So likewise did this Titanesse aspire Rule and dominion to herselfe to gaine; That as a goddesse men might her admire, And heavenly honours yield, as to them twaine : And 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, 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 provide In that still happy state for ever to abide.
Ne shee the lawes of Nature onely brake, But cke of Justice, and of Policie; And wrong of right, and bad of good did make, And death for life exchanged foolishlie : Since which, all living wights have learn'd to die, And all this world is woxen daily worse. O pittious worke of Mutabilitie,
By which we all are subiect to that curse, [nurse: And death, in stead of life, have sucked from our
And now, when all the Earth she thus had brought To her behest and thralled to her might, She gan to cast in her ambitious thought T" attempt the empire of the Heavens hight, And love himselfe 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, Where Cynthia raignes in everlasting glory, To whose bright shining palace straight she came, All fairely deckt with Heavens goodly story; Whose silver gates (by which there sate an hory Old aged sire, with hower-glasse in hand, Hight Tyme) she entred, were he liefe or sory; Ne staide till she the highest stage had scand, Where Cynthia did sit, that never still did stand.
Her sitting on an ivory throne shee found, 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 evening-starre intend; That with his torche, still twinkling like twylight, Her lightened all the way where she should wend, And joy to weary wandring travailers did lend :
That when the hardy Titanesse beheld The goodly building of her palace bright, Made of the Heavens substance, and up-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 herselfe t' have gained The kingdome of the Night, and waters by her wained.
Boldly she bid the goddesse downe descend, And let herselfe into that ivory throne; For she herselfe more worthy thereof wend; And better able it to guide alone; Whether to men whose fall she did bemone, Or unto gods whose state she did maligne, Or to th' infernall powers her need give lone Of her faire light and bounty most benigne, Herselfe of all that rule shee deemed most condigne..
But shee that had to her that soveraigne scat By highest love assign'd, therein to beare Nights burning lamp, regarded not her threat, Ne yielded ought for favour or for feare; But, with sterne countenaunce and disdainfull cheare Bending her horned browes, did put her back; And, boldly blaming her for coming there, Bade her attonce from Heavens coast to pack, Or at her perill bide the wrathfull thunders wrack. Yet nathëmore the giantesse forbare; But, boldly preacing on, raught forth her hand To pluck her downe perforce from off her chaire; And, there-with lifting up her golden wand, Threatned to strike her if she did with-stand: Whereat the starres, which round about her biazed, And eke the Moones bright wagon still did stand, All beeing with so bold attempt amazed, And on her uncouth habit and sterne looke still gazed.
Mean while the lower world, which nothing knew Of all that chaunced here, was darkned quite; And eke the Heavens, and all the heavenly crew Of happy wights, now unpurvaide of light, Were much afraid and wondred at that sight; Fearing least Chaos broken had his chaine, And brought againe on them eternall night; But chiefely Mercury, that next doth raigne, Ran forth in haste unto the king of gods to plaine.
All ran together with a great out-cry To loves faire palace fixt in Heavens 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 least Typhon were againe uprcar'd, Or other his old foes that once him sorely fear'd.
Eftsoones the sonne of Maia forth he sent 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 Heaven it were, then to arrest The author, and him bring before his presence prest.
The wingd-foot god so fast his plumes did beat, That soone he came whereas the Titanesse Was striving with faire Cynthia for 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 high love her dooings to discharge. `
And therewithall he on her shoulder laid His snaky-wreathed mace, whose awfull power Doth make both gods and hellish fiends affraid: Whereat the Titanesse did sternely lower, And stoutly answer'd; That in evill hower He from his love such message to her brought, To bid her leave faire Cynthias silver bower; Sith shee bis love and him esteemed nought, No more then Cynthias selfe; but all their king- doms sought.
