The metallyne gates beeing shut, I remayned incloystered among these

fayre and beautifull Nymphes, who began very pleasantly and wantonly to

deuise with mee: and beeing hemmed in with their lasciuious company,

I found my selfe prouoked by their perswasiue alluring intisements, to

vnlawfull concupiscence, feeling in my selfe a burning desire, kyndled

with their wanton aspects, an increasing prouocation of a lusting fier.

I doubt me that if _Phrine_ had beene of that fauour, and force in

gesture of speech, colde _Xenocrates_ would haue consented to her

alluring, and not haue beene accused by her, to be an image of stone.

Their countenances were so lasciuious, their breastes naked and

intycing, theyr eyes flattering, in their roseall forheads, glystering

and rowling, their shapes most excellent, their apparell rich, their

motions girlish, theyr regards byting, theyr ornaments, sweete and

precious, no part counterfeited, but all perfected by nature in an

excellent sort, nothing deformed, but all partes aunswerable one to an

other.

Their heades yellowe, their tresses fayre, and the hayre soft and fine,

in such a sort dressed vp and rouled into trammels, with laces of silke

and golde, passing any ioye that a man may beholde, turned about their

heads in an excellent manner, inuiluxed, and bound vppe together, their

forheades compassed about and shaddowed with wauering curles, mouably

pr[ae]pending in a wonderfull manner, marueilous delightfull, perfumed &

sweet, yeelding an vnknown fragrancie. Their speeches so perswasorie and

pleasing, as might robbe the fauour of an indesposed hart, and violently

drawe vnto them any mind, though Satyr-like or churlish howsoeuer, to

depraue Religion, to binde euery loose conceit, to make any rusty

Peasant amorous, and to mollifie any froward disposition. Vppon which

occasion, my minde, altogether set on fier with a new desire, and in the

extreame heate of concupiscence, prouoked to fall headlong into a

lasciuious appetite, & drowned in lustfull loue vnbridled: in the

extreame inuasion and infectious contage thereof, the Damoselles

forsooke mee and left me all alone in a fruitfull playne.

_In this place Poliphilus being left alone, a most fayre Nymphe (when

hee was forsaken of the lasciuious company) came vnto him, whose

beautie and apparell Poliphilus dooth amourously describe._

My tender heart thus excessiuely wounded with amorous prouocation,

I think I was mad, I stood so amazed, or blinde at the least, because

that I coulde not perceiue in what sort or how this desired and

delightfull company gaue mee the slip: and at last not knowing what I

did, but casting mine eyes right forward, I behelde before mee, a fine

Arbour of sweete Gessamine, somewhat high, lifting vppe and bending

ouer, all to bee painted and decked with the pleasant and odoriferous

flowers of three sortes commixt, and entring in vnder the same.

Wonderfully perplexed for the losse of my company, I knewe not howe

or in what sort, and calling to remembraunce the diuers, rare and

wonderfull thinges past, and aboue al the great hope and trust which

I had conceiued vpon the Queenes promise, that I should finde my loue

_Polia_.

Alas said I, with a deepe sigh, my _Polia_, that the greene Arbour

resounded againe therewithall, my amourous breathings were such, framed

within and sent out from my burning hart. And I was no sooner entered

into this agony, and ouerwhelmed in this passion, but as I passed on to

the other ende of the Arbor, I might perceiue a farre off, a great

number of youthes, solacing and sporting themselues very loude with

diuers melodious soundes, with pleasant sports and sundry pastimes, in

great ioye, and passing delight assembled together, in a large playne.

Vppon this gratefull and desired noueltie, I set me down marueiling at

it, before I would step any further on.

And beholde, a most noble and faire Nymph, with a burning torch in her

hand, departing from the company, tended her course towardes mee, so as

I might well perceiue that shee was a reall mayde indeede and no

spirite, whervpon I mooued not one whit, but gladly expected her

comming, who with a maidenly hast, modest accesse, star-like

countenance, and smiling grace, drewe neere vnto mee with such a

Maiestie, and yet friendly, so as I doubt me, the amorous _Idalea_ neuer

shewed her selfe to _Mars_, nor to her the fayre Pastor _Adonis_. Nor

the delicate _Ganimed_ to _Iupiter_, or the fayre _Psyches_, to her

spouse _Cupid_.

For which cause, if shee had beene the fourth among the three contending

Goddesses, if _Joue_ had beene Iudge, as in the shady Wooddes of

_Mensunlone_ was the Phrigian Sheepheard, without all doubt she had

beene iudged of farre more excellent beautie, and without equiuolence,

more worthy of the golden apple, then all or any one of the rest. At the

first sight I was perswaded that shee had beene _Polia_, but the place

vnaccustomed & her apparell made mee thinke the contrarie, and therefore

my doubtfull iudgement remained in suspence, hauing onely a reuerent

suspition therof.

This honourable Nymph, had her virgineall diuine and small body couered

with a thinne subtill stuffe of greene silke, powdered with golde, vppon

a smocke of pure white coorled Lawne, couering her most delicate and

tender body, and snowye skinne, as fine and good as euer _Pamphila_ the

daughter to _Platis_ in the Iland of Coo, did inuent to weaue. Which

white smocke seemed as if it had couered damaske Roses.

