Book III

WHil'st hell thus triumphs, Iupiter aboue
Commands Thaumantis (girt with clowds to moue,
And summon vp the pow'rs of earth and seas,
(Clad all in red) she downeward slides, with ease,
On Zephires wings; the gods, the Sea Nymphes all,
And riuers, from their humid dens doth call:
('Twixt feare and doubt they rowse themselues) but muse
What new occasion, or what suddaine newes
Disturbes their quiet rest; and (being come
To heauens starre-Chamber) each their proper roome
And place prouided haue, with order fit;
In the first ranke the gods Celestiall sit:
And in the second, the Sea pow'rs are plac't,
Calme Nereus, and aged Phorcus, grac't
With comely hoarinesse; (next these, biform'd
Glaucus was set, and Proteus (vntransform'd)
In his owne shape: the ancient and great
Riuers were honour'd with a seu'rall seate;
But thousand lesser Brookes (as was most meet
For youth) like common rowt stood on their feet:
The Water-Nymphes, each, to her liquid Sire
Leanes, and dumbe gazing Fawns, heau'ns stars admire.
Then the graue father from Olympus high
Thus spoke, and breathed forth this mysterie:
At length, the care of mans affaires, againe
Solicites me, which, since the lazie reigne
Of idle Saturne long neglected were;
When we perceiu'd how men secure from feare,
Lay steep't and buri'd in my fathers sloth,
Then to giue further suff'rance we were loth:
But (willing to reforme the same in part)
Spurr'd vp inuention, and gaue reines to Art:
Then were we pleased that th' vntilled field
(Lesse liberall) lesse store of Graine should yeeld:
That hony in the woods more scarce should grow,
And wine no more from swelling Fountaines flow:
Not that we enuious were, or basely prone
To pois'nous malice; but, when ouer-growne
We plenty saw, and easefull ryot, blind
The light of reason, to disswade mankind
We willing were, dull spirits to reuiue:
That each man might by his owne labour liue,
That, sharpe necessity should then produce
And bring forth arts (to be brought vp by vse.)
But Nature vrgeth vs (with sad complaint)
To ease poore man (for such a burden faint)
And (hauing to my charge the Tyrant layd)
With former golden age doth vs vpbrayd;
She calls Ioue, Miser, sayes; that she is franke,
Exclaimes, that we, the fields with thistles ranke
And to growe barren, suffer: that the yeere
Doth fruitlesse passe.
That she, (who vnto mortals long did vowe
Her selfe Kinde mother) is turn'd Stepdame now
And thus proceeds: what boots it, wretched man
To haue a soule (from heauen infus'd) that can
Discourse and reason, and his lofty head
Lift vp; if he like beasts a life must lead,
(Wandring with them in the wild woods, to get
The fruit of Swinish acorns for his meate?
Is this (sayth she) to liue? with such distast
The common mother vrg'd, that we; at last
Contented were, she thus much should obtaine,
That from Chaonian food her sonnes abstaine;
To which effect, we solemnly decree:
That, Ceres, of her daughters Destinie
Witlesse (who now with her curst Damme remaines,
Lashing th' Idean Lyons o're those Plaines)
With wailefull mourning search the world throughout,
Till (hauing in th' end of her pledge found out)
In signe of her new ioy (for old griefe past)
Huge heapes of haruest she may from her cast,
From golden Carre, and spread ripe eares of corne
Vpon the fields by her blue Dragons borne.
But list, you gods; if any here reueale
The rape of Proserpine; or not conceale
The Rauisher from Ceres, I protest
A gen'rall ruine to the peace and rest
Of things; (be he a sonne, or sister she,
Or wife of mine, or that deere daughter be
That from my brain-pan boasts her birth) shal feele
The stroke of thunder and reuengefull steele
Of Gorgons fury: and though she must liue,
(For deities dye not) yet shall she grieue
To haue been borne of heauen, and wish for death.
Like punishment my vengeance shall vnsheath
On any of you (Riuers) that withstand
The secresie of this my strict command:
(By me first wounded) him, my sonne in lawe
Repunish shall; this for a sacred lawe
Establish't stand: (this sayd) and past for fate,
The starres were shak't, and seate whereon he sate.