The Heavens herald staid not to reply, But past away, his doings to relate Unto his lord; who now, in th' highest sky, Was placed in his principall estate, With all the gods about him congregate: To whom when Hermes had his message told, It did them all exceedingly amate, [bold, Save love; who, changing nought his count'nance Did unto them at length these speeches wise unfold; "Harken to mee awhile, ye heavenly powers: Ye may remember since th' Earths cursed seed Sought to assaile the Heavens eternall towers, And to us 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 Upon the fruitfull Earth, which doth us yet despite. "Of that bad seed is this bold woman bred, That now with bold presumption doth aspire To thrust faire Phoebe from her silver bed, And eke ourselves from Heavens high empire, If that her might were match to her desire: Wherefore it now behoves us to advise What way is best to drive her to retire ; Whether by open force, or counsell wise: Areed, ye sonnes of God, as best ye can devise."
So having said, he ceast; and with his brow (His black eye-brow, whose doomefull dreaded beck Is wont to wield the world unto his vow, And even the highest powers of Heaven to check) Made signe to them in their degrees to speake: Who straight gan cast their counsell grave and wise. Meanwhile th' Earths daughter, though she nought Of Hermes message, yet gan now advise [did reck
What course were best to take in this hot bold emprize.
Eftsoones she thus resolv'd; that whil'st the gods (After returne of Hermes embassie) Were troubled, and amongst themselves at ods; Before they could new counsels re-allie, To set upon them in that extasie,
And take what fortune, time, and place would lend: So forth she rose, and through the purest sky To loves high palace straight cast to ascend, To prosecute her plot: good onset boads good end.
Shee there arriving boldly in did pass; Where all the gods she found in counsell close, All quite unarm'd, as then their manner was. At sight of her they suddaine all arose In great amaze, ne wist what way to chose: But love, all fearelesse, forc't them to aby; And in his soveraine throne gan straight dispose Himselfe, more full of grace and maiestie, That mote encheare his friends, and foes mote terrifie.
That when the haughty Titanesse beheld, 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; Untill that love himselfe herselfe bespake: "Speake, thou fraile woman, speake with confidence; Whence art thou, and what doost thou here now make? What idle errand hast thou Earths mansion to for- sake?"
Shee, halfe confused with his great commaund, 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, great Earth, great Chaos child: But by the fathers, be it not envide, I greater am in bloud, whereon I build, [exil'd. Then all the gods, though wrongfully from Heaven "For Titan, as ye all acknowledge must, Was Saturnes elder brother by birth-right; Both sonnes of Uranus; but by uniust And guilefull meanes, through Corybantes slight, The younger thrust the elder from his right: Since which thou, love, iniuriously hast held The Heavens rule from Titans sonnes by might; And them to hellish dungeons downe hast feld: Witnesse, ye Heavens, the truth of all that I have teld!"
Whil'st she thus spake, the gods that gave good care 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 foraine race Unwares is chaunc't, far straying from his peeres: So did their ghastly gaze bewray their hidden feares. Till, having pauz'd awhile, love thus bespake; "Will never mortall thoughts ceasse to aspire In this bold sort to Heaven claime to make, And touch celestiall seates with earthly mire? I would have thought that bold Procrustes hire, Or great Prometheus tasting of our ire, Or Typhons fall, or proud Ixions paine, Would have 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 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-drive 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 lovely face, In which faire beames of beauty did appeare That could the greatest wrath soone turne to grace, (Such sway doth beauty even in Heaven beare) He staide his hand; and, having chang'd his cheare, He thus againe in milder wise began; "But ah! if gods should strive with flesh yfere, Then shortly should the progeny of man
Be rooted out, if love should doe still what he can!
"But thee, faire Titans child, I rather weene, Through some vaine errour, or inducement light, To see that mortall eyes have never 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 kingdoms to bestowe: And sure thy worth no lesse then hers doth seem to showe.
"But wote thou this, thou hardy Titanesse, That not the worth of any living wight May challenge ought in Heavens interesse; Much lesse the title of old Titans right: For we by conquest, of our soveraine might, And by eternall doome of Fates decree, Have wonne the empire of the Heavens bright; Which to ourselves we hold, and to whom wee Shall worthy deeme partakers of our blisse to bee. "Then ceasse thy idle claime, thou foolish gerle; And seeke by grace and goodnesse to obtaine That place, from which by folly Titan fell; Thereto thou maist perhaps, if so thou faine Have love thy gracious lord and soveraigne." So having said, she thus to him replyde; "Ceasse, Saturnes sonne, to sceke by proffers vaine Of idle hopes t' allure mee to thy side,
For to betray my right before I have it tride.