The coate which she wore ouer that, was not like our fashioned

petticoates with French wastes, for that her sweete proporcioned body

needed no such pinching in, & vnholsome weare, hyndering procreation and

an enemie to health: but rather like a wastcoate, with little plightes

and gathers vnder her rounde and pretty bearing out breasts, vpon her

slender and small waste, ouer her large proportioned flanckes and little

round belly, fast girded about with a girdle of golde: and ouer the

same, a gowne or garment side to the ground, and welted belowe.

This garment beeing very side, was taken vp round about the pitch of her

hippes, and before vpon her belly, & tyed about with the studded

marriage girdle of _Citherea_, the plucking vp of y^e garment, bearing

ouer the girdle about her like a french vardingale, & the nethermost

part falling down about her feet in plightes and fouldes, vnstable and

blowne about with the sweete ayre & coole winde, causing sometime, by

the thinnesse thereof, her shape to be seene in it, which shee seemed

with a prompt readinesse to resist and hynder. Her beautie and grace was

such, as I stoode in doubt whether shee were begotten by any humaine

generation: her armes stretching downe, her handes long and slender, her

fingers small and fayre, and her nayles thinne and ruddy, and shining,

as if she had beene _Minerua_ her selfe. Her armes to be seene through

the cleere thinnesse of the Lawne, the winges about the size of her

garment where her armes came out, were of golde, in an excellent sort

and fashion welted, and set with Pearle and stone: and in like sort, all

the hemming about of her vesture, with golde ooes, and Pearle, and

spangles of golde in diuers places, distantly disposed in a curious and

pleasant sort to beholde.

Vppon either side, vnder the armes to her waste, her vpper garment was

vnsowed and open, but fastened with three buttons of great Orient Pearle

(such as _Cleopatra_ neuer had to dissolue in a Potion) in loopes of

blewe silke, so that you might see her smocke betweene the distance of

one Pearle from an other, couering her daintie soft snowye thinne

skinne: except her small necke and the vpper halfe of her spatious and

delitious breast, more desired and contenting mine eyes, then the water

brookes and coole Ryuers to the emboste and chased Hart, more pleasing

then the fisher boate of _Endimion_ to _Cynthia_, and more pleasant then

_Cithera_ to _Orpheus_.

The sleeues of her smocke of a conuenient largenesse, and about her

wristes plighted and tyed with Bracelets of Golde, double and vnited

with Orient Pearle. And besides all her ornaments and gracious gestures,

she indeuoured nowe and then with stolen and affected regards, in a

sweet & pleasant sort, to cast down her eyes vpon her little round

swelling breastes, impatient at the suppressing of her soft and fine

apparell: so as I iudged vppon good consideration, and thought that in

the dignitie and honourable frame of her personage, the Creator had

framed and vnited together, all the violence of Loue. The foure Nourses

of the royall Kingdome of Babilon, called _The tongue of the Gods_, had

not that powre to winne fauour and loue of the King, which this most

sweet Nymph had.

About her fayre Necke, more white then the Scithian snowe, shee wore a

Carkenet of Oryent Pearle: _Cerna_ the wife of _C[ae]sar_ neuer had the

like, and I doubt me that that of _Eriphile_, which she tooke to

_Amphiaraus_, was nothing comparable vnto it. And in the bending downe

ouer the deuision of her breastes, betwixt two great Pearles, there was

laced a corruscant rounde Rubie, and vppon the collaterate sides of the

sayde Pearles, two glistering Saphires, and two Pearles, next them two

Emeraldes, & two Pearles, and after them two fayre Iacinthes: all these

Pearles and Stones were laced in a worke in losenges, in a rare and

beautifull manner.

Her fayre heade, sending downe and vnfolding a loose spreading abroade

of plentifull hayre, like the smallest threds of golde, wauing with the

winde, and vpon her crowne, a garland of tawny vyolets sweetly smelling,

and couering the same almost to her forheade: from the middle vpper

point whereof, in forme of two Hemycycles to the halfe of her eares, it

mounted vppe in curled trammelles, falling downe againe vppon her fayre

Temples, moueably wauing and shaddowing the same, and hyding the vpper

halfe of her small eares, more fayre then euer was reported of

_Mimoria_.

The rest of her yellowe haire, descended downe ouer her fayre necke,

well disposed shoulders, and straight backe, to the calues of her

slender legges, moderatly wauing and blowne abroad, in greater beautie

than the proude eyed feathers of _Iunoes_ Birde. Such hayre as

_Berenice_ did neuer vow in the venereous Temple for her _Tholomaus_,

nor _Conus_ the Mathematrician did euer beholde the like placed in the

Triangule.

In her forehead, vnder two subtile blacke Hemycicles and distinct eye

brees, such as _Abacsine_ in [Ae]thiopia had not to boast of, or compare

with, nor _Juno_ her selfe, did looke out and present themselues two

pleasant radious and glistering eyes, which would enforce _Jupiter_ to

rayne golde, of a cleere sight, quicke and pearcing, with a browne

circle betwixt the Apple and the milchie white: neere to the which, were

her purple and Cherry cheekes, beautified with two round smyling

dimples, gracing the pleasure of her countenaunce, of the collour of the

fresh Roses gathered at the rysing of the Sunne, and layde in a vessell

of the Christall of Cyprus, and shewing through the same, as me thought.

