her Page, that hightVesper, whom we the Euening-starre intend:That with his Torche, still twinkling like twylight,Her lightened all the way where she should wend,And ioy to weary wandring trauailers did lend:That[609]when the hardyTitanessebeheldxThe goodly building of her Palace bright,Made of the heauens substance, and vp-heldWith thousand Crystall pillors of huge hight,Shee gan to burne in her ambitious spright,And t’envie her that in such glorie raigned.Eftsoones she cast by force and tortious might,Her to displace; and to her selfe to haue gainedThe kingdome of the Night, and waters by her wained.Boldly she bid the Goddesse downe descend,xiAnd let her selfe into that Ivory throne;For, shee her selfe more worthy thereof wend,And better able it to guide alone:Whether to men, whose fall she did bemone,Or vnto Gods, whose state she did maligne,Or to th’infernall Powers, her need giue loneOf her faire light, and bounty most benigne,Her selfe of all that rule shee deemed most condigne.But shee that had to her that soueraigne seatxiiBy highestIoueassign’d, therein to beareNights burning lamp, regarded not her threat,Ne yielded ought for fauour or for feare;But with sterne countenaunce and disdainfull cheare,Bending her horned browes, did put her back:And boldly blaming her for comming there,Bade her attonce from heauens coast to pack,Or at her perill bide the wrathfull Thunders wrack.Yet nathemore theGiantesseforbare:xiiiBut boldly preacing-on, raught forth her handTo pluck her downe perforce from off her chaire;And there-with lifting vp her golden wand,Threatned to strike her if she did with-stand.Where-at the starres, which round about her blazed,And eke the Moones bright wagon, still did stand,All beeing with so bold attempt amazed,And on her vncouth habit and sterne looke still gazed.Meane-while, the lower World, which nothing knewxivOf all that chaunced here, was darkned quite;And eke the heauens, and all the heauenly crewOf happy wights, now vnpurvaide of light,Were much afraid, and wondred at that sight;Fearing leastChaosbroken had his chaine,And brought againe on them eternall night:But chiefelyMercury, that next doth raigne,Ran forth in haste, vnto the king of Gods to plaine.All ran together with a great out-cry,xvToIouesfaire Palace, fixt in heauens hight;And beating at his gates full earnestly,Gan call to him aloud with all their might,To know what meant that suddaine lack of light.The father of the Gods when this he heard,Was troubled much at their so strange affright,Doubting leastTyphonwere againe vprear’d,Or other his old foes, that once him sorely fear’d.Eftsoones the sonne ofMaiaforth he sentxviDowne to the Circle of the Moone, to knoweThe cause of this so strange astonishment,And why shee did her wonted course forslowe;And if that any were on earth beloweThat did with charmes or Magick her molest,Him to attache, and downe to hell to throwe:But, if from heauen it were, then to arrestThe Author, and him bring before his presence prest.The wingd-foot God, so fast his plumes did beat,xviiThat soone he came where-as theTitanesseWas striuing with faireCynthiafor her seat:At whose strange sight, and haughty hardinesse,He wondred much, and feared her no lesse.Yet laying feare aside to doe his charge,At last, he bade her (with bold stedfastnesse)Ceasse to molest the Moone to walke at large,Or come before highIoue, her dooings to discharge.And there-with-all, he on her shoulder laidxviiiHis snaky-wreathed Mace, whose awfull powerDoth make both Gods and hellish fiends affraid:Where-at theTitanessedid sternely lower,And stoutly answer’d, that in euill howerHe from hisIouesuch message to her brought,To bid her leaue faireCynthiassiluer bower;Sith shee hisIoueand him esteemed nought,No more thenCynthia’sselfe; but all their kingdoms sought.The Heauens Herald staid not to reply,xixBut past away, his doings to relateVnto his Lord; who now in th’highest sky,Was placed in his principall Estate,With all the Gods about him congregate:To whom whenHermeshad his message told,It did them all exceedingly amate,SaueIoue; who, changing nought his count’nance bold,Did vnto them at length these speeches wise vnfold;Harken to mee awhile yee heauenly Powers;xxYe may remember since th’Earths cursed seedSought to assaile the heauens eternall towers,And to vs all exceeding feare did breed:But how we then defeated all their deed,Yee all doe knowe, and them destroied quite;Yet not so quite, but that there did succeedAn off-spring of their bloud, which did aliteVpon the fruitfull earth, which doth vs yet despite.Of that bad seed is this bold woman bred,xxiThat now with bold presumption doth aspireTo thrust fairePhœbefrom her siluer bed,And eke our selues from heauens high Empire,If that her might were match to her desire:Wherefore, it now behoues vs to adviseWhat way is best to driue her to retire;Whether by open force, or counsell wise,Areed ye sonnes of God, as best ye can deuise.So hauing said, he ceast; and with his browxxii(His black eye-brow, whose doomefull dreaded beckIs wont to wield the world vnto his vow,And euen the highest Powers of heauen to check)Made signe to them in their degrees to speake:Who straight gan cast their counsell graue and wise.Meane-while, th’Earths daughter, thogh she nought did reckOfHermesmessage; yet gan now advise,What course were best to take in this hot[610]bold emprize.Eftsoones she thus resolv’d; that whil’st the Godsxxiii(After returne ofHermesEmbassie)Were troubled, and amongst themselues at ods,Before they could new counsels re-allie,To set vpon them in that extasie;And take what fortune time and place would lend:So, forth she rose, and through the purest skyToIoueshigh Palace straight cast to ascend,To prosecute her plot: Good on-set boads good end.Shee there arriuing, boldly in did pass;xxivWhere all the Gods she found in counsell close,All quite vnarm’d, as then their manner was.At sight of her they suddaine all arose,In great amaze, ne wist what way to chose.ButIoue, all fearelesse, forc’t them to aby;And in his soueraine throne, gan straight disposeHimselfe more full of grace and Maiestie,That mote encheare his friends, and foes mote terrifie.That, when the haughtyTitanessebeheld,xxvAll were she fraught with pride and impudence,Yet with the sight thereof was almost queld;And inly quaking, seem’d as reft of sense,And voyd of speech in that drad audience;Vntill thatIouehimselfe, her selfe bespake:Speake thou fraile woman, speake with confidence,Whence art thou, and what doost thou here now make?What idle errand hast thou,[611]earths mansion to forsake?Shee, halfe confused with his great commaund,xxviYet gathering spirit of her natures pride,Him boldly answer’d thus to his demaund:I am a daughter, by the mothers side,Of her that is Grand-mother magnifideOf all the Gods, greatEarth, greatChaoschild:But by the fathers (be it not envide)I greater am in bloud (whereon I build)Then all the Gods, though wrongfully from heauen exil’d.For,Titan(as ye all acknowledge must)xxviiWasSaturneselder brother by birth-right;Both, sonnes ofVranus: but by vniustAnd guilefull meanes, throughCorybantesslight,The younger thrust the elder from his right:Since which, thouIoue, iniuriously hast heldThe Heauens rule fromTitanssonnes by might;And them to hellish dungeons downe hast feld:Witnesse ye Heauens the truth of all that I haue teld.Whil’st she thus spake, the Gods that gaue good earexxviiiTo her bold words, and marked well her grace,Beeing of stature tall as any thereOf all the Gods, and beautifull of face,As any of the Goddesses in place,Stood all astonied, like a sort of Steeres;Mongst whom, some beast of strange and forraine race,Vnwares is chaunc’t, far straying from his peeres:So did their ghastly gaze bewray their hidden feares.Till hauing pauz’d awhile,Iouethus bespake;xxixWill neuer mortall thoughts ceasse to aspire,In this bold sort, to Heauen claime to make,And touch celestiall seates with earthly mire?I would haue thought, that boldProcrustes[612]hire,OrTyphonsfall, or proudIxionspaine,Or greatPrometheus, tasting of our ire,Would haue suffiz’d, the rest for to restraine;And warn’d all men by their example to refraine:But now, this off-scum of that cursed fry,xxxDare to renew the like bold enterprize,And chalenge th’heritage of this our skie;Whom what should hinder, but that we likewiseShould handle as the rest of her allies,And thunder-driue to hell? With that, he shookeHis Nectar-deawed locks, with which the skyesAnd all the world beneath for terror quooke,And eft his burning levin-brond in hand he tooke.But, when he looked on her louely face,xxxiIn which, faire beames of beauty did appeare,That could the greatest wrath soone turne to grace(Such sway doth beauty euen in Heauen beare)He staide his hand: and hauing chang’d his cheare,He thus againe in milder wise began;But ah! if Gods should striue with flesh yfere,Then shortly should the progeny of ManBe rooted out, ifIoueshould doe still what he can:But thee faireTitanschild, I rather weene,xxxiiThrough some vaine errour or inducement light,To see that mortall eyes haue neuer seene;Or through ensample of thy sisters might,Bellona; whose great glory thou doost spight,Since thou hast seene her dreadfull power belowe,Mongst wretched men (dismaide with her affright)To bandie Crownes, and