"But thee, O Love, no equall iudge I deeme 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.". Thereat love wexed wroth, and in his spright Did inly grudge, yet did it well conceale; And bade Dan Phoebus scribe her appellation seale. Eftsoones the time and place appointed were, Where all, both heavenly powers and earthly wights, Before great Natures presence should appeare, For triall of their titles and best rights: That was, to weet, upon the highest hights Of Arlo-hill (who knowes not Arlo-hill?) That is the highest head, in all mens sights, Of my old father Mole, whom shepheards quill Renowmed hath with hymnes fit for a rurall skill. And, were it not ill fitting for this file [knights, To sing of hilles and woodes mongst warres and I would abate the sternenesse of my stile, Mongst these sterne stounds to mingle soft delights; And tell how Arlo, through Dianaes spights, (Beeing of old the best and fairest hill That was in all this holy-islands hights) Was made the most unpleasant and most ill: Meane while, O Clio, lend Calliope thy quill. Whylome when Ireland florished in fame Of wealth and goodnesse, far above the rest Of all that beare the British Islands name, The gods then us'd, for pleasure and for rest, Oft to resort thereto, when seem'd them best: But none of all therein more pleasure found Then Cynthia, that is soveraine 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, (Either for chace of beasts with hound or bowe, Or for to shroude in shade from Phoebus flame, Or bathe in fountaines that doe freshly flowe Or from high hilles, or from the dales belowe) She chose this Arlo; where shee did resort With all her nymphes enranged on a rowe, With whom the woody gods did oft consort; [sport: For with the nymphes the satyres love to play and
Amongst the which there was a nymph that hight Molanna; daughter of old father Mole, And sister unto Mulla faire and bright: Unto whose bed false Bregog whylome stole, That shepheard Colin dearely did condole, And made her lucklesse loves well knowne to be: But this Molanna, were 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, On which a grove of oakes high-mounted growes, That as a girlond seemes to deck the locks [showes Of some faire bride, brought forth with pompous 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 silver channell crowne, Till to the plaine she come, whose valleyes shee doth drowne.
In her sweet streames Diana used oft, After her sweatie chace and toilesome play, To bathe herselfe; and, after, on the soft And downy grasse her dainty limbes to lay In covert shade, where none behold her may; For much she hated sight of living eye: Foolish god Faunus, though full many a day He saw her clad, yet longed foolishly To see her naked mongst her nymphes in privity.
No way he found to compasse his desire, But to corrupt Molanna, this her maid, Her to discover 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 herselfe did bathe, that he might secret
Thereto hee promist, if she would him pleasure With this small boone, to quit her with a better; To weet, that whereas shee had out of measure Long lov'd the Fanchin, who by nought did set her, That he would undertake for this to get her To be his love, 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; And eft him placed where he close might view That never any saw, save onely one, Who, for his hire to so foole-hardy dew, Was of his bounds 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 lovely limbes, for love a like pray.
There Faunus saw that pleased much his eye, And made his hart to tickle in his brest, That, for great ioy of somewhat he did spy, He could him not containe in silent rest; But, breaking forth in laughter, loud profest His foolish thought: a foolish faune indeed, That couldst not hold thyselfe so hidden blest, But wouldest needs thine owne conceit areed! Babblers unworthy been of so divine a meed.