And now the apparitions of blacke night,
And fearefull mischiefe Ceres do affright:
Who (absent from this Synode, and secure)
To her still thought could sweetest rest procure;
But now each moment doth ingeminate
Her doubtfull feares, and vgly night (as fate)
Whispers the sad mishap of Proserpine,
Who, (in each dreame of hers) seemes to decline
More from her pristine being; eu'ry sleepe
Of Ceres, her vext soule in cares doth steepe.
So still she groanes in night, and when day comes,
Cold wonderment her stupid sence benummes,
Till next night's fantasies, in which; a dart,
One while (her seemeth) to her daughters heart
Fast'ned appeares; and (as a horrid sight)
She loathes her garment chang'd from chastest white:
The trees that in her walkes she long did know
Barren, now fresh (she thinkes) and fruitfull growe:
But one (amongst them all) she liked best,
Whose shamefac't leaues seru'd for a shade in rest
To Proserpine: the Bay tree that, she sees
Cut from the root, and by strange cruelties
Of art, the boughes lopt off; boughes, that abouud
In freshnesse, now ly wither'd on the ground,
And (as she thought) of this great wickednesse
Enquiring, wofull Driades expresse
The lamentable Storie; here (say they)
The raging Fiends haue made a bloudy Fray
With hellish axe; and layd the dust along
Thy lawrell greene, fresh feeling of it's wrong.
At length, all circumstances, all disguise
Vnmask'd, poore Ceres her ill fortune spies
In her owne child, that now her selfe appeares
Her owne forc't-messenger, wet-visage, cleeres
All wau'ring doubts, which (when the goddesse wakes)
She puts away, and on her, new griefe takes;
For Proserpine appear'd, as if she seem'd
Shut in close prison, and her mother deem'd
Her fetter'd with strong shackles, not as she
Was left by her in fruitfull Stcilie;
Nor (as the goddesses her found, when they
In Aetnas rosie vallies her astray
Did leade, but now; those lockes she might behold
(Whilome surprissing ambar and faire gold
In brightnes) squallid blacke, the sparkling light
Fire of her eyes, extinguisht is by night,
A night of sorrow, and that blushing red
Vpon her cheeke (exhaust with cold) growne dead.
The Rubies, of her well grac't lippes quite spent,
And limbes, then snow erst whiter, with the sent
And colour of hels pitch, defil'd, to view
Of Ceres, were so strange, she scarce her knew:
Yet, seeing her so chang'd: goods! what a sight
Is here (sayth she?) what bitter wofull plight?
What fault? what punishments are these? what face?
What macerated monster of disgrace
Is this? (she addes:) who thus hath pow'r (she cries)
Hath pow'r thus much on vs to tyrannize?
Why bearest thou these bonds, this chaine, vnfit
For wild beasts? Doe thy soft armes merit it?
Art thou (quoth she) my child, or dreame I, art mine?
When the vex't Image of poore Proserpine
Reply'd with terrour: Mother, oh, thou blinde
Mother; oh thou to thy lost child vnkinde
Could'st thou (more cruell then the Lyons) whom
Thou kept'st in awe, so long thy comming home
Deferre; and me that was thine only deare,
So long forget, was I despis'd? then heare
A dolefull truth, that name of Proserpine
So sweet to thee; so lou'd, so only thine,
Only that name remaines: for, see, behold
What punishment, what bonds do me infold:
But (cruell) thou in vprore with a song
Through Phrigian Cities hurri'st, and of wrong
To me art witlesse; yet, if mothers brest
Haue not quite lest thee: if thou yet, it blest
And holy Ceres bear'st the name, let me
Begge one boone at thy hands (my liberty:)
Carry me vp againe, but if too late
I striue 'gainst Ioue, and my prefixed fate:
If backe I neuer must returne; yet thou,
At least, with comfortable visit now
Come see mee: thus she spake, and going about
To stretch her hands, she could not hold them out,
(So clogg'd with yr'ns) that (as she vanisht) shook:
(At which noyse) Ceres fearefully awoke,
Glad, that the vision had no trewer prou'd,
But sorry for the want of her belou'd;
Vp straight she gets in a distracted mood,
And to Cybele doth her griefes vnloade:
No longer (sacred Parent) can I stay
In Phrigian ground; the care calls me away
Of dearest child, she's yet a Girle and young,
Knowes not the danger of a flatt'ring tongue:
Her tender yeeres vnto all hazard yet
Doe her expose, nor do those buildings great
And trustie, of the Cyclops, me assure:
Each blast of fame, doth make me lesse secure
Of safety (lest she to the gods reueale
My secret house) nor can the Isle conceale
My daughters being there (it being a place
So famous) and withall th'apparent blaze
Of Aetna, and Enceladus deepe groanes
Cannot be hid, nor silenced his moanes.