Kingdomes to bestowe:And sure thy worth, no lesse then hers doth seem to showe.But wote thou this, thou hardyTitanesse,xxxiiiThat not the worth of any liuing wightMay challenge ought in Heauens interesse;Much lesse the Title of oldTitansRight:For, we by Conquest of our soueraine might,And by eternall doome of Fates decree,Haue wonne the Empire of the Heauens bright;Which to our selues we hold, and to whom weeShall worthy deeme partakers of our blisse to bee.Then ceasse thy idle claime thou foolish gerle,xxxivAnd seeke by grace and goodnesse to obtaineThat place from which by follyTitanfell;There-to thou maist perhaps, if so thou faineHaueIouethy gratious Lord and Soueraigne.So, hauing said, she thus to him replide;CeasseSaturnessonne, to seeke by proffers vaineOf idle hopes t’allure mee to thy side,For to betray my Right, before I haue it tride.But thee, OIoue, no equall Iudge I deemexxxvOf my desert, or of my dewfull Right;That in thine owne behalfe maist partiall seeme:But to the highest him, that is behightFather of Gods and men by equall might;To weet, the God of Nature, I appeale.There-atIouewexed wroth, and in his sprightDid inly grudge, yet did it well conceale;And badeDan PhœbusScribe her Appellation seale.Eftsoones the time and place appointed were,xxxviWhere all, both heauenly Powers, and earthly wights,Before great Natures presence should appeare,For triall of their Titles and best Rights:That was, to weet, vpon the highest hightsOfArlo-hill(Who knowes notArlo-hill?)That is the highest head (in all mens sights)Of my old fatherMole, whom Shepheards quillRenowmed hath with hymnes fit for a rurall skill.And, were it not ill fitting for this file,xxxviiTo sing of hilles and woods, mongst warres and Knights,I would abate the sternenesse of my stile,Mongst these sterne stounds to mingle soft delights;And tell howArlothroughDianaesspights(Beeing of old the best and fairest HillThat was in all this holy-Islands hights)Was made the most vnpleasant, and most ill.Meane while, OClio, lendCalliopethy quill.Whylome, whenIRELANDflorished in famexxxviiiOf wealths[613]and goodnesse, far aboue the restOf all that beare theBritishIslands name,The Gods then vs’d (for pleasure and for rest)Oft to resort there-to, when seem’d them best:But none of all there-in more pleasure found,ThenCynthia; that is soueraine Queene profestOf woods and forrests, which therein abound,Sprinkled with wholsom waters, more then most on ground.But mongst them all, as fittest for her game,xxxixEither for chace of beasts with hound or boawe,Or for to shroude in shade fromPhœbusflame,Or bathe in fountaines that doe freshly flowe,Or from high hilles, or from the dales belowe,She chose thisArlo; where shee did resortWith all her Nymphes enranged on a rowe,With whom the woody Gods did oft consort:For, with the Nymphes, the Satyres loue to play and sport.Amongst the which, there was a Nymph that hightxlMolanna; daughter of old fatherMole,And sister vntoMulla, faire and bright:Vnto whose bed falseBregogwhylome stole,That ShepheardColindearely did condole,And made her lucklesse loues well knowne to be.But thisMolannawere she not so shole,Were no lesse faire and beautifull then shee:Yet as she is, a fairer flood may no man see.For, first, she springs out of two marble Rocks,xliOn which, a groue of Oakes high mounted growes,That as a girlond seemes to deck the locksOf som faire Bride, brought forth with pompous showesOut of her bowre, that many flowers strowes:So, through the flowry Dales she tumbling downe,Through many woods, and shady coverts flowes(That on each side her siluer channell crowne)Till to the Plaine she come, whose Valleyes shee doth drowne.In her sweet streames,Dianavsed oftxlii(After her sweatie chace and toilesome play)To bathe her selfe; and after, on the softAnd downy grasse, her dainty limbes to layIn couert shade, where none behold her may:For, much she hated sight of liuing eye.Foolish GodFaunus, though full many a dayHe saw her clad, yet longed foolishlyTo see her naked mongst her Nymphes in priuity.No way he found to compasse his desire,xliiiBut to corruptMolanna, this her maid,Her to discouer for some secret hire:So, her with flattering words he first assaid;And after, pleasing gifts for her purvaid,Queene-apples, and red Cherries from the tree,With which he her allured and betraid,To tell what time he might her Lady seeWhen she her selfe did bathe, that he might secret bee.There-to hee promist, if shee would him pleasurexlivWith this small boone, to quit her with a better;To weet, that where-as shee had out of measureLong lov’d theFanchin, who by nought did set her,That he would vndertake, for this to get herTo be his Loue, and of him liked well:Besides all which, he vow’d to be her debterFor many moe good turnes then he would tell;The least of which, this little pleasure should excell.The simple maid did yield to him anone;xlvAnd eft him placed where he close might viewThat neuer any saw, saue onely one;Who, for his hire to so foole-hardy dew,Was of his hounds devour’d in Hunters hew.Tho, as her manner was on sunny day,Diana, with her Nymphes about her, drewTo this sweet spring; where, doffing her array,She bath’d her louely limbes, forIouea likely pray.ThereFaunussaw that pleased much his eye,xlviAnd made his hart to tickle in his brest,That for great ioy of some-what he did spy,He could him not containe in silent rest;But breaking forth in laughter, loud profestHis foolish thought. A foolishFauneindeed,That couldst not hold thy selfe so hidden blest,But wouldest needs thine owne conceit areed.Babblers vnworthy been of so diuine a meed.The Goddesse, all abashed with that noise,xlviiIn haste forth started from the guilty brooke;And running straight where-as she heard his voice,Enclos’d the bush about, and there him tooke,Like darred Larke; not daring vp to lookeOn her whose sight before so much he sought.Thence, forth they drew him by the hornes, and shookeNigh all to peeces, that they left him nought;And then into the open light they forth him brought.Like as an huswife, that with busie carexlviiiThinks of her Dairie to make wondrous gaine,Finding where-as some wicked beast vnwareThat breakes into her Dayr’house, there doth draineHer creaming pannes, and frustrate all her paine;Hath in some snare or gin set close behind,Entrapped him, and caught into her traine,Then thinkes what punishment were best assign’d,And thousand deathes deuiseth in her vengefull mind:So didDianaand her maydens allxlixVse sillyFaunus, now within their baile:They mocke and scorne him, and him foule miscall;Some by the nose him pluckt, some by the taile,And by his goatish beard some did him haile:Yet he (poore soule) with patience all did beare;For, nought against their wils might countervaile:Ne ought he said what euer he did heare;But hanging downe his head, did like a Mome appeare.At length, when they had flouted him their fill,lThey gan to cast what penaunce him to giue.Some would haue gelt him, but that same would spillThe Wood-gods breed, which must for euer liue:Others would through the riuer him haue driue,And ducked deepe: but that seem’d penaunce light;But most agreed and did this sentence giue,Him in Deares skin to clad; and in that plight,To hunt him with their hounds, him selfe saue how hee might.ButCynthia’sselfe, more angry then the rest,liThought not enough, to punish him in sport,And of her shame to make a gamesome iest;But gan examine him in straighter sort,Which of her Nymphes, or other close consort,Him thither brought, and her to him betraid?He, much affeard, to her confessed short,That ’twasMolannawhich her so bewraid.Then all attonce their hands vponMolannalaid.But him (according as they had decreed)liiWith a Deeres-skin they couered, and then chastWith all their hounds that after him did speed;But he more speedy, from them fled more fastThen any Deere: so sore him dread aghast.They after follow’d all with shrill out-cry,Shouting as they the heauens would haue brast:That all the woods and dales where he did flie,Did ring againe, and loud reeccho to the skie.So they him follow’d till they weary were;liiiWhen, back returning toMolann’againe,They, by commaund’ment ofDiana, thereHer whelm’d with stones. YetFaunus(for her paine)Of her belouedFanchindid obtaine,That her he would receiue vnto his bed.So now her waues passe through a pleasant Plaine,Till with theFanchinshe her selfe doe wed,And (both combin’d) themselues in one faire riuer spred.Nath’lesse,Diana, full of indignation,livThence-forth abandond her delicious brooke;In whose sweet streame, before that bad occasion,So much delight to bathe her limbes she tooke:Ne onely her, but also quite forsookeAll those faire forrests aboutArlohid,And all that Mountaine, which doth over-lookeThe richest champian[614]that may else be rid,And the faireShure, in which are thousand Salmons bred.Them all, and all that she so deare did way,lvThence-forth she left; and parting from the place,There-on an heauy haplesse curse did lay,To weet, that Wolues, where she was wont to space,Should harbour’d be, and all those Woods deface,And Thieues should rob and spoile that Coast around.Since which, those Woods, and all that goodly Chase,Doth to this day with Wolues and Thieues abound:Which too-too true that lands in-dwellers since haue found.