The goddesse, all abashed with that noise, In haste forth started from the guilty brooke; And, running straight whereas she heard his voice, Enclos'd the bush about, and there him tooke Like darred larke, not daring up to looke On her whose sight before so much he sought. Thence forth they drew him bythe 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 care Thinks of her dairie to make wondrous gaine, Finding whereas some wicked beast unware 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 deviseth in her vengefull
So did Diana and her maydens all Use silly Faunus, 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, whatever he did heare; [peare. But, hanging downe his head, did like a mome ap- At length, when they had flouted him their fill, They gan to cast what penaunce him to give. Some would have gelt him; but that same would spill
The wood-gods breed, which must for ever live: Others would through the river him have drive And ducked deepe; but that seem'd penaunce light: But most agreed, and did this sentence give, Him in deeres skin to clad; and in that plight To hunt him with their hounds, himselfe save how hee might.
But Cynthia's selfe, more angry then the rest, 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 'twas Molanna which her so bewraid. Then all attonce their hands upon Molanna laid.
But him (according as they had decreed) With a deeres-skin they covered, and then chast With all their hounds that after him did speed; But he, more speedy, from them fled more fast Then any decre; so sore him dread aghast. They after follow'd all with shrill out-cry, Shouting as they the Heavens would have brast; That all the woods and dales, where he did flie, Did ring againe, and loud recccho to the skie.
So they him follow'd till they weary were; When, back returning to Molann' againe, They, by commaund'ment of Diana, there Her whelm'd with stones: yet Faunus, for her paine, Of her beloved Fanchin did obtaine,
That her he would receive unto his bed.
So now her waves passe through a pleasant plaine, Till with the Fanchin she herselfe doe wed, [spred. And, both combin'd, themselves in one faire river
Nath'lesse Diana, full of indignation,
Thenceforth abandond her delicious brooke; In whose sweete 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 about Arlo hid; And all that mountaine, which doth overlooke The richest champian that may else be rid; And the faire Shure, in which are thousand salmons bred.
Them all, and all that she so deare did way, Thenceforth she left; and, parting from the place, Thereon an heavy haplesse curse did lay;
To weet, that wolves, where she was wont to space, Shou'd harbour'd be and all those woods deface, And thieves should rob and spoile that coast around. Doth to this day with wolves and thieves abound: Since which, those woods, and all that goodly chase
Which too-too true that lands in-dwellers since have found!
Pealing from love to Natures bar, Bold Alteration pleades
Large evidence: but Nature soone Her righteous doome areads.
AH! whither doost thou now, thou greater Muse, Me from these woods and pleasing forrests bring? And my fraile spirit, that dooth oft refuse This too high flight unfit for her weake wing, Lift up aloft, to tell of Heavens king (Thy soveraine sire) his fortunate successe; And victory in bigger uoates to sing, Which he obtain'd against that Titanesse, That him of Heavens empire sought to dispossesse ?
Yet, sith I needs must follow thy behest, Doe thou my weaker wit with skill inspire, Fit for this turne; and in my sable brest Kindle fresh sparks of that immortall fire Which learned minds inflameth with desire Of heavenly things: for who, but thou alone That art yborne of Heaven and heavenly sire, Can tell things doen in Heaven so long ygone, So farre past memory of man that may be knowne ?
Now, at the time that was before agreed, The gods assembled all on Arlo-hill; As well those that are sprung of heavenly seed, As those that all the other world doe fill, And rule both sea and land unto their will: Onely th' infernall powers might not appeare; As well for horror of their count'naunce ill, As for th' unruly fiends which they did feare; Yet Pluto and Proserpina were present there.