Vnder her nose to her lyppes, passed a little valley to her small mouth

of a most sweete forme, her lyppes not blabbered or swelling, but

indifferent, & of a rubye collour, couering two vniforme sets of teeth,

like yuory, and small, not one longer and sharper than an other, but in

order euenly disposed and set: from betwixt the which, Loue had composed

an euerlasting sweet breathing, so as I presumed to thinke, that the

snow white teeth betwixt her gracious lyppes, were no other but Oryent

Pearles, & her sweet breath hot Muske, and by her delightfull voyce that

she was _Thespis_ with her nine daughters.

By all which sight I was greatly mooued and my sences rauished with a

kindled appetite, causing among them great strife and bitter contention,

such as I neuer felt before, by any other presence or excellent sightes

whatsoeuer. My searching eyes commended one part aboue another, to bee

more beautifull: but my appetite rapt into an other part of her heauenly

body, esteeming that aboue the other. And thus my insatiable and wanton

eyes, were the euill beginning of all thys perturbing and contentious

commotion, whome I founde the seminaries and moouers of all so great

strife and trouble, in my wounded and festering heart. Through theyr

contumacy, I was now brought from my selfe, and neuerthelesse, I could

not be satisfied by them. My greedy appetyte extolled her delicate

breast aboue any comparison, my eyes delightfully consenting thervnto,

sayd, at least by that we may discouer what y^e rest is; And they,

glauncing from that to the regarde of her grace and gesture, set all

their delight therein: and my appetite strengthened and not easilie

remooued from thence, I perswaded my selfe, that the plentie and

fayrenesse of her head and hayre, and the dressing thereof, and the

beautie of her forheade, coulde neuer bee compared with of any one or

other, like the scrapings of golde alwaies turning into little roundels.

With two eyes lyke morning starres in a cleere heauen, more beautifully

adorning her heade, than any that euer the warlike _Neco_ behelde among

the _Acitanians_, wounding my heart like one of the arrowes of the

angrie _Cupid_. And thus to conclude, I dare be bolde to say, that no

mortall man hath seene, so gracious, so shyning, so cleere and pleasant

lightes as these were placed in the forhead of this heauenly creature;

so that by them my hart was taken prisoner, & was filled with such

continuall controuersies of desire, as if a leafe of the Laurell of the

Tombe of the king of _Bibria_ had bin placed betwixt, & that strife

should neuer cease whilst it was there: so as I thought that this strife

would neuer cease, vntill the pleasure were taken away, by reason

wherof, I could not perceiue howe I shoulde obtaine the fulnes of my

desire, or howe it coulde agree with either one or other. Like one

extreamely hungry among a number of prepared meates being desirous of

all, feedes of none, his burning appetite remayning satisfied with none,

but still hungry.

_The most fayre Nymph beeing come to Poliphilus, bearing a Torch in her

left hand, with the other tooke him and inuited him to walke with her,

and there Poliphilus by her loue was more inflamed._

Thus seing before me, a reall and visible obiect of a most excellent

representation, louely presence and heauenly aspect, of a plentifull

store and vniuersall gathering of vnseene beautie, and inhumaine

comelinesse, I made light and slender account, in respect heereof, of

all the inestimable delights, riches, and great pompe which before I had

behelde and seene, thinking their worthinesse nothing to speake of, in

comparison of this. Oh happie hee that may enioy such and so great a

treasure of loue; and not onely a happie possessor I account him, but

most happie that shall possesse and obtaine her obedience, to hys desire

and rule. But if _Zenes_ had behelde this substance, hee would haue

commended the same aboue all the _Agrigentine_ maides, euery proprotion

would haue made vnto him an oportune shewe of the absolutest perfection

in the whole world.

Which fayre and heauenly Nymph nowe comming neere vnto me, with a

cheerefull countenance, incontinently her most rare beautie, before

somewhat a farre of looked vppon with mine eyes, but nowe, by them more

neere and narrowly behelde, I was rauished and amased.

And her amorous aspect and louely presence, was no sooner brought by the

message of mine eyes to my inward partes, but my recording and watchfull

remembrance, stirring and waking vppe my heart, presenting and offering

her vnto the same: it is become her shoppe; the quiuer for her piercing

arrowes and wounding regardes, and the dwelling place and conseruable

mansion house, of her sweete picture. Knowing that this was shee which

had t[ae]diously consumed my tender yeeres, in her hotte and prime loue,

not to be resisted. For I felt the same leaping and beating against my

breast, without ceasing, like as one that striketh vpon a hoarse Taber.

And still me thought by her louely and delightfull countenance, by her

fayre tresses, and the curling and wauing haire, playing vp and downe

vppon her forheade, that it should be _Polia_, whome so greatly I had

loued and desired, and for whom I had sustained so many & sundry

griefes, without intermission, sending out scalding sighes, the outward

reporters of my inwarde flames. But her rich and Nymphish habite,

vnaccustomed, and the place vnknowne and strange, made mee still

doubtfull and suspicious.