What man that sees the euer-whirling wheelei

OfChange, the which all mortall things doth sway,

But that therby doth find, and plainly feele,

HowMVTABILITYin them doth play

Her cruell sports, to many mens decay?

Which that to all may better yet appeare,

I will rehearse that whylome I heard say,

How she at first her selfe began to reare,

Gainst all the Gods, and th’empire sought from them to beare.

But first, here falleth fittest to vnfoldiiHer antique race and linage ancient,As I haue found it registred of old,InFaeryLand mongst records permanent:She was, to weet, a daughter by descentOf those oldTitans, that did whylome striueWithSaturnessonne for heauens regiment.Whom, though highIoueof kingdome did depriue,Yet many of their stemme long after did surviue.

But first, here falleth fittest to vnfoldii

Her antique race and linage ancient,

As I haue found it registred of old,

InFaeryLand mongst records permanent:

She was, to weet, a daughter by descent

Of those oldTitans, that did whylome striue

WithSaturnessonne for heauens regiment.

Whom, though highIoueof kingdome did depriue,

Yet many of their stemme long after did surviue.

And many of them, afterwards obtain’diiiGreat power ofIoue, and high authority;AsHecaté, in whose almighty hand,He plac’t all rule and principality,To be by her disposed diuersly,To Gods, and men, as she them list diuide:And dradBellona, that doth sound on hieWarres and allarums vnto Nations wide,That makes both heauen and earth to tremble at her pride.

And many of them, afterwards obtain’diii

Great power ofIoue, and high authority;

AsHecaté, in whose almighty hand,

He plac’t all rule and principality,

To be by her disposed diuersly,

To Gods, and men, as she them list diuide:

And dradBellona, that doth sound on hie

Warres and allarums vnto Nations wide,

That makes both heauen and earth to tremble at her pride.

So likewise did thisTitanesseaspire,ivRule and dominion to her selfe to gaine;That as a Goddesse, men might her admire,And heauenly honours yield, as to them twaine.At first, on earth she sought it to obtaine;Where she such proofe and sad examples shewedOf her great power, to many ones great paine,That not men onely (whom she soone subdewed)But eke all other creatures, her bad dooings rewed.

So likewise did thisTitanesseaspire,iv

Rule and dominion to her selfe to gaine;

That as a Goddesse, men might her admire,

And heauenly honours yield, as to them twaine.

At first, on earth she sought it to obtaine;

Where she such proofe and sad examples shewed

Of her great power, to many ones great paine,

That not men onely (whom she soone subdewed)

But eke all other creatures, her bad dooings rewed.

For, she the face of earthly things so changed,vThat all which Nature had establisht firstIn good estate, and in meet order ranged,She did pervert, and all their statutes burst:And all the worlds faire frame (which none yet durstOf Gods or men to alter or misguide)She alter’d quite, and made them all accurstThat God had blest; and did at first prouideIn that still happy state for euer to abide.

For, she the face of earthly things so changed,v

That all which Nature had establisht first

In good estate, and in meet order ranged,

She did pervert, and all their statutes burst:

And all the worlds faire frame (which none yet durst

Of Gods or men to alter or misguide)

She alter’d quite, and made them all accurst

That God had blest; and did at first prouide

In that still happy state for euer to abide.

Ne shee the lawes of Nature onely brake,viBut eke of Iustice, and of Policie;And wrong of right, and bad of good did make,And death for life exchanged foolishlie:Since which, all liuing wights haue learn’d to die,And all this world is woxen daily worse.O pittious worke ofMVTABILITIE!By which, we all are subiect to that curse,And death in stead of life haue sucked from our Nurse.

Ne shee the lawes of Nature onely brake,vi

But eke of Iustice, and of Policie;

And wrong of right, and bad of good did make,

And death for life exchanged foolishlie:

Since which, all liuing wights haue learn’d to die,

And all this world is woxen daily worse.

O pittious worke ofMVTABILITIE!

By which, we all are subiect to that curse,

And death in stead of life haue sucked from our Nurse.

And now, when all the earth she thus had broughtviiTo her behest, and thralled to her might,She gan to cast in her ambitious thought,T’attempt the empire[608]of the heauens hight,AndIouehimselfe to shoulder from his right.And first, she past the region of the ayre,And of the fire, whose substance thin and slight,Made no resistance, ne could her contraire,But ready passage to her pleasure did prepaire.

And now, when all the earth she thus had broughtvii

To her behest, and thralled to her might,

She gan to cast in her ambitious thought,

T’attempt the empire[608]of the heauens hight,

AndIouehimselfe to shoulder from his right.

And first, she past the region of the ayre,

And of the fire, whose substance thin and slight,

Made no resistance, ne could her contraire,

But ready passage to her pleasure did prepaire.

Thence, to the Circle of the Moone she clambe,viiiWhereCynthiaraignes in euerlasting glory,To whose bright shining palace straight she came,All fairely deckt with heauens goodly story;Whose siluer gates (by which there sate an horyOld aged Sire, with hower-glasse in hand,HightTyme) she entred, were he liefe or sory:Ne staide till she the highest stage had scand,WhereCynthiadid sit, that neuer still did stand.

