Book II, Chapter 8

WHen ouer deepe Euenus Foord the passage did not fit,
This Giant, of a Stature tall, did offer helpe to it:
And Hercules, forgetting him (for at the Centaures Fray
The same vnslaine, but not vnskard, escaped then away)
[…] pray him to the farther shoare with Deianire to waide,
And so he did, whilst Hercules this side the Riuer staid.
When Iunos Breed on farther bankes his Passenger had set,
The lust and long conceaued grudge to foule reuenge did whet:
Not Deianira could auoid a Rape, or little lesse:
Or Hercules, disioynd by Foord, giue aide to her distresse.
One while, contrarie to himselfe, full humbly he intreates,
Anon, like Hercules indeede, he did commaund with threates.
But first nor latter might preuaile, for Nessus halde her thence.
I may not follow, nor in flight is (Centaure) thy defence
Said Hercules. His deeds approue his latter saying true,
For letting flie a fatall Shaft the Rauisher he slue.
And though the arrow galled him euen at the very heart,
Yeat for a while he did indure the not induring smart.
And hauing brought his trembling Rape into a vallie, said:
See Deianira how thy Loue an end of me hath made:
Yeat is my death lesse griefe to me, then that thou shouldst bestow
Thy selfe on such a changing Churle as Hercules: I know
(Sweete Wench I know) he dooth preferre contrarie Loues to thee,
Wherefore my graue (the lesse my griefe) in this thy good shall be.
Take this (he gaue a folded cloth, and to the baene therein
He mixed somewhat of his bloud) this same (quoth he) shall win
To thee again thy Husbands loue, when he shall it estrange:
For out of doubt, I know it I, he takes delight in change.
When thou suspectest such a wrong, doe boyle a shirt with this:
No sooner shall he weare the same (herein such vertue is)
But that his nouell Loue will change and fall whence it did flie:
Meane while doe not the vnction touch, least so the vertue die.

In all this time betwixt his armes he did the Ladie claspe,
And hild her so, as Hawke a Pray, vntill his latest gaspe.
Then leauing him a liuelesse Coarse, mistrusting nought his drift,
She meaning simply, tooke with her the traitours poysned gift.
And Hercules by this had past the Riuer deepe and wide:
Who (Deianira first imbrast) drew from the Centaures side
The fatall Shaft that should the death of braue Achilles proue,
In Phoebus Church, by Paris hand, for Polixenas loue.

THe Centaure left vntoombed there, Hee, Shee, and all their traine
are come to Lerna, whom the King did noblie entertaine.
Theare had he from their common teares the cruell hauock made
By Lernan Hydra, whom in Fenne not armies durst inuade.
His vpper parts had humane forme, his nether Serpentine,
The whole was monstrous, yeat his wit more monstrous, but most fine
(For wit is moustrous when the same from vertue doth decline.)
Such were his subtill arguments, and still supplies therein,
That he by often losse of heads was fained heads to winne:
And wittie thus to others wrong confounded all hee found,
Propounding questions, and a word vnanswered was a wound.
The Scourge of Tyrants hearing this, did promise death or ayde,
Whilst fearefull Deianira did the contrarie perswade.
But womans speech from weapons vse might not withdraw him then,
Til entring Palus, he had rousd the Monster from his Denne.

Disdainfully did Hydra take the presence of his Foe,
And after subtill arguments to sturdie fight they goe.
Two blowes at once with Glaue and Taile made Hercules to reele:
Who since he first had vsed armes the like did neuer feele.
Not long he borrowed had the Loan, but Hydra had the like:
So either twaine repaye their debt, and neither faintly strike.
But who might stand with Hercules? By him the monster fell:
Who, burning vp his vgly shape did passe his soule to hell:
Which happie fate of Hydras fall left Lerna glad and well.
From whence to Athens, and from thence to Lycia did he saile,
Then to Hesperia Gerions Realme his outrages to quaile.

HE by his triple tyrannie (for Gerion he was said
three headed, in respect that him three other Giants aid)
So spoild and plag'd ye neighbour Realmes with daily wrongs & war,
That all the force of Africa his furie could not barre.
In Gadira when Hercules his Pillers reared had,
The which (our westerne world not knowne) men farther land forbad,
Then with victorious ships he sets on Gerions chased Fleet:
And secondly at Megida did either armie meete.