Shee (as beforesaide) carried in her snowe white left arme, close to her

body, a kindled and burning Torch, somewhat higher then her heade a good

deale, and the lower ende growing smaller and smaller, shee helde in her

hande: and stretching foorth that which was at libertie, more white then

euer had _Pelopea_, wherein appeared the thinne smoothnes of the skynne,

and the blewnesse of the veynes lyke Azure streames, vppon the faire and

whitest paper. Shee tooke me by the left hande with a sweete and louing

countenance and smiling grace, and with an eloquent speech, shee

pleasantly saide in this manner.

_Poliphilus_, I thinke my selfe to come in saftie, but it seemeth that

you stand doubtfull. Heereat I was more amazed, and my sences in a

manner gone to imagine howe she should knowe my name; and al my inward

parts vanquished, and hemmed in with burning amorous flames, my speech

was taken from mee with feare and reuerent bashfulnesse.

In this sort remayning, I knewe not vppon the suddaine what good

aunswere I might make, or otherwise doe her reuerence, but to offer her

my vnworthy and vnfit hande; Which when it was streined in hers, me

thought that it was in hot snowe and curded milke, and me thought

indeede, that I touched and handled something which was more then

humaine; which when I had so done, I remained moued in minde, troubled

and doubtfull, vnaccustomed to such a companion, not knowing what to

say, or whether to followe her, in my simple apparell and homely

bringing vp, not agreeable with hers: and as a foole, vnworthy and vnfit

for her fellowship, perswading my selfe, that it was not lawfull for a

mortall and earthly creature to enioy such pleasures. For which cause,

my collour red and blushing, with reuerent admiration, being grieued at

my basenesse, I setled my selfe to followe her.

At length, and yet not with a perfect recalled minde, I beganne to

reduce and sommon together, my fearefull and distempered spirites:

perswading my selfe, that I must needes haue good successe, being neere

so faire and diuine an obiect, and in such a place; And so followed her

on with a panting heart, more shaking than the birde _Sisura_, or a

Lambe carryed in the mouth of a Wolfe.

And thus touched most feruently with pleasant heates, growing &

encreasing more & more, they began to boyle & kindle my colde feare, and

dispositiuely to adopt my altered heate to sincere loue. Which being

thus brought to thys passe, by a prouoked inward desire, yet inwardly as

I reasoned with my selfe, it was wonderfully variable and doubtfull. Oh

most happye Louer of all Louers, that in requitall of hys, might bee

sure to participate of hers.

On the other side, I perswaded my selfe, that if I shoulde offer vnto

her my amorous heart and loue, hauing no better thing to bestow vpon

her, or present vnto her, it might be that she would not refuse it: like

_Artaxerxes_, the King of the Percians; who hauing water presented to

hys handes, accepted of it bowing downe himselfe. Heerewithall, me

thought yet that a fearefull and chill trembling inuaded mee, infusing

it selfe ouer all my body and breast, renewing the force of the extreame

fire, euen like dry reede: which being once kindled, is enflamed and

nourished with the fresh ayre, vntill at length it is increased so

mightily, that it consumeth all to ashes.

And in like sorte, I fully founde in my selfe, an increase and flashing

abroade of my inwarde flames, in their prepared subject, so effectually,

that her amorous regardes gaue me mortall and deadly woundes: euen as

lightning and thunder, among the stronge and mightie oakes, suddainely

with a great force, scorching & tearing them. And therefore I durst not

looke vpon her bright eyes, because that dooing so, (being ouercome with

the incredible beauty of her gracious aspect) if peraduenture her

radious beames did reincounter mutually with myne, for a little while

euery thinge seemed two vnto mee, vntill I had closed the lyddes

together, and restored them to theyr former light.

Wherevpon, and by reason of these thinges captiuated, spoyled, and

ouercome, I determined at that instant to plucke vp some fresh flowers,

and in all humble sort to offer them vnto her, and it came to passe,

that whilst my secret thoughts consented thervnto, consygning a free

meane and large entrance, for the discouery of my desire. But my burning

heart humbly hauing opened the same, euen as a rype Apple being eyther

bytten or shaken, so it fell and fayled me. And receiuing into his

wounded and familiar estuation, in some interposition of time,

immediatly his accustomed heat and feruor increased, piercing the inward

parts with her virgineall aspects, exceedingly beautified with a comely

grace and vnexcogitable elegancie; Because, that into this sweete

introduction into my minde, of these first amorous flames, (lyke the

Troian horse, full of weapons and deceite) the enterance was made for an

euerlasting, vnknown, and vncessant plague, deeply festering in my

tender and poore heart, perpetually remayning: which easily ouercome

with one sweete looke, inconsiderately without delay, hasteneth his owne

hurt, and wholly layeth it selfe open to amorous incursions, and burneth

it selfe with sweet conceits, going into the flames of his owne accord.