Thence, to the Circle of the Moone she clambe,viii

WhereCynthiaraignes in euerlasting glory,

To whose bright shining palace straight she came,

All fairely deckt with heauens goodly story;

Whose siluer gates (by which there sate an hory

Old aged Sire, with hower-glasse in hand,

HightTyme) she entred, were he liefe or sory:

Ne staide till she the highest stage had scand,

WhereCynthiadid sit, that neuer still did stand.

Her sitting on an Iuory throne shee found,ixDrawne of two steeds, th’one black, the other white,Environd with tenne thousand starres around,That duly her attended day and night;And by her side, there ran her Page, that hightVesper, whom we the Euening-starre intend:That with his Torche, still twinkling like twylight,Her lightened all the way where she should wend,And ioy to weary wandring trauailers did lend:

Her sitting on an Iuory throne shee found,ix

Drawne of two steeds, th’one black, the other white,

Environd with tenne thousand starres around,

That duly her attended day and night;

And by her side, there ran her Page, that hight

Vesper, whom we the Euening-starre intend:

That with his Torche, still twinkling like twylight,

Her lightened all the way where she should wend,

And ioy to weary wandring trauailers did lend:

That[609]when the hardyTitanessebeheldxThe goodly building of her Palace bright,Made of the heauens substance, and vp-heldWith thousand Crystall pillors of huge hight,Shee gan to burne in her ambitious spright,And t’envie her that in such glorie raigned.Eftsoones she cast by force and tortious might,Her to displace; and to her selfe to haue gainedThe kingdome of the Night, and waters by her wained.

That[609]when the hardyTitanessebeheldx

The goodly building of her Palace bright,

Made of the heauens substance, and vp-held

With thousand Crystall pillors of huge hight,

Shee gan to burne in her ambitious spright,

And t’envie her that in such glorie raigned.

Eftsoones she cast by force and tortious might,

Her to displace; and to her selfe to haue gained

The kingdome of the Night, and waters by her wained.

Boldly she bid the Goddesse downe descend,xiAnd let her selfe into that Ivory throne;For, shee her selfe more worthy thereof wend,And better able it to guide alone:Whether to men, whose fall she did bemone,Or vnto Gods, whose state she did maligne,Or to th’infernall Powers, her need giue loneOf her faire light, and bounty most benigne,Her selfe of all that rule shee deemed most condigne.

Boldly she bid the Goddesse downe descend,xi

And let her selfe into that Ivory throne;

For, shee her selfe more worthy thereof wend,

And better able it to guide alone:

Whether to men, whose fall she did bemone,

Or vnto Gods, whose state she did maligne,

Or to th’infernall Powers, her need giue lone

Of her faire light, and bounty most benigne,

Her selfe of all that rule shee deemed most condigne.

But shee that had to her that soueraigne seatxiiBy highestIoueassign’d, therein to beareNights burning lamp, regarded not her threat,Ne yielded ought for fauour or for feare;But with sterne countenaunce and disdainfull cheare,Bending her horned browes, did put her back:And boldly blaming her for comming there,Bade her attonce from heauens coast to pack,Or at her perill bide the wrathfull Thunders wrack.

But shee that had to her that soueraigne seatxii

By highestIoueassign’d, therein to beare

Nights burning lamp, regarded not her threat,

Ne yielded ought for fauour or for feare;

But with sterne countenaunce and disdainfull cheare,

Bending her horned browes, did put her back:

And boldly blaming her for comming there,

Bade her attonce from heauens coast to pack,

Or at her perill bide the wrathfull Thunders wrack.

Yet nathemore theGiantesseforbare:xiiiBut boldly preacing-on, raught forth her handTo pluck her downe perforce from off her chaire;And there-with lifting vp her golden wand,Threatned to strike her if she did with-stand.Where-at the starres, which round about her blazed,And eke the Moones bright wagon, still did stand,All beeing with so bold attempt amazed,And on her vncouth habit and sterne looke still gazed.

Yet nathemore theGiantesseforbare:xiii

But boldly preacing-on, raught forth her hand

To pluck her downe perforce from off her chaire;

And there-with lifting vp her golden wand,

Threatned to strike her if she did with-stand.

Where-at the starres, which round about her blazed,

And eke the Moones bright wagon, still did stand,

All beeing with so bold attempt amazed,

And on her vncouth habit and sterne looke still gazed.

Meane-while, the lower World, which nothing knewxivOf all that chaunced here, was darkned quite;And eke the heauens, and all the heauenly crewOf happy wights, now vnpurvaide of light,Were much afraid, and wondred at that sight;Fearing leastChaosbroken had his chaine,And brought againe on them eternall night:But chiefelyMercury, that next doth raigne,Ran forth in haste, vnto the king of Gods to plaine.

Meane-while, the lower World, which nothing knewxiv

Of all that chaunced here, was darkned quite;

And eke the heauens, and all the heauenly crew

Of happy wights, now vnpurvaide of light,

Were much afraid, and wondred at that sight;

Fearing leastChaosbroken had his chaine,

And brought againe on them eternall night:

But chiefelyMercury, that next doth raigne,

Ran forth in haste, vnto the king of Gods to plaine.

All ran together with a great out-cry,xvToIouesfaire Palace, fixt in heauens hight;And beating at his gates full earnestly,Gan call to him aloud with all their might,To know what meant that suddaine lack of light.The father of the Gods when this he heard,Was troubled much at their so strange affright,Doubting leastTyphonwere againe vprear’d,Or other his old foes, that once him sorely fear’d.

All ran together with a great out-cry,xv

ToIouesfaire Palace, fixt in heauens hight;

And beating at his gates full earnestly,

Gan call to him aloud with all their might,

To know what meant that suddaine lack of light.

The father of the Gods when this he heard,

Was troubled much at their so strange affright,

Doubting leastTyphonwere againe vprear’d,

Or other his old foes, that once him sorely fear’d.

Eftsoones the sonne ofMaiaforth he sentxviDowne to the Circle of the Moone, to knoweThe cause of this so strange astonishment,And why shee did her wonted course forslowe;And if that any were on earth beloweThat did with charmes or Magick her molest,Him to attache, and downe to hell to throwe:But, if from heauen it were, then to arrestThe Author, and him bring before his presence prest.

Eftsoones the sonne ofMaiaforth he sentxvi

Downe to the Circle of the Moone, to knowe

The cause of this so strange astonishment,

And why shee did her wonted course forslowe;

And if that any were on earth belowe

That did with charmes or Magick her molest,

Him to attache, and downe to hell to throwe:

But, if from heauen it were, then to arrest

The Author, and him bring before his presence prest.

The wingd-foot God, so fast his plumes did beat,xviiThat soone he came where-as theTitanesseWas striuing with faireCynthiafor her seat:At whose strange sight, and haughty hardinesse,He wondred much, and feared her no lesse.Yet laying feare aside to doe his charge,At last, he bade her (with bold stedfastnesse)Ceasse to molest the Moone to walke at large,Or come before highIoue, her dooings to discharge.

The wingd-foot God, so fast his plumes did beat,xvii

That soone he came where-as theTitanesse

Was striuing with faireCynthiafor her seat:

At whose strange sight, and haughty hardinesse,

He wondred much, and feared her no lesse.

Yet laying feare aside to doe his charge,

At last, he bade her (with bold stedfastnesse)

Ceasse to molest the Moone to walke at large,

Or come before highIoue, her dooings to discharge.