My boading dreames in sundry vncouth formes
Presage, and eu'ry dreame sends fresh alar'mes
Of doubts vnto me, my Propheticke thought
Still threatens, and hath still vpon me wrought.
As often as the crowne of golden eares
Falls from my head of't selfe, vp get my feares
As oft, and stirre the bloud that on my brest
Stands in a sweat, whil'st I (perplext) no rest
Can take: then on a suddaine doe arise
Two streames, that breake from my vnwilling eyes,
My rebell hand doth beate my trembling heart,
When I would touch my pipe (it seemes) all Art
And sweetnesse failes; that nothing doth remaine
But the dead sound, and (being in this vaine)
My Tymbrel's strokes, nought but sad sounds forth send;
All things (I feare) my griefes to come portend:
Delay is dangerous, such words (replyes
Cybele) may they frustrate mount the skies;
Ioue's not so slacke: but (to her latest end)
With thunder, will be ready to defend
His pledge; but thou thy iourney onward haste,
And backe returne, when thy false feare's ore'past:
Ceres takes leaue, the Temple leaues, and set
Vpon her Chariot) thinkes the Dragons yet
Are dull and lazy, with her lash that rings
In th'ayre, belabours their alternate wings:
Tow'rd Sicilie she driues amaine, and scant
O're Ida, but despaires, suspects her want.
As a poore bird (of tender young bereft,
Who to some tree or lower hedge were left,
Whil'st she prepar'd them food; euer from whence
Her flight she takes, a kind of troubled sence,
Tender remorse she hath: first, lest the wind
Her nest blowe downe; next, lest she empty find
The same (to men or Snakes a prey) so she,
So Ceres, when she saw the custodie
Faile, and the watch-folke of her house all gone,
The postes broke vp, hinges cast downe, vpon
Her out-roomes desolate; with such a sight
And vnexpected change, all in a fright
Her clothes she rent, and from her soft haire teares
The sprigges and it; this madnesse dry'd her teares,
Nor had she breath to speake; but hauing spent
With trembling, all her spirits (as she went
Forward) the first step was a stumble still,
Yet on she goes, and with a madding will
Wanders about, to view these emptie roomes:
(As she from one into another comes)
On a disorder'd frame at length she lights,
The worker well she knew, but poorely slights
Th'imperfect piece, for (the diuine worke, spy'd)
She found, that the bold Spider had supply'd
With sacrilegious webbe, that emptie space:
Yet she nor wept, nor grieu'd; but kist the place
And cloth vnfinished, vpon those threds
She spends her dumbe complaints, and thinks she reades
Her daughter, on those faces: eu'ry toy
About the scatter'd roomes, doth she enjoy
And hugge for Proserpine: now the chast couch
And forlorne bed inuites her to approach,
Which sluttishly (vnmade) seemes to complaine
For want of the soft waight it did sustaine.
Amaz'd she stands, (strook dumbe, in such distresse
Like a poore Swaine, or simple Shepheardesse,
(Whose flocke, whil'st she was farre from their reliefe
To Africke Lyons rage, or cunning thiefe,
Expos'd) too late can she returne, and calls
The beasts (in vaine) within their hurdle walls;
So Ceres: and in th'vtmost roome she spy'd
Electra, Nurse vnto her child, a tride
Seruant of hers; and of the Ocean
The most knowne ancient Nymph (from whence shee came.