To all which burning desires her present company did greatly inforce

mee, which I esteemed to yeelde mee more comfort, then the North starre

in a tempestuous night to the troubled Marriner: more acceptable then

that of _Melicta_ to _Adonis_, or to _Phrodites_, the obsequious Nymph

_Peristera_: and more delightfull then _Dittander_ to the daughter of

_Dydo_, with the Purple flowre for the wounde of _Pius [Ae]neas_: And

finding my heart strooken and inwardly pricking, secretly filled and

compressiuely stuft; recording and gathering together into it, varyable

thoughts and working of Loue, my immedicable wounde grewe greater and

greater. But gathering vp the remaynder of my sences, as one that durst,

I assured my selfe to manifest and lay open before her, my intended

desires and amorous conceites. And thus loosing my selfe in a blinde

folly. I could not choose but giue place to my inuading desires,

feruently boyling and inforcing me to say thus.

Oh delycate and heauenly Damosell, whatsoeuer thou art, thy forcyble

loue hath set me on fire, and consumeth my grieued heart; I finde my

selfe all ouer, burning in an vncessant flame, and a sharpe dart cast

into the middest of my breast, where it sticketh fast, hauing made a

mortall wounde vncurable. And hauing spoken thus, to the ende I might

discouer vnto her my hidden desire, and moderate by that meanes the

extreamitie of my bitter passions: vvhich I felt, the more they were

concealed, the more to augment and increase, I patiently helde my peace:

and by this meanes all those feruent and greeuous agitations, doubtfull

thoughtes, wanton and vyolent desires, were somewhat supprest; with my

ill fauoured Gowne, that had still some of the Bramble leaues and

prickes in the Wood hanging vpon it, and euen as a Peacocke in the pride

of his feathers, beholding the fowlenesse of his feete, pulleth downe

hys traine: so I considering the inequallitie of my selfe, with such a

heauenly obiect, appaled the prouocations of my contumacious and high

desires, looking into the vanities of my thoughtes.

And then I earnestly endeuoured by all the meanes that I might, to

subdue, encloyster, and keepe in, my vnbridled gadding appetite,

wandring minde, and immodest desire, intending nowe that it should neuer

be vttered againe.

At length I beganne to thinke in the secret depth of my wounded heart,

that vndoubtedly this my present continued griefe, was equall with that

of wicked _Tantalus_, to whose hotte and thirsting lyppes, the coole and

cleere water did offer it selfe, and to his hungry appetite, the sweete

fruites honge ouer hys gaping mouth appresenting, but he neuer tasted

any of either.

Ah woe is mee euen in like sort, a most fayre Nymph of an excellent

shape, of a florishing age, of Angel-like behauiour vnspeakable, and of

rare honour and exceeding curtesie as mine eies coulde beholde, whose

company exceeded any exquesite humaine content; and I, iust by her, full

of all whatsoeuer prouocation, forcing sollaciously loue and desire,

heaping vppe in her selfe the whole perfections of delight, and yet my

yauning and voluptuous desire, neuer the more thereby satisfied.

Well, on this sorte my burning concupiscence nothing allayed, as much as

I might, I comforted my languishing hart, vnmeasurably tormented, in

putting of it in minde, of solacious and amorous hope: and with that,

there was neuer a coale so neere put out, but it was presently renued

and set on fire, with the company of the next. And my vnbridled eyes,

the more they were vnarmed to resist her power, the more they were

inflamed with the insolent desire and liking of her wonderfull and

heauenly beautie; Still seeming more faire, more excellent, more louely,

more to be desired, extreamly apt and pr[ae]pared for loue: euedently

shewing foorth in her selfe, a wonderfull increase of sweete pleasure.

Afterwards I thought with my selfe, it may be that she is some creature

which I may not desire, and it may bee the place is not fitte for such

thoughtes, and then it may bee I haue made a wise worke, and spunne a

fayre thred, if I should bee punished for my impudencie, like _Ixion_.

In like sort, the Thracian had neuer founde the deepe seate of

_Neptune_, if he had not medled with _Tethis_; and _Gallantide_, the

mayde of _Lucina_, shoulde not haue brought foorth in her mouth, if hee

had not deceiued. It may that thys Nymph is spowsed to some high and

mightie Prince, and I to offer her this dishonour, what am I worthy of?

And thus resoning with my selfe, I thought that those thinges which had

but slender assurance, woulde lightly slyppe away, and that it would not

be hard to deceiue, where was no watchfull regarde: and to bolde

spirites, Fortune was not altogether fayling: and besides, that it was

harde to knowe a mans thought. Where-vpon, euen as _Calistone_, being

ashamed at her swelling belley, shronke aside from the presence of

_Diana_; so I withdrewe my selfe, blushing at my attempt, and bridling

my inconuenient desires. Yet with a lincious eye, I neuer left to

examine, with great delight, the extreame beautie of the excellent

Nymph, disposing my selfe to her sweete loue, with an vnfallyble,

obstinate, and firme resolution.

_Polia, as yet vnknowne to her Louer Poliphilus, shee gratiously

assureth him: who for her extreame beautie, hee indeuoreth his minde

to loue. And both of them going to the triumphes, they see innumerable

youths and Damosels, sporting with great delight._

The Archer _Cupid_, in my wounding heart hauing his residence, like a

Lord and king, holding me tyed in the bands of Loue, I found my selfe

pricked and grieuously tormented, in his tyrannous and yet pleasant

regiment. And abounding in doubtfull delight, vnmeasurably sighing,

I watered my plaints; and then the surmounting Nymph, with a pleasing

grace, incontinently gaue me comfort, and with her ruddy and fayre

spoken lyppes, framing violent and attractiue wordes, she gaue me

assurance: abandoning and remouing from my heart, all fearefull

thoughts, with her Olymphicall aspects, and cooling with her eloquent

speeches, my burning heart; and with an amorous and friendly regarde,

and cast of her eyes, and smiling grace, she saide thus vnto mee.