And there-with-all, he on her shoulder laidxviiiHis snaky-wreathed Mace, whose awfull powerDoth make both Gods and hellish fiends affraid:Where-at theTitanessedid sternely lower,And stoutly answer’d, that in euill howerHe from hisIouesuch message to her brought,To bid her leaue faireCynthiassiluer bower;Sith shee hisIoueand him esteemed nought,No more thenCynthia’sselfe; but all their kingdoms sought.

And there-with-all, he on her shoulder laidxviii

His snaky-wreathed Mace, whose awfull power

Doth make both Gods and hellish fiends affraid:

Where-at theTitanessedid sternely lower,

And stoutly answer’d, that in euill hower

He from hisIouesuch message to her brought,

To bid her leaue faireCynthiassiluer bower;

Sith shee hisIoueand him esteemed nought,

No more thenCynthia’sselfe; but all their kingdoms sought.

The Heauens Herald staid not to reply,xixBut past away, his doings to relateVnto his Lord; who now in th’highest sky,Was placed in his principall Estate,With all the Gods about him congregate:To whom whenHermeshad his message told,It did them all exceedingly amate,SaueIoue; who, changing nought his count’nance bold,Did vnto them at length these speeches wise vnfold;

The Heauens Herald staid not to reply,xix

But past away, his doings to relate

Vnto his Lord; who now in th’highest sky,

Was placed in his principall Estate,

With all the Gods about him congregate:

To whom whenHermeshad his message told,

It did them all exceedingly amate,

SaueIoue; who, changing nought his count’nance bold,

Did vnto them at length these speeches wise vnfold;

Harken to mee awhile yee heauenly Powers;xxYe may remember since th’Earths cursed seedSought to assaile the heauens eternall towers,And to vs all exceeding feare did breed:But how we then defeated all their deed,Yee all doe knowe, and them destroied quite;Yet not so quite, but that there did succeedAn off-spring of their bloud, which did aliteVpon the fruitfull earth, which doth vs yet despite.

Harken to mee awhile yee heauenly Powers;xx

Ye may remember since th’Earths cursed seed

Sought to assaile the heauens eternall towers,

And to vs all exceeding feare did breed:

But how we then defeated all their deed,

Yee all doe knowe, and them destroied quite;

Yet not so quite, but that there did succeed

An off-spring of their bloud, which did alite

Vpon the fruitfull earth, which doth vs yet despite.

Of that bad seed is this bold woman bred,xxiThat now with bold presumption doth aspireTo thrust fairePhœbefrom her siluer bed,And eke our selues from heauens high Empire,If that her might were match to her desire:Wherefore, it now behoues vs to adviseWhat way is best to driue her to retire;Whether by open force, or counsell wise,Areed ye sonnes of God, as best ye can deuise.

Of that bad seed is this bold woman bred,xxi

That now with bold presumption doth aspire

To thrust fairePhœbefrom her siluer bed,

And eke our selues from heauens high Empire,

If that her might were match to her desire:

Wherefore, it now behoues vs to advise

What way is best to driue her to retire;

Whether by open force, or counsell wise,

Areed ye sonnes of God, as best ye can deuise.

So hauing said, he ceast; and with his browxxii(His black eye-brow, whose doomefull dreaded beckIs wont to wield the world vnto his vow,And euen the highest Powers of heauen to check)Made signe to them in their degrees to speake:Who straight gan cast their counsell graue and wise.Meane-while, th’Earths daughter, thogh she nought did reckOfHermesmessage; yet gan now advise,What course were best to take in this hot[610]bold emprize.

So hauing said, he ceast; and with his browxxii

(His black eye-brow, whose doomefull dreaded beck

Is wont to wield the world vnto his vow,

And euen the highest Powers of heauen to check)

Made signe to them in their degrees to speake:

Who straight gan cast their counsell graue and wise.

Meane-while, th’Earths daughter, thogh she nought did reck

OfHermesmessage; yet gan now advise,

What course were best to take in this hot[610]bold emprize.

Eftsoones she thus resolv’d; that whil’st the Godsxxiii(After returne ofHermesEmbassie)Were troubled, and amongst themselues at ods,Before they could new counsels re-allie,To set vpon them in that extasie;And take what fortune time and place would lend:So, forth she rose, and through the purest skyToIoueshigh Palace straight cast to ascend,To prosecute her plot: Good on-set boads good end.

Eftsoones she thus resolv’d; that whil’st the Godsxxiii

(After returne ofHermesEmbassie)

Were troubled, and amongst themselues at ods,

Before they could new counsels re-allie,

To set vpon them in that extasie;

And take what fortune time and place would lend:

So, forth she rose, and through the purest sky

ToIoueshigh Palace straight cast to ascend,

To prosecute her plot: Good on-set boads good end.

Shee there arriuing, boldly in did pass;xxivWhere all the Gods she found in counsell close,All quite vnarm’d, as then their manner was.At sight of her they suddaine all arose,In great amaze, ne wist what way to chose.ButIoue, all fearelesse, forc’t them to aby;And in his soueraine throne, gan straight disposeHimselfe more full of grace and Maiestie,That mote encheare his friends, and foes mote terrifie.

Shee there arriuing, boldly in did pass;xxiv

Where all the Gods she found in counsell close,

All quite vnarm’d, as then their manner was.

At sight of her they suddaine all arose,

In great amaze, ne wist what way to chose.

ButIoue, all fearelesse, forc’t them to aby;

And in his soueraine throne, gan straight dispose

Himselfe more full of grace and Maiestie,

That mote encheare his friends, and foes mote terrifie.

That, when the haughtyTitanessebeheld,xxvAll were she fraught with pride and impudence,Yet with the sight thereof was almost queld;And inly quaking, seem’d as reft of sense,And voyd of speech in that drad audience;Vntill thatIouehimselfe, her selfe bespake:Speake thou fraile woman, speake with confidence,Whence art thou, and what doost thou here now make?What idle errand hast thou,[611]earths mansion to forsake?

That, when the haughtyTitanessebeheld,xxv

All were she fraught with pride and impudence,

Yet with the sight thereof was almost queld;

And inly quaking, seem’d as reft of sense,

And voyd of speech in that drad audience;

Vntill thatIouehimselfe, her selfe bespake:

Speake thou fraile woman, speake with confidence,

Whence art thou, and what doost thou here now make?

What idle errand hast thou,[611]earths mansion to forsake?

Shee, halfe confused with his great commaund,xxviYet gathering spirit of her natures pride,Him boldly answer’d thus to his demaund:I am a daughter, by the mothers side,Of her that is Grand-mother magnifideOf all the Gods, greatEarth, greatChaoschild:But by the fathers (be it not envide)I greater am in bloud (whereon I build)Then all the Gods, though wrongfully from heauen exil’d.

Shee, halfe confused with his great commaund,xxvi

Yet gathering spirit of her natures pride,

Him boldly answer’d thus to his demaund:

I am a daughter, by the mothers side,

Of her that is Grand-mother magnifide

Of all the Gods, greatEarth, greatChaoschild:

But by the fathers (be it not envide)

I greater am in bloud (whereon I build)

Then all the Gods, though wrongfully from heauen exil’d.

For,Titan(as ye all acknowledge must)xxviiWasSaturneselder brother by birth-right;Both, sonnes ofVranus: but by vniustAnd guilefull meanes, throughCorybantesslight,The younger thrust the elder from his right:Since which, thouIoue, iniuriously hast heldThe Heauens rule fromTitanssonnes by might;And them to hellish dungeons downe hast feld:Witnesse ye Heauens the truth of all that I haue teld.

For,Titan(as ye all acknowledge must)xxvii

WasSaturneselder brother by birth-right;

Both, sonnes ofVranus: but by vniust

And guilefull meanes, throughCorybantesslight,

The younger thrust the elder from his right:

Since which, thouIoue, iniuriously hast held

The Heauens rule fromTitanssonnes by might;

And them to hellish dungeons downe hast feld:

Witnesse ye Heauens the truth of all that I haue teld.