Theare Gerion with his brothers twaine the Citie did beset,
And scornefullie aduance themselues as men not to be met.
Prouiding therefore murall workes, they threaten hot assault:
Whilest Hercules contrarie warres vnto his souldiers taught.
The Gates wide opned, out he comes vnto the Giants three,
Your men, he said, are well at worke, well met are also wee.

This lesse then monster more than man, a Fiende in humane shape
The Spanyard said, is he from whom I made so hard escape.
Yet hardlier shalt thou now escape, said Hercules, and than
Betweene them foure, three to one, A cruell fight began.
And euery of the Giants thought himselfe an ouer-match
To Hercules, who almost gaue to one a quick dispatch,
The second he dispatcht in deed, who fell his latest fall.
Then thousands came to rescue them yeat, one, he fights gainst all:
Till Theseus with the other knights did march their Armie out,
And ioyne to him, their Foes with them, and all make battaile stout.
Then Gerions brother fights againe, and both did bathe in bloud,
It was no fighting where they fought, or standing where they stood.
King Meleus, Theseus, Hispan, and Philoctes did no lesse:
But soueraignlie the sonne of Ioue bestird him in the presse.
The Giant, Gerions brother, then by him did breath his last,
And Gerion did retire his men into their Gallies fast,
But where they land, theare Hercules wonne landing, though he past
The Pikes withstanding thousand Swords, & warding thousand slings
Himselfe alone, ere that his men to fight on Shore he brings.

Then Gerion, cursing heauen & earth, bestirre ye friends he cride,
Now is the time to liue or die, let good or bad betide,
Doe liue as men, or die as men, see tenne we are for one,
What lets vs then from victorie, that victors haue beene knowne?
Reuenge your selues, reuenge your friends, reuenge our cōmō mone.
Nor did he shrinke from what he said, or said not as he wrought:
His onely deeds were manies death: Till Hercules he sought,
Whome singling, after combat long, of him his end he cought:
So to subiection Hespera by Hercules was brought.

NO better Spanish Cacus sped, for all his wondrous strength,
Whom Hercules from out his Realme debelled at the length.
A richer King or Tyrant worse liu'd not in any Land,
Nor any one gainst Hercules in hardier fight did stand.
Yeat chased by his Conqueror he was inforc'd to flie
Vpto a Mountain in those parts: where as, at poynt to die
Through famine, by his Magicke Arte he made the Mountaine flame,
And by that shift escapt his Foe, long wondring at the same.
Then fled the Giant night and day (for feare did lend him wings)
And as about from place to place the wandring Tyrant flings,
He on a Mount in Italie cal'd Auentine did light,
Where laboured Cacus did repose his wearied limmes all night.
In this same Hill he found a Caue, which fitting place espide,
He did resolue in secrecie thenceforth himselfe to hide
In that same Mount from sight of men: and being theare alone,
That words at least might vent his woes he maketh thus his mone.
Ah wretch (quoth he) no longer King, that title now must change,
Thou late were fearfull vnto all, now fearing all must range.
This ragged Caue must now suffice in stead of Royall seat,
And though (alas) the place should please, yet want I what to eat.
Where be my solemne banquets now? where is my stately traine?
My Tributes? nay my proper Goods? or doe my friends remaine?
Not one I feare: proud wealth was such, that now in time of need
I knowe not where to seeke a friend in any hope to speede.
And yeat despaire not, Picus liues, indebted much to me
For great good turnes: to him I will ere here I setled be.

Thus droue he foorth the dismall night, and vp by peepe of day
He sped him vnto Calabrie, for there King Picus lay.
His daughters three of long before, and still did loue him well:
And, whether with the kings consent, or not, it so befell
He took them all to Auentin, and there with him they dwell.
About his boisterous neck full oft their daintie armes they cast,
Still plying him with kisses sweet, no sport was ouer-past
That Cacus would, & they might worke: and more, their custome was
By pleasant tales in order told the wearie times to passe.
And once especially it was concluded on a row
That each of them should tell her tale, the first beginning so.