_Poliphilus_, I woulde thou shouldest vnderstand and know thys, that

true and vertuous loue hath no respect of outward things, and therefore

let not the basenes of thy apparell, diminish or lessen thy minde,

if perhaps noble and gentle, and worthy of these places, and fitte to

beholde these maruellous tryumphes; Therefore let not thy minde be

dismayed with feare, but dilligently behold what Kingdomes they

possesse, that are crowned by _Venus_. I meane, such as bee strongly

agonished and yet perseuere still, seruing and attending vpon her

amorous Aultars and sacred flames, vntill they obtaine her lawfull

fauour. And then making an ende of her short and sweet speech, both of

vs making forward, our pace neither too fast nor too slowe, but in a

measure; I thought thus, and thus discoursing with my selfe.

Oh most valiant _Perseus_, thou wouldest more feirsly haue fought with

the cruell Dragon, for the fauour of this, then for the loue of thy

fayre _Andromada_. And after.

Oh _Iason_, if the marriage of this had beene offered vnto thee, with a

more greater and more daungerous aduenture, then the obtayning of the

golden fleece, thou wouldest haue let goe that, and vndertaken this,

with a greater courage, esteeming it aboue al the iewelles and precious

treasures of the whole worlde; I, more then those of the ritch and

mightie Queene _Eleutherillida_. Continually seeming more fayre, more

beautifull, and more louely. _Hippodamia_, and all the greedy scraping

and doubtfull Vsurers, neuer tooke such delight in getting of gold.

A quyet Harbour was neuer so welcome to a destressed Marryner, in a

stormy, darke, and tempesteous winter night: nor the wished and oportune

fall of rayne, at the prayer of _Cr[ae]sus_, as the louing consent of

this daintie Nymph: more welcome to mee, then bloody broyles to warlike

_Mars_, or the first fruites of _Creta_ to _Dionisius_: or the warbling

Harpe to _Apollo_: and yet more gratefull, then fertill grounde, full

eares, and plentifull yeelding, to the labouring Husbandman.

And thus in most contented sort, passing on and pressing down the

thicke, greene, and coole grasse: sometime my searching and busie eyes,

woulde haue a cast with her pretty & small feete, passing well fitted

with shooes of Red leather, growing broader from the instept, narrowe at

the toe, and close about the heele; and sometimes her fine and moueable

legges, (her vesture of silke beeing blowne about with the winde, vppon

her virgineall partes) discouered themselues. If I might haue seene

them, I do imagine that they did looke like the finest flower of

_Peloponesus_, or like the purest milke, coagulated with Muske.

By all which most delectable thinges, tyed and bounde in the harde and

inextricable knots of vehement loue, more vneasie to vndoe then that of

_Hercules_, or that which _Alexander_ the great did cut in sunder with

hys sworde: and amorously masked in rowled nettes, and my subdued heart,

helde downe withe grieued cogitations and burning desires, leading mee

whether they would, I founde in it more pricking torments then faythfull

_Regulus_ in Aphrica. So that my sorrowing spirites exasperated with an

amorous desire and extreame vexation, continually burning in my panting

breast, coulde by no meanes bee asswaged, but with supping vp of

continuall sobbings, and breathing out of their flying losse. And thus

drowned in a mist of doubts, and seeing me vyolently taken in her loue,

I saide thus to my selfe.

O _Poliphilus_, howe canst thou leaue at any tyme thy inseperable loue,

kindled towardes thy sweete _Polia_, for any other? And therewithall,

from this Nymph, thus close and fast bounde, more strongly then in the

clawes of a Creuise or Lobstar, endeuouring to vntie my selfe, I found

it no easie peece of worke, so that I coulde not choose but greeuously

binde my troubled hart, to the loue and affecting of this by all

likelihoodes, hauing the true shape, sweete resemblance, and gratious

behauiour of my most beloued _Polia_. But aboue all thinges, this came

more neere vnto mee and grieued me worst, howe I should bee assured that

shee was _Polia_. Wherevppon, from my watry eyes, the salt teares

immediatly tryckling downe, it seemed vnto me a hard & contemptuous

matter, to banish from my forlorne and poore heart, his olde soueraigne

Lady and Mistresse, and to entertaine a newe, strange, and vnknowne

Tyrannyzer.