Whil’st she thus spake, the Gods that gaue good earexxviiiTo her bold words, and marked well her grace,Beeing of stature tall as any thereOf all the Gods, and beautifull of face,As any of the Goddesses in place,Stood all astonied, like a sort of Steeres;Mongst whom, some beast of strange and forraine race,Vnwares is chaunc’t, far straying from his peeres:So did their ghastly gaze bewray their hidden feares.

Whil’st she thus spake, the Gods that gaue good earexxviii

To her bold words, and marked well her grace,

Beeing of stature tall as any there

Of all the Gods, and beautifull of face,

As any of the Goddesses in place,

Stood all astonied, like a sort of Steeres;

Mongst whom, some beast of strange and forraine race,

Vnwares is chaunc’t, far straying from his peeres:

So did their ghastly gaze bewray their hidden feares.

Till hauing pauz’d awhile,Iouethus bespake;xxixWill neuer mortall thoughts ceasse to aspire,In this bold sort, to Heauen claime to make,And touch celestiall seates with earthly mire?I would haue thought, that boldProcrustes[612]hire,OrTyphonsfall, or proudIxionspaine,Or greatPrometheus, tasting of our ire,Would haue suffiz’d, the rest for to restraine;And warn’d all men by their example to refraine:

Till hauing pauz’d awhile,Iouethus bespake;xxix

Will neuer mortall thoughts ceasse to aspire,

In this bold sort, to Heauen claime to make,

And touch celestiall seates with earthly mire?

I would haue thought, that boldProcrustes[612]hire,

OrTyphonsfall, or proudIxionspaine,

Or greatPrometheus, tasting of our ire,

Would haue suffiz’d, the rest for to restraine;

And warn’d all men by their example to refraine:

But now, this off-scum of that cursed fry,xxxDare to renew the like bold enterprize,And chalenge th’heritage of this our skie;Whom what should hinder, but that we likewiseShould handle as the rest of her allies,And thunder-driue to hell? With that, he shookeHis Nectar-deawed locks, with which the skyesAnd all the world beneath for terror quooke,And eft his burning levin-brond in hand he tooke.

But now, this off-scum of that cursed fry,xxx

Dare to renew the like bold enterprize,

And chalenge th’heritage of this our skie;

Whom what should hinder, but that we likewise

Should handle as the rest of her allies,

And thunder-driue to hell? With that, he shooke

His Nectar-deawed locks, with which the skyes

And all the world beneath for terror quooke,

And eft his burning levin-brond in hand he tooke.

But, when he looked on her louely face,xxxiIn which, faire beames of beauty did appeare,That could the greatest wrath soone turne to grace(Such sway doth beauty euen in Heauen beare)He staide his hand: and hauing chang’d his cheare,He thus againe in milder wise began;But ah! if Gods should striue with flesh yfere,Then shortly should the progeny of ManBe rooted out, ifIoueshould doe still what he can:

But, when he looked on her louely face,xxxi

In which, faire beames of beauty did appeare,

That could the greatest wrath soone turne to grace

(Such sway doth beauty euen in Heauen beare)

He staide his hand: and hauing chang’d his cheare,

He thus againe in milder wise began;

But ah! if Gods should striue with flesh yfere,

Then shortly should the progeny of Man

Be rooted out, ifIoueshould doe still what he can:

But thee faireTitanschild, I rather weene,xxxiiThrough some vaine errour or inducement light,To see that mortall eyes haue neuer seene;Or through ensample of thy sisters might,Bellona; whose great glory thou doost spight,Since thou hast seene her dreadfull power belowe,Mongst wretched men (dismaide with her affright)To bandie Crownes, and Kingdomes to bestowe:And sure thy worth, no lesse then hers doth seem to showe.

But thee faireTitanschild, I rather weene,xxxii

Through some vaine errour or inducement light,

To see that mortall eyes haue neuer seene;

Or through ensample of thy sisters might,

Bellona; whose great glory thou doost spight,

Since thou hast seene her dreadfull power belowe,

Mongst wretched men (dismaide with her affright)

To bandie Crownes, and Kingdomes to bestowe:

And sure thy worth, no lesse then hers doth seem to showe.

But wote thou this, thou hardyTitanesse,xxxiiiThat not the worth of any liuing wightMay challenge ought in Heauens interesse;Much lesse the Title of oldTitansRight:For, we by Conquest of our soueraine might,And by eternall doome of Fates decree,Haue wonne the Empire of the Heauens bright;Which to our selues we hold, and to whom weeShall worthy deeme partakers of our blisse to bee.

But wote thou this, thou hardyTitanesse,xxxiii

That not the worth of any liuing wight

May challenge ought in Heauens interesse;

Much lesse the Title of oldTitansRight:

For, we by Conquest of our soueraine might,

And by eternall doome of Fates decree,

Haue wonne the Empire of the Heauens bright;

Which to our selues we hold, and to whom wee

Shall worthy deeme partakers of our blisse to bee.

Then ceasse thy idle claime thou foolish gerle,xxxivAnd seeke by grace and goodnesse to obtaineThat place from which by follyTitanfell;There-to thou maist perhaps, if so thou faineHaueIouethy gratious Lord and Soueraigne.So, hauing said, she thus to him replide;CeasseSaturnessonne, to seeke by proffers vaineOf idle hopes t’allure mee to thy side,For to betray my Right, before I haue it tride.

Then ceasse thy idle claime thou foolish gerle,xxxiv

And seeke by grace and goodnesse to obtaine

That place from which by follyTitanfell;

There-to thou maist perhaps, if so thou faine

HaueIouethy gratious Lord and Soueraigne.

So, hauing said, she thus to him replide;

CeasseSaturnessonne, to seeke by proffers vaine

Of idle hopes t’allure mee to thy side,

For to betray my Right, before I haue it tride.

But thee, OIoue, no equall Iudge I deemexxxvOf my desert, or of my dewfull Right;That in thine owne behalfe maist partiall seeme:But to the highest him, that is behightFather of Gods and men by equall might;To weet, the God of Nature, I appeale.There-atIouewexed wroth, and in his sprightDid inly grudge, yet did it well conceale;And badeDan PhœbusScribe her Appellation seale.

But thee, OIoue, no equall Iudge I deemexxxv

Of my desert, or of my dewfull Right;

That in thine owne behalfe maist partiall seeme:

But to the highest him, that is behight

Father of Gods and men by equall might;

To weet, the God of Nature, I appeale.

There-atIouewexed wroth, and in his spright

Did inly grudge, yet did it well conceale;

And badeDan PhœbusScribe her Appellation seale.

Eftsoones the time and place appointed were,xxxviWhere all, both heauenly Powers, and earthly wights,Before great Natures presence should appeare,For triall of their Titles and best Rights:That was, to weet, vpon the highest hightsOfArlo-hill(Who knowes notArlo-hill?)That is the highest head (in all mens sights)Of my old fatherMole, whom Shepheards quillRenowmed hath with hymnes fit for a rurall skill.

Eftsoones the time and place appointed were,xxxvi

Where all, both heauenly Powers, and earthly wights,

Before great Natures presence should appeare,

For triall of their Titles and best Rights:

That was, to weet, vpon the highest hights

OfArlo-hill(Who knowes notArlo-hill?)

That is the highest head (in all mens sights)

Of my old fatherMole, whom Shepheards quill

Renowmed hath with hymnes fit for a rurall skill.