Like Ceres selfe, in goodnesse; this was she
That Proserpine from tender infancie
Bore at her brest; and, till she went alone,
Was vs'd for sport, Ioues thigh to set her on.
This her Companion was, her Guard select,
Whom (next her Mother) she would most respect.
When her thus Ceres found, rob'd of her trust,
With hoarie lockes now scatter'd in the dust,
(After a volley of loud sighes) the reines
To griefe she loosens, and breathes out her paines:
What sacke is this (said she?) And are we giu'n
A prey to Titans hoast? Reignes Ioue in Heau'n?
(The Thund'rer liuing) who durst be so bold?
Who durst commit this outrage, vncontrol'd?
Typhoeus, Alcyoneus, haue these
Broke from the Mountaines, giu'n their yoakt-necks ease?
Or hath my neighbour Aetna, Enceladus
Freed? Or my household gods, Briareus
And seat destroy'd? Ah, where art thou (my Deare)
Those handmaids that attended on thee, where?
Where, where is Cyane? what violence,
My chanting Syrens, hath remou'd you hence?
Is this your faith? is this your loyaltie,
To keepe anothers Pledge from danger free?
The poore Nurse trembled, and her griefe gaue place
To stronger feare; not to haue seene the face
Of wofull Ceres, she would gladly'haue dy'de:
Sencelesse, amaz'd, a while she doth abide,
(As loth the doubtfull mischiefe to disclose)
Vntill at length, dispensing with her woes
And passions, thus she spake: I would the mad
And raging Armie of the Gyants had
Beene actors in this mischiefe; common things
Doe lesse affect vs, sorrow that most wrings
Is that which by our neerest friends is sought,
And such is thine, for goddesses haue wrought,
Conspir'd thy ruine, nay (which least of all
Thou migh'tst suspect) sisters, did cause our fall:
The trech'rous gods and woundes here behold
Ofenui'ous kindred, that their bloods haue sold.
Phlegra 'gainst heau'n was ne're so furious,
As heau'n 'gainst thee (all vnpropitious)
Thy house a happy quiet did possesse,
While the chaste Virgin neuer would expresse
A thought of gadding, or scarce once bestowe
Her dainty foote (one only step to goe
Ouer the threshold) neither durst she make
A sally to the fields, fresh ayre to take.
So strict she was to thy commands, so bent
To herlou'd worke: at which (though tyr'd and spent)
All the delight and solace she desir'd
Was, from her Syrens songs and notes admir'd.
I was her bosome friend, she would impart
To me, the ioyes or sorrowes of her heart;
I was her bed-fellow, and to each sport
(As a companion should I still resort:)
Thus past we fairely on, till Venus came
Drawne hither (doubtfull) by what blast of fame;
And that she might the lesse suspected be,
Phoebe and Pallas are her companie:
With cunning smiles, and fain'd embraces soft
She often hugges thy daughter, and as oft
The name of sister iterates; complaines,
On her hard Mother: that so much restraines
Her, from wisht libertie; and thinkes it strange
That thou abroad so farre from home could'st range,
And leaue her in this solitarie place;
Farre from her fathers kingdome, that the face
Of heauen scarce she sees: and (that which most
Doth pittie moue, her conuersation lost
With kindred gods) the simple Mayd gaue care
(Caught by this wily chat, and free from feare)
The goddesses she makes her welcome ghests,
Whom, with quaint cates and Nectar store she feasts:
The banquet done in sport and merriment
She wore Diana's robe, and her bowe bent
With tender finger drew; and sought to wield
Minerua's golden head-piece, and huge shield:
But Venus, straight, deceitfully' gan prayse
Aetna's high top, and to the skies to rayse
The Vallies flow'rs, and something her admir'd,
Of which, she wittingly, witlesse enquir'd:
She could not thinke, or easily beleeue
The Rose, from all those frosts preseru'd, should liue:
Or that the colder Months should there retaine
The Summers grasse, all winter to remaine;
Nor, that the tender blossomes of the Spring
Are nip't, by ang'ry Bootes blustering:
(Thus praysing and thus doubting) with desire
To see the place, her brest was set on fire;
Thy tender Virgins fraile, vnwary yeeres
Made her consent to goe, t'encrease my feares.