And thither also came all other creatures, Whatever life or motion doe retaine, According to their sundry kinds of features; That Arlo scarsly could them all containe; So full they filled every hill and plaine: And had not Natures sergeant (that is Order) Them well disposed by his busie paine, And raunged farre abroad in every border, [order. They would have caused much confusion and dis-
Then forth issew'd (great goddesse) great dame Na- With goodly port and gracious maiesty, Being far greater and more tall of stature Then any of the gods or powers on hie; Yet certes by her face and physnomy, Whether she man or woman inly were, That could not any creature well descry; For, with a veile that wimpled every where,
And Mole himselfe, to honour her the more, Did deck himself in freshest faire attire; And his high head, that seemeth alwaies hore With hardned frosts of former winters ire, He with an oaken girlond now did tire, As if the love of some new nymph late seene Had in him kindled youthfull fresh desire, And made him change his gray attire to greene: Ah! gentle Mole, such ioyance hath thee well be-
Was never so great ioyance since the day That all the gods whylome assembled were On Hæmus hill in their divine array,
To celebrate the solemne bridall cheare Twixt Peleus and dame Thetis pointed there; Where Phoebus self, that god of poets hight, They say, did sing the spousall hymne full cleere,
Her head and face was hid that mote to none ap- That all the gods were ravisht with delight
That, some doe say, was so by skill devized, To hide the terror of her uncouth bew From mortall eyes that should be sore agrized; For that her face did like a lion shew, That eye of wight could not indure to view : But others tell that it so beauteous was, And round about such beames of splendor threw, That it the Sunne a thousand times did pass, Ne could be seene but like an image in a glass. That well may seemen true; for well I weene That this same day, when she on Arlo sat, Her garment was so bright and wondrous sheene, That my fraile wit cannot devize to what It to compare, nor finde like stuffe to that: As those three sacred saints, though else most wise, Yet on Mount Thabor quite their wits forgat, When they their glorious Lord in strange disguise Transfigur'd sawe; his garments so did daze their
In a fayre plaine upon an equall hill She placed was in a pavilion; Not such as craftesmen by their idle skill Are wont for princes states to fashion; But th' Earth herself, of her owne motion, Out of her fruitfull bosome made to growe Most dainty trees, that, shooting up anon, Did seeme to bow their bloosming heads full lowe For homage unto her, and like a throne did show.
So hard it is for any living wight All her array and vestiments to tell, That old Dan Geffrey (in whose gentle spright, The pure well-head of poesie did dwell) In his foules parley durst not with it mell, But it transferd to Alane, who he thought Had in his Plaint of Kindes describ'd it well: Which who will read set forth so as it ought,
Of his celestiall song and musicks wondrous might.
This great grandmother of all creatures bred, Great Nature, ever young, yet full of eld; Still mooving, yet unmoved from her sted; Unseene of any, yet of all beheld; Thus sitting in her throne, as I have teld, Before her came dame Mutabilitie; And, being lowe before her presence feld With meek obaysance and humilitie, Thus gan her plaintif plea with words to amplifie:
"To thee, O greatest goddesse, onely great, An humble suppliant loe! I lowely fly, Seeking for right, which I of thee entreat; Who right to all dost deale indifferently, Damning all wrong and tortious iniurie, Which any of thy creatures doe to other Oppressing them with power unequally, Sith of them all thou art the equall mother, And knittest each to each, as brother unto brother:
"To thee therefore of this same love I plaine, And of his fellow gods that faine to be, That challenge to themselves the whole worlds raign, Of which the greatest part is due to me, And Heaven itselfe by heritage in fee: For Heaven and Earth I both alike do deeme, Sith Heaven and Earth are both alike to thee; And gods no more then men thou doest esteeme: For even the gods to thee, as men to gods; do seeme.
"Then weigh, O soveraigne goddesse, by what right These gods do claime the worlds whole soverainty; And that is onely dew unto my might Arrogate to themselves ambitiously: As for the gods owne principality, Which love usurpes uniustly, that to be My heritage, love's selfe cannot deny,
Go seek he out that Alane where he may be From my great grandsire Titan unto mee
And all the earth far underneath her feete Was dight with flowers, that voluntary grew Out of the ground, and sent forth odours sweet; Tenne thousand mores of sundry sent and hew, That might delight the smell, or please the view, The which the nymphes from all the brooks thereby Had gathered, they at her foot-stoole threw; That richer seem'd then any tapestry, That princes bowres adorne with painted imagery.
Deriv'd by dew descent; as is well known to thee.
"Yet mauger love, and all his gods beside, I doe possesse the worlds most regiment; As if ye please it into parts divide, And every parts inholders to convent, Shall to your eyes appeare incontinent. And first, the Earth (great mother of us all) That only seems unmov'd and permanent, And unto Mutability not thrall,
Yet is she chang'd in part, and eeke in generalĮ:
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