And, were it not ill fitting for this file,xxxviiTo sing of hilles and woods, mongst warres and Knights,I would abate the sternenesse of my stile,Mongst these sterne stounds to mingle soft delights;And tell howArlothroughDianaesspights(Beeing of old the best and fairest HillThat was in all this holy-Islands hights)Was made the most vnpleasant, and most ill.Meane while, OClio, lendCalliopethy quill.

And, were it not ill fitting for this file,xxxvii

To sing of hilles and woods, mongst warres and Knights,

I would abate the sternenesse of my stile,

Mongst these sterne stounds to mingle soft delights;

And tell howArlothroughDianaesspights

(Beeing of old the best and fairest Hill

That was in all this holy-Islands hights)

Was made the most vnpleasant, and most ill.

Meane while, OClio, lendCalliopethy quill.

Whylome, whenIRELANDflorished in famexxxviiiOf wealths[613]and goodnesse, far aboue the restOf all that beare theBritishIslands name,The Gods then vs’d (for pleasure and for rest)Oft to resort there-to, when seem’d them best:But none of all there-in more pleasure found,ThenCynthia; that is soueraine Queene profestOf woods and forrests, which therein abound,Sprinkled with wholsom waters, more then most on ground.

Whylome, whenIRELANDflorished in famexxxviii

Of wealths[613]and goodnesse, far aboue the rest

Of all that beare theBritishIslands name,

The Gods then vs’d (for pleasure and for rest)

Oft to resort there-to, when seem’d them best:

But none of all there-in more pleasure found,

ThenCynthia; that is soueraine Queene profest

Of woods and forrests, which therein abound,

Sprinkled with wholsom waters, more then most on ground.

But mongst them all, as fittest for her game,xxxixEither for chace of beasts with hound or boawe,Or for to shroude in shade fromPhœbusflame,Or bathe in fountaines that doe freshly flowe,Or from high hilles, or from the dales belowe,She chose thisArlo; where shee did resortWith all her Nymphes enranged on a rowe,With whom the woody Gods did oft consort:For, with the Nymphes, the Satyres loue to play and sport.

But mongst them all, as fittest for her game,xxxix

Either for chace of beasts with hound or boawe,

Or for to shroude in shade fromPhœbusflame,

Or bathe in fountaines that doe freshly flowe,

Or from high hilles, or from the dales belowe,

She chose thisArlo; where shee did resort

With all her Nymphes enranged on a rowe,

With whom the woody Gods did oft consort:

For, with the Nymphes, the Satyres loue to play and sport.

Amongst the which, there was a Nymph that hightxlMolanna; daughter of old fatherMole,And sister vntoMulla, faire and bright:Vnto whose bed falseBregogwhylome stole,That ShepheardColindearely did condole,And made her lucklesse loues well knowne to be.But thisMolannawere she not so shole,Were no lesse faire and beautifull then shee:Yet as she is, a fairer flood may no man see.

Amongst the which, there was a Nymph that hightxl

Molanna; daughter of old fatherMole,

And sister vntoMulla, faire and bright:

Vnto whose bed falseBregogwhylome stole,

That ShepheardColindearely did condole,

And made her lucklesse loues well knowne to be.

But thisMolannawere she not so shole,

Were no lesse faire and beautifull then shee:

Yet as she is, a fairer flood may no man see.

For, first, she springs out of two marble Rocks,xliOn which, a groue of Oakes high mounted growes,That as a girlond seemes to deck the locksOf som faire Bride, brought forth with pompous showesOut of her bowre, that many flowers strowes:So, through the flowry Dales she tumbling downe,Through many woods, and shady coverts flowes(That on each side her siluer channell crowne)Till to the Plaine she come, whose Valleyes shee doth drowne.

For, first, she springs out of two marble Rocks,xli

On which, a groue of Oakes high mounted growes,

That as a girlond seemes to deck the locks

Of som faire Bride, brought forth with pompous showes

Out of her bowre, that many flowers strowes:

So, through the flowry Dales she tumbling downe,

Through many woods, and shady coverts flowes

(That on each side her siluer channell crowne)

Till to the Plaine she come, whose Valleyes shee doth drowne.

In her sweet streames,Dianavsed oftxlii(After her sweatie chace and toilesome play)To bathe her selfe; and after, on the softAnd downy grasse, her dainty limbes to layIn couert shade, where none behold her may:For, much she hated sight of liuing eye.Foolish GodFaunus, though full many a dayHe saw her clad, yet longed foolishlyTo see her naked mongst her Nymphes in priuity.

In her sweet streames,Dianavsed oftxlii

(After her sweatie chace and toilesome play)

To bathe her selfe; and after, on the soft

And downy grasse, her dainty limbes to lay

In couert shade, where none behold her may:

For, much she hated sight of liuing eye.

Foolish GodFaunus, though full many a day

He saw her clad, yet longed foolishly

To see her naked mongst her Nymphes in priuity.

No way he found to compasse his desire,xliiiBut to corruptMolanna, this her maid,Her to discouer for some secret hire:So, her with flattering words he first assaid;And after, pleasing gifts for her purvaid,Queene-apples, and red Cherries from the tree,With which he her allured and betraid,To tell what time he might her Lady seeWhen she her selfe did bathe, that he might secret bee.

No way he found to compasse his desire,xliii

But to corruptMolanna, this her maid,

Her to discouer for some secret hire:

So, her with flattering words he first assaid;

And after, pleasing gifts for her purvaid,

Queene-apples, and red Cherries from the tree,

With which he her allured and betraid,

To tell what time he might her Lady see

When she her selfe did bathe, that he might secret bee.

There-to hee promist, if shee would him pleasurexlivWith this small boone, to quit her with a better;To weet, that where-as shee had out of measureLong lov’d theFanchin, who by nought did set her,That he would vndertake, for this to get herTo be his Loue, and of him liked well:Besides all which, he vow’d to be her debterFor many moe good turnes then he would tell;The least of which, this little pleasure should excell.

There-to hee promist, if shee would him pleasurexliv

With this small boone, to quit her with a better;

To weet, that where-as shee had out of measure

Long lov’d theFanchin, who by nought did set her,

That he would vndertake, for this to get her

To be his Loue, and of him liked well:

Besides all which, he vow’d to be her debter

For many moe good turnes then he would tell;

The least of which, this little pleasure should excell.

The simple maid did yield to him anone;xlvAnd eft him placed where he close might viewThat neuer any saw, saue onely one;Who, for his hire to so foole-hardy dew,Was of his hounds devour’d in Hunters hew.Tho, as her manner was on sunny day,Diana, with her Nymphes about her, drewTo this sweet spring; where, doffing her array,She bath’d her louely limbes, forIouea likely pray.

The simple maid did yield to him anone;xlv

And eft him placed where he close might view

That neuer any saw, saue onely one;

Who, for his hire to so foole-hardy dew,

Was of his hounds devour’d in Hunters hew.

Tho, as her manner was on sunny day,

Diana, with her Nymphes about her, drew

To this sweet spring; where, doffing her array,

She bath’d her louely limbes, forIouea likely pray.

ThereFaunussaw that pleased much his eye,xlviAnd made his hart to tickle in his brest,That for great ioy of some-what he did spy,He could him not containe in silent rest;But breaking forth in laughter, loud profestHis foolish thought. A foolishFauneindeed,That couldst not hold thy selfe so hidden blest,But wouldest needs thine owne conceit areed.Babblers vnworthy been of so diuine a meed.

ThereFaunussaw that pleased much his eye,xlvi

And made his hart to tickle in his brest,

That for great ioy of some-what he did spy,

He could him not containe in silent rest;

But breaking forth in laughter, loud profest

His foolish thought. A foolishFauneindeed,

That couldst not hold thy selfe so hidden blest,

But wouldest needs thine owne conceit areed.