What teares spent I, to hinder her (in vaine?)
How little did my'ntreaties (fruitlesse) gaine
From her? that (now resolu'd and confident)
In sisters guard (together with them went?)
And (a large traine of Nymphs t'attend them seene
Vnto the Medowes cloth'd in lasting greene)
With the first morning light, when as the field
Yet chill with dewe, heau'ns liquid iuice doth yeeld
To banke of Violets; they gather'd there
The moyst'ned flow'rs, that, with perle drops appeare:
But when the Sunne grew to the mid-dayes height,
The Pole was ceaz'd on, by vnlook't-for night:
The trembling Island then began to reele
And nod (shak't by the noyse of Chariot wheele,
Of horses neighing) nor could it appeare
(Whether the Coach-man Deaths fore-runner were,
Or death her selfe:) the grasse and riuers great
Were dri'd, the fields, straight burnt with parching heat:
All things were blasted; there, the Priuet white
We sawe, the Rose and Lilly alter'd quite
From natiue sent and colour: eu'ry flow'r
The pestilent contagion blasteth o're:
And (as the hoarse fell steers-man turn'd againe,
With horrid out-cries of each beast the raine)
Backe with the hell-blacke Chariot returnes night,
And to the World the day-restored light
Discouers our sad losse and heauinesse:
For now no Proserpine, nor goddesses
Were seene; for she deare soule was rapt away,
And they (that act performed) made no stay:
Poore Cyane vpon the Meddow ground
Strooke dead, with cold amazement next we found;
And (as she lay) the garland from her browe.
We tooke, whose fresher flow'rs were wither'd now
With the hot steame: there each of vs enquires,
And of our Mistris hap to know desires
Of her (who neerest was to the successe)
Each of vs with vncertaine doubtfulnesse
Demands the colour of the Steeds, and who
The Coach-man was; but she (that melts in woe)
Nothing replyes, of nothing vs resolues:
But (metamorphos'd) secretly dissolues
Her selfe into a Fountaine; that soft haire
Vpon her head, her feet new turned are
Into a dew; those armes diffused growe
In streams, that (following our foot-steps) o're-flow.
The rest fled, and our Mer-mayds with swift wing
Trudge to Pelorus, and (for griefe) to sing,
Since, cease: and now (in stead of melody)
Plagues they portend, and dire mortality;
And their soft voices now serue but t'entice
Th'vnheedy Mariner, that in a trice
(Answ'ring their calls) finds his vnhappy end;
Of all thy seruants, I alone t'attend
Thy sorrowes liue: Ceres in deepe suspence,
(Foole that she was) hop't that yet no offence
Was past, and still to come; but by and by
That moode she changeth, and (with fi'ry eye
Turn'd in her head, her brest enrag'd) aboue
Vp to the gods she flings (with plaints to moue)
As a fierce Tygresse, when her den's forlorne
Of tender young, (by fearefull horse-man borne
To Persian king, madding) out strips the wind;
(Dispersing all her rage, and fury blind
In shining spots:) at length she ouertakes
The Hunter, and with yawning wide mouth makes
Him leaue his prey; but in a shape of glasse
He coozens the poore beast, and safe doth passe
Onward his way: th'enraged Mother thus
Throughout all heauen stormes: restore to vs
Restore, sh'exclaimes; we are no wandring brood
Of some base Riuer, nor Plebeian blood
Of Driades flowes from vs; Saturne high
Begot me on the tow'ry Cybele:
Where is the priuiledge of gods then? where
You gods, of those drad lawes the sacred feare?
What bootes a vertuous life, or what? the faire
Title of good, if Cytherea dare,
If shamelesse she presume to shew that face
(Vnmask't by Lemnian nets, to her disgrace?)
That wholsome sleep, the couch, those twynings chaste
Of her and Mars, made her thus bold at last
With me and mine: since when (no maruaile) though
Such deeds, and such base actions from her flowe:
But what? are you turn'd Pandoresses, your;
Dian and Pallas, that yet neuer knew
What lust meant? Is your mayden honour gone?
Are your vowes chang'd, that thus you waited on
Venus and her bolde Ruffian? (suffice:)
You both deseru'd the bloudy sacrifice
Of thirsty Scythian altar: let me know
The reason of your rage; what mou'd you so
'Gainst Proserpine? did she in word or thought
Offend you euer, had she euer sought
Texpell thee, Delia, from thy groues? or e're
Did she, Tritonia, thy strong armes beare.
Or was sh'offenfiue in her speech? or rude,
(Her selfe into your dances to intrude?)
Oh no: Trinacria was her loued home,
She neuer stirr'd, neuer from thence would roame:
But what auail'd such priuacie? no day,
No time, could keepe your enuious eyes away:
Thus she the goddesses (that silent were,
Aw'd by great Ioue) blam'd with her speech seuere:
(Silent) they nought would know, and no reliefe
Could giue, but teares (sad Eccho's to her griefe)
What should she doe? yet to another straine
She (falls) into intreaties mild againe.
Pardon (quoth shee) yee deities, if loue,
If my too strong affection, did moue
A wretch to those extremes, that were vnfit;
Pardon ye Powr's diuine and pittie it.
Looke, how I kneele; looke, how mine age doth bow
Lowe at your feete: (thus prostrate) let me know
(Only) the certainty of my sad state,
The manner of my woes vnfortunate:
(What e're) let me but knowe it; I shall thinke,
That fate (not mischiefe) made my fortunes sinke:
Let me but see my daughter once: not? no?
Shall I, the search of mine owne bloud forgoe?
But, feare not (whosoe're thou art: thy prey
Safely enioy; I, to thy choyse giue way.
And if the Rauisher (you goddesses)
Haue brib'd you, for your silence? yet confesse,
At least (Latona) thou, thou that too well,
Lucina's name, and our great paines canst tell;
That double birth, the twinnes (which thou didst beare)
Well testifie, how much the loue and feare
Of children costs vs; thou, still happy art
In two, whil'st I of one haue lost my part:
So maist thou euer (to thy wisht desire)
Enioy thy yellow sonne and daughter deere.
The goddesses (at these fresh plaint's) no pow'r
Had, to refraine; but with a second show'r
Of teares, they wash't their cheekes: poore remedie
(She sayth) your weeping silence giues to me:
Ay me! they all are fled; why stand'st thou here?
Why stay'st thou longer, and perceiu'st not cleere,
That heauen is arm'd against thee? rather haste,
Search eu'ry nooke of land, the Ocean vaste:
I will, and follow the diurnall Sunne
(Vnweari'd) with him in swift course to runne,
Through hidden wayes; not an houre of rest,
No sleepe shall seyze vpon his troubled brest,
Till my lost pledge I finde: (whether her graue
Be digg'd by Thetis in Iberian waue;
Or in the Red-Sea she intrenched be)
No place, no secret corner shall goe free:
Not frosty Rhenus, or Riphaean cold,
Nor heate of Lybian sands, shall me with-hold
From strictest search; and (till I find her out)
The vtmost limits will I prye throughout,
Of Southerne winde, and (for a further proofe)
Will visit Boreas in his snowie roofe:
Then, will I tread on Atlas in the West;
Next, with my flaming torches in the East
Hidaspcs shines; then looke vpon me, Ioue:
Looke, how this wandring vagamund shall roue,
Through Townes and Countries: doe thou look on me,
Thou Iuno; and in my destruction, see
And reape thy full content: then, then, no more
Grieue at this riuall (thy base husbands whore.)
Insult yee proud gods at my fortunes mocke,
Boast your great triumph on poore Ceres stocke.
Thus spoke she, and from off the lofty top
Of her knowne Aetna downeward slid, to lop
The branches from those trees that must giue light,
And guide her errant labours in the night:
Neere to the Riuer Acis, stood a Groue
(Whose little streames, in memorie of loue)
Faire Galatea to the Sea prefers,
And oft there bathes the beautious limbes of hers:
The trees grew thick here; their intangled boughs
On eu'ry side shadow high Aetna's browes;
Thither brought Iupiter the captiu'd prey
Which, he (long since) had got in Gyant frey:
The wood grew proud of that Phlegraean broile,
And victorie, cloath'd eu'ry tree with spoile;
Here, the vast iawes, and each prodigious limbe
Of Gyants hung, their heads, their faces grimme.
(Yet threatning) to those boughlesse trunks are fixt
And fastned: ('mongst which) the bones are mixt,
Of scatter'd Serpents, and their rugged skinnes
(Shrunk vp by thunder from their wither'd finnes:)
No tree, here grew, that not preseru'd the fame,
And of some conquer'd Gyant bore a name.
This, of Aegeons hundred hands, the steele,
(Whose waight her crooked branches bent:) did feele
That Caeus Armes, this shield of Mimas wore,
A groaning fourth naked Ophton bore.
And last, a Firre tree (taller then the rest,
For broad shade-spreading leaues, 'mongst all, the best)
The smoakie Trophies of Enceladus
Their king, did load: the waight (so ponderous)
Had broke the body of that goodly tree
(Did not a strong Oake prop with neere supplie:
So sacred was the feare and piety
To this most memorable groue, that free
From least offence, the heauenly Trophies hung;
Nor durst rude shepheards rustick pipe and song
Draw hither, their faint bleating flocks to shade;
Nor Cyclop's once with cruell axe inuade
The lustie Oake: when Poliphemus spies
This place, he from the sacred shadow flyes.
But neither deity, nor reuerence
Of zeale, religion of the place; from thence
Long kept th'incensed Ceres, whose strong arme
With wheeling Sythe (to their lamented harme)
Cuts downe the trunklesse bodies: (in this mood)
Eu'n Ioue she wounds; the Pine tree falls, nor stood
The smoother Cedar, but doth prostrate fall,
Here, she destroies; there, leaues: and (last of all)
She lookes vpon her handy-worke, and viewes
The mangled bodies (which of them to chuse
Fit'st for her purpose:) so, the Marchants care
Prouides (for safety of his life and ware,
Which he transports, to some long voyage bent)
('Gainst angry stormes and tempests prouident.)
(First, the tall Cedar and hard Beech applyde
To the maine mast and rudder, the Barkes guide)
The softer wood to the light Oare he giues,
And strongest trees for moisture Keele contriues.
Two neighb'ring Cypresses, there, lift on high
Their tow'ring, vntouch't heads (that kisse the skie)
Such two on Ida's toppe, fleete Simois
Did neuer see; Orontes, such (as these)
Did neuer sprinkle with swift streames (that flow
Vnto Apollo's Groue, where none such grow)
So equall in their height, and boughs esteem'd,
So eu'n they grew, that brother-twins they seem'd;
(Despising with their fellow-tops, the groue:)
These, Ceres chose for torches; and would proue
Her stubborn strength vpon them both; when (first)
Her armes she tuck't, then folded vp her skirt:
Next, with sharpe axe, she hewes alternately
The two, (that on the ground straight grouelingly
Alike, they suffer'd in their fall) alike,
Their locks they shed, the Fawns & wet Nymphs shricke
(For griefe) to view their ruine (as they lay)
Shee lifts them vp, and beares with her away:
(The loose haire turn'd ouer her shoulder) she
Descends from panting Mountaines suddainely,
Through flames she goes, through craggy rockes doth teare
A passage; the parch't sands (that skorne to beare
Her steppes) she kickes.
So, curs'd Maegaera hastens the wisht light
Of fatall Yew trees, when some horrid slight
She practiseth 'gainst Cadmus, Theban walls;
Or, when her malice and pale veng'ance falls
On poore Thyesti'an towne; darknesse and Fiends
Make her a lane to passe (as she descends
To Phlegeton) in whose hot waues she dipp't
The deadly lights, that with his flames were typ't:
So, when the goddesse was arriu'd at last;
At the Rockes scorching mouth, she from her cast
The Cypresses, into those iawes (her face
Turn'd from the smoake) now eu'ry hollow place
Was fill'd, and the contracted fire (with-drawne)
Kept in the flames, and stopt their wauing yawne:
The Mountaine rumbles, Mulciber 'gan striue
(Halfe choak't) th'imprison'd vapours to relieue.
When, loe; the berry-bearing Cypresse leaues
Did shine, and sulphure mixt (that to them cleaues)
Made the boughs crackle, and high Aetna raise
His old flames higher by this new-come blaze.
Then tooke she vp the fire-brands (whose dimme light
Lest it should faile her in the tedious flight)
She 'nointed with the iuice that Phaeton
His Steeds; and liquor that the Moone, vpon
Her Heifers, sprinkles. Now soft rest doth creepe
On mortall browes, their eye-lids folds in sleepe:
Whil'st she (with griefe-torne heart vpon her way
And progresse) something thus t'her selfe would say:
Full little did I thinke (while thou wert mine)
To looke thee with these lights (my Proserpine;)
Lou'd Mothers wishes, feruent strong desire
Of marri'ge bed, and holy Nuptiall fire
Were my delights: and oh! how I did long,
In heau'n to heare the Saffron Hymens song.
But Lachesis (that makes no difference
'Twixt men and gods) would not with me dispence:
How honour'd was I lately, how ador'd
By Suters great, that me for thee implor'd?
What Mother (though she ne're so fruitfull were)
But thought me happier then her selfe (to beare
Eu'n thee alone) my first, my latestioy:
By thee my barrennesse did fruit enjoy:
By thee was I a goddesse (deifi'd)
(Whil'st thou my glory wer't, thy Mothers pride:)
I neuer vnto Iuno 'inferior was
(Whil'st thou had'st being squallid now and base)
Gramercie, Ioue: but why giue I a part
To him? (my selfe the causer of my smart)
'Twas I, 'twas cruell I; now I disclose
My carelesnesse, that thee, to busie foes
Forsaken, left: whil'st I (securely glad)
Frisk't to the noyse of Bacchus daunces (madde)
And with the sound of ratling armes (vnkind)
(Whil'st thou wert rapt) the Phrigian Lion ioin'd
To the swift Chariot; but behold (my sweet)
The punishment for these deseruings meet.
Looke on the gaping wounds vpon my face,
The red-turn'd furrowes, that my brest deface;
My wombe (vnmindfull) that it thee had borne,
Looke, how by frequent strokes 'tis rent and torne:
Where shall I seeke thee, in which heauen aboue?
Vnder what Clymate here, on earth do'st moue?
What guide, what tracke shall leade me? (might I know
But in what kind of Chariotthou didst goe,
Where the damn'd thiefe doth liue, in earth or seas?)
The print of the swift wheeles my sight would please.
I goe, I goe, where my faint plants shall guide,
Whether blind chance: sorrow, like this betide
Diona (all forsaken) may she looke.
For her lost Venus.
Shall it be lawfull, will some Destinie
Giue way (my child) that once more I may see,
Once more embrace thee? doth that beauty reigne
Vpon thy cheekes, and freshnesse still remaine?
Or shall I hap (vnhappy) to behold
Thee such, as night and dreams haue oft foretold?
Thus sayd she; and the first step she aduanc't
From Aetna, on the flow'rs to light, she chanc't:
Those flowr's, that to her griefe, her daughters fate
Were conscious: she detests with cursing hate
Those, and the place (made priuie to the rape:)
Then (through confus'd pathes) she her course doth shape,
Pryes through the fields with blazing light, and lowe
Sh'inclines the brands (all comfortlesse) in woe,
With teares she bathes her cheekes: teares, that abound;
(Producing sighes and groanes, that with their sound
Ring in th'ayre and woods) the flaming light
Now spreds on farre, whose shadow in calme night
Swimmes on the Seas; the blaze of it doth flie
To Lybian coast, and bankes of Italy;
Th' Etruscan shore was bright and cleerly seene,
And (from th' inflamed Seas) the Sirtes shine.
Next vnto Scilla's dennes she goes, the light
Vnusuall, those mad dogges did affright:
Whl'st (some astonisht) silent were (the rest
More hardy) bark't at their vnwelcome guest.