Afterwards, I comforted my selfe again, with thinking that peraduenture

this was shee, according to the sacred Oracle and true speech, of the

mighty Queene _Eleutherillida_: and therefore, that I should not shrinke

or stoope vnder my burthen; for if I were not greatly deceiued, this was

shee indeede. And hauing made thys amorous and discoursiue thought and

swasiue pr[ae]suppose, abandoning all other desires whatsoeuer, I onely

determined with my heart and minde, to come backe againe to this noble

and excellent Nymph; in whose great loue I beeing thus taken, with

extreame compulsion, I was bolde with an vnaccustomed admyration,

dilligently to looke vpon her rare shape, and louely features, my eyes

making themselues the swallowing whirlpooles of her incomparable

beautie: and they were no sooner opened, hotly to take in the sweete

pleasure of her so benigne and conspicuous presence, but they were

strengthened for euer, to hold with them solaciously agreeing, the

assembly of all my other captiued sences, that from her and no other,

I did seeke the mittegation and quenching of my amorous flames. And in

this sort we came, whilst I was thus cruelly wounded by exasperating

Loue, somewhat vppon the right side of the spacious fielde.

In which place, were set greene trees, thicke with leaues, and full of

flowers, bearing fruite, rounde about the place and seate of such

variable and diuers sorts, neuer fading but still greene, giuing great

content to the delightfull beholder.

The gallant and pleasant Nymphe there stayed; and I also stood still:

Where looking about, by the benignitie of the fruitfull playne, with

halfe my sight, because I coulde not altogether withdrawe the same from

the amorous obiect; I behelde very neere vnto vs, a certaine shewe of an

inuyroning company, tryumphing and dauncing about vs, of most braue and

fine youthes, without beardes and vnshorne heares, but that of their

heads bushing, curling, and wrything, without any art or eff[ae]minate

crysping: crowned and dressed, with garlands and wreathes of diuers

flowers, and red Roses, with leauye Myrtle, with purple Amaranth or

flower gentle, and Melliot: and with them a great company of yonge

maydes, more fayre and delicate then bee to bee founde in Sparta; Both

kindes apparelled very richly, in silkes of changable collours, hyding

the perfect collour; some in Purple & Murry, and some in white curled

Sendall, such as [Ae]gipt neuer affoorded, and of dyuers other collours:

some Tawney, some Crymosen, others in Greene, some in Vyolet, some in

Blewe, Peach collour, Peacocke collour, perfectly engrayned, as euer

Corica coulde yeelde: and powdered and wouen with golde, and edged and

hemmed about With orient Pearle and stones set in pure golde; some in

gownes, and others in hunting sutes.

And the most of the beautifull Nymphes, had their fayre haire smoothly

bounde vppe together, and thrise rowled about, with an excellent

finishing knot; Others had their vnstable & wauing tresses, spreading

downe ouer their fayre neckes. Some, with aboundance of haire, cast vp

ouer their forheades, and the endes turning into curles, & shaddowing

ouer the fayrenes of the same: so as Nature and not Arte, shewed her

selfe therein a beautifull mistresse; With fillets and laces of golde,

edged with orient Pearle, and others in Caules of golde, wearing about

theyr slender neckes, rich and precious Carkenets and, necklaces, of

Pearles and stone, and depending iewelles. And vppon theyr small eares,

did hange dyuers precious stones, and ouer the variable dressings of

theyr heades, before in two Hemycicles, were set shoddowes of oryent

Pearle and stone, in flowers of hayre.

All which excellent ornaments, together with theyr most elegant

personages, were easily able to alter, any churlish, vile or obstinate

heart.

Theyr fayre breastes, in a voluptuous and wanton sort, were bare to the

middest of them: And vppon their prettie feete, some wore sandalles,

after the auncient manner, beeing soles, and the foote bare fastened to

the same, with a small chaine of golde, comming vp betwixt the great toe

and the middle, and the little toe and the next, about the heele ouer

the instep, and fastening vppon the vpper part, betwixt the toes and the

instep, in a flower. Others hauing straight shooes, claspt vppon the

instep with flowers of golde. Their stockings of silke; some of Purple,

some of Carnation, some of parted collours: such as _Caius Galicola_

neuer first brought vp. Others wearing Buskins, vppon the white swelling

calfes of their legges, and laced with silke; some butned wyth golde and

precious stone.

Their fore-heades most fayre, and beautified with the moueable wauinges

of theyr crysping hayre couered ouer with a thinne vayle, lyke a Spiders

vvebbe. Theyr eyes byting and alluring, more bright, than the twinkling

starres in a cleere ayre, vnder theyr circulate brees: vvith a small

nose, betwixt their rounde and cherry cheekes: their teeth orderly

disposed, small and euen set, of the collour of refyned siluer: vppon

the rest, betwixt their sweet and soft lyppes: of the collour of

Corrall.

Many of them carrying instruments of Musique, such as neuer were seene

in _Ausonia_, nor in the handes of _Orpheus_: yeelding in the flowring

Meadowe & smoth playne, most delightfull sounds, with sweete voyces and

noyces of ioye and tryumphing: and to increase the glory, amorously

stryuing and contending one with an other, vvith solacious and pleasant

acts, accompanied with faire speeches and friendly aspects. And in this

place, with a most delectable applause, I behelde foure Tryumphes, so

precious and sumptuously set foorth, as neuer any mortall eye hath

seene.

_Poliphilus in this prescribed place, did beholde foure tryumphing

Chariots, all set with precious stones and iewelles, by a great number

of youthes, in the honour of Iupiter._

The first of the foure marueilous tryumphant Chariots, had foure rounde

wheeles, of Perfect greene Emeralds of Scythia; the rest of the Chariot

did amase mee to beholde, beeing made all of table Dyamonds: not of

Arabia or Cyprus, of the newe Myne, as our Lapidaries call them: but of

India, resisting the harde stroakes of yron and steele, abyding the hote

fire & striuing therwith, mollified onely with the warme bloode of

Goates, gratefull in the Magicall arte; which stones, were wonderfully

cut of a Cataglyphic explicature, and set very curiously in fine golde.

Vppon the right side of the Chariot, I sawe expressed, the

representation of a noble Nymph, with many accompanying her in a

Meddowe, crowning of victorious Bulles with garlands of flowers, and one

abyding by her very tamely.

The same Nymph, vppon the other side was also represented, who hauing

mounted vp vppon the backe of the Bull, which was gentle and white, he

carryed her ouer the sea.

Vppon the fore-ende I behelde _Cupid_, with a great number of wounded

people and Nations, marueiling to see him shoote into the ayre. And in

the hinder part, _Mars_ standing before _Iupiter_, mourning because the

boy had shotte through his impenetrable Brest-plate, and shewing the

wounde, and with the other hande, holding out his arme, he helde this

worde _Nemo_.

The fashion of this Chariot was quadrangulat, of two perfect squares,

longe wayes, of sixe foote in length and three foote in height, with a

bearing out coronice aboue and vnder the plynth: and about the same a

plaine, in breadth two foote and a halfe, and in length fiue foot and a

halfe, bearing towards the Coronice, all ouer scally, with precious

stones, with an altered congresse and order of collours, variably

disposed. And vppon the foure corners, were fastned foure coppies,

inuersed, and the mouth lying vpward vpon the proiect corner of the

Coronice, full of fruites and flowers cut of precious stones, as it were

growing out of a foliature of golde. The hornes were chased neere their

mouth, with the leaues of Poppy, and wrythen in the belly: the

gracylament & outward bending, ioyning fast to the ende of the plaine,

and breaking of in an olde fashioned iagged leaf-worke, lying a long

vnder the backe of the Coppisse, and of the same mettall. Vpon euery

corner of the Plynth, from the Coronice downeward, there was a foote

lyke a Harpies, with an excellent conuersion and turning vppon eyther

sides of the leaues of Acanthus.

The wheeles, aboue the naues and axeltrees, were closed within the

Chariot, and the sides thereof vnder the Harpies feete, bent somewhat

vpward and growing lesser, turned rounde downward, wherevnto the

furniture or trace to drawe it by, were fastned: and where the axeltree

was, there vpon the side of the bottom of the Charriot, ouer the naue of

the wheele, there came downe a prepention ioyning to the Plynth, twise

so long as deepe, of two foliatures, one extending one way and the other

an other way: and vpon the middle thereof and lowest part, was a Rose of

fiue leaues, in the seede whereof, the ende of the axeltree did lye.

Vppon the aforesaide Playne, I behelde the ymage of a fayre white and

tame Bull, trymmed and dressed with flowers, in manner like an Oxe for a

Sacrifice. And vppon his large and broade backe, did sit a princely

virgine, with long and slender armes, halfe naked; with her handes she

helde by his hornes. Her apparell was exquesite of greene silke and

golde, marueilously wouen, and of a Nymphish fashion, couering her body

and girded about her wast, edged about with Pearle and stone, and a

crowne of glittering golde vpon her fayre heade.

This Triumph, was drawne by sixe lasciuious Centaures, which came of the

fallen seede of the sausy and presumpteous _Ixion_: with a furniture of

gold vpon them, and a long their strong sides, like horses, excellently

framed and illaqueated in manner of a flagon chayne, whereby they drewe

the Tryumph; such as _Ericthonius_ neuer inuented, for swiftnesse.

Vpon euery one of them did ride a goodly Nymph, with theyr shoulders one

towards an other: three, with their beautifull faces towards the right

side of the Tryumphes, and three to the left, with Instruments of

Musique, making together a heauenly harmonie and consort. Their hayres

yellowe, and falling ouer their fayre neckes, with Pancarpiall garlands

of all manner of flowers, vpon their heades. The two next the Tryumph,

were apparelled in blewe silke, like the collour of a Peacockes necke.

The middlemost in bright Crymosen: and the two formost in an Emerald

greene, not wanting any ornamentes to sette them foorth, singing so

sweetly with little rounde mouthes, and playing vppon their instruments,

within so celestiall a manner, as woulde keepe a man from euer dying.

The Centaures were crowned with yuie, that is called _Dendrocyssos_. The

two next the tryumph did beare in their handes, two vesselles of an olde

fashion, of the Topas of Arabia, of a bright golden collour, gratefull

to _Lucina_, and to the which, the waues will be calme: slender at the

bottom, bigge swelling in the belly, and lessening small vp towardes the

Orifice; In height two foote, without eares: out of the which, did

ascend a thicke smoake or fume, of an inestimable fragrancie. The

middlemost, did sounde Trumpets of golde, with banners of silke and

golde, fastned to the Trumpets in three places.

The other two formost, with olde fashioned Cornets, agreeing in consort

with the Instruments of the Nymph.

Vnder the which triumphant Chariot, were the Axeltrees conuently placed,

wherevppon the wheeles turned