Babblers vnworthy been of so diuine a meed.

The Goddesse, all abashed with that noise,xlviiIn haste forth started from the guilty brooke;And running straight where-as she heard his voice,Enclos’d the bush about, and there him tooke,Like darred Larke; not daring vp to lookeOn her whose sight before so much he sought.Thence, forth they drew him by the hornes, and shookeNigh all to peeces, that they left him nought;And then into the open light they forth him brought.

The Goddesse, all abashed with that noise,xlvii

In haste forth started from the guilty brooke;

And running straight where-as she heard his voice,

Enclos’d the bush about, and there him tooke,

Like darred Larke; not daring vp to looke

On her whose sight before so much he sought.

Thence, forth they drew him by the hornes, and shooke

Nigh all to peeces, that they left him nought;

And then into the open light they forth him brought.

Like as an huswife, that with busie carexlviiiThinks of her Dairie to make wondrous gaine,Finding where-as some wicked beast vnwareThat breakes into her Dayr’house, there doth draineHer creaming pannes, and frustrate all her paine;Hath in some snare or gin set close behind,Entrapped him, and caught into her traine,Then thinkes what punishment were best assign’d,And thousand deathes deuiseth in her vengefull mind:

Like as an huswife, that with busie carexlviii

Thinks of her Dairie to make wondrous gaine,

Finding where-as some wicked beast vnware

That breakes into her Dayr’house, there doth draine

Her creaming pannes, and frustrate all her paine;

Hath in some snare or gin set close behind,

Entrapped him, and caught into her traine,

Then thinkes what punishment were best assign’d,

And thousand deathes deuiseth in her vengefull mind:

So didDianaand her maydens allxlixVse sillyFaunus, now within their baile:They mocke and scorne him, and him foule miscall;Some by the nose him pluckt, some by the taile,And by his goatish beard some did him haile:Yet he (poore soule) with patience all did beare;For, nought against their wils might countervaile:Ne ought he said what euer he did heare;But hanging downe his head, did like a Mome appeare.

So didDianaand her maydens allxlix

Vse sillyFaunus, now within their baile:

They mocke and scorne him, and him foule miscall;

Some by the nose him pluckt, some by the taile,

And by his goatish beard some did him haile:

Yet he (poore soule) with patience all did beare;

For, nought against their wils might countervaile:

Ne ought he said what euer he did heare;

But hanging downe his head, did like a Mome appeare.

At length, when they had flouted him their fill,lThey gan to cast what penaunce him to giue.Some would haue gelt him, but that same would spillThe Wood-gods breed, which must for euer liue:Others would through the riuer him haue driue,And ducked deepe: but that seem’d penaunce light;But most agreed and did this sentence giue,Him in Deares skin to clad; and in that plight,To hunt him with their hounds, him selfe saue how hee might.

At length, when they had flouted him their fill,l

They gan to cast what penaunce him to giue.

Some would haue gelt him, but that same would spill

The Wood-gods breed, which must for euer liue:

Others would through the riuer him haue driue,

And ducked deepe: but that seem’d penaunce light;

But most agreed and did this sentence giue,

Him in Deares skin to clad; and in that plight,

To hunt him with their hounds, him selfe saue how hee might.

ButCynthia’sselfe, more angry then the rest,liThought not enough, to punish him in sport,And of her shame to make a gamesome iest;But gan examine him in straighter sort,Which of her Nymphes, or other close consort,Him thither brought, and her to him betraid?He, much affeard, to her confessed short,That ’twasMolannawhich her so bewraid.Then all attonce their hands vponMolannalaid.

ButCynthia’sselfe, more angry then the rest,li

Thought not enough, to punish him in sport,

And of her shame to make a gamesome iest;

But gan examine him in straighter sort,

Which of her Nymphes, or other close consort,

Him thither brought, and her to him betraid?

He, much affeard, to her confessed short,

That ’twasMolannawhich her so bewraid.

Then all attonce their hands vponMolannalaid.

But him (according as they had decreed)liiWith a Deeres-skin they couered, and then chastWith all their hounds that after him did speed;But he more speedy, from them fled more fastThen any Deere: so sore him dread aghast.They after follow’d all with shrill out-cry,Shouting as they the heauens would haue brast:That all the woods and dales where he did flie,Did ring againe, and loud reeccho to the skie.

But him (according as they had decreed)lii

With a Deeres-skin they couered, and then chast

With all their hounds that after him did speed;

But he more speedy, from them fled more fast

Then any Deere: so sore him dread aghast.

They after follow’d all with shrill out-cry,

Shouting as they the heauens would haue brast:

That all the woods and dales where he did flie,

Did ring againe, and loud reeccho to the skie.

So they him follow’d till they weary were;liiiWhen, back returning toMolann’againe,They, by commaund’ment ofDiana, thereHer whelm’d with stones. YetFaunus(for her paine)Of her belouedFanchindid obtaine,That her he would receiue vnto his bed.So now her waues passe through a pleasant Plaine,Till with theFanchinshe her selfe doe wed,And (both combin’d) themselues in one faire riuer spred.

So they him follow’d till they weary were;liii

When, back returning toMolann’againe,

They, by commaund’ment ofDiana, there

Her whelm’d with stones. YetFaunus(for her paine)

Of her belouedFanchindid obtaine,

That her he would receiue vnto his bed.

So now her waues passe through a pleasant Plaine,

Till with theFanchinshe her selfe doe wed,

And (both combin’d) themselues in one faire riuer spred.

Nath’lesse,Diana, full of indignation,livThence-forth abandond her delicious brooke;In whose sweet streame, before that bad occasion,So much delight to bathe her limbes she tooke:Ne onely her, but also quite forsookeAll those faire forrests aboutArlohid,And all that Mountaine, which doth over-lookeThe richest champian[614]that may else be rid,And the faireShure, in which are thousand Salmons bred.

Nath’lesse,Diana, full of indignation,liv

Thence-forth abandond her delicious brooke;

In whose sweet streame, before that bad occasion,

So much delight to bathe her limbes she tooke:

Ne onely her, but also quite forsooke

All those faire forrests aboutArlohid,

And all that Mountaine, which doth over-looke

The richest champian[614]that may else be rid,

And the faireShure, in which are thousand Salmons bred.

Them all, and all that she so deare did way,lvThence-forth she left; and parting from the place,There-on an heauy haplesse curse did lay,To weet, that Wolues, where she was wont to space,Should harbour’d be, and all those Woods deface,And Thieues should rob and spoile that Coast around.Since which, those Woods, and all that goodly Chase,Doth to this day with Wolues and Thieues abound:Which too-too true that lands in-dwellers since haue found.

Them all, and all that she so deare did way,lv

Thence-forth she left; and parting from the place,

There-on an heauy haplesse curse did lay,

To weet, that Wolues, where she was wont to space,

Should harbour’d be, and all those Woods deface,

And Thieues should rob and spoile that Coast around.

Since which, those Woods, and all that goodly Chase,

Doth to this day with Wolues and Thieues abound:

Which too-too true that lands in-dwellers since haue found.

FOOTNOTES:[608]vii 4 th’empire1609:corr. 1611[609]x 1 That] ThoHughes. Upton[610]xxii 9 hot] herHughes[611]xxv 9 thouom. Hughes[612]xxix 5Procustes1609[613]xxxviii 2 wealthHughes &c.

[608]vii 4 th’empire1609:corr. 1611

[609]x 1 That] ThoHughes. Upton

[610]xxii 9 hot] herHughes

[611]xxv 9 thouom. Hughes

[612]xxix 5Procustes1609

[613]xxxviii 2 wealthHughes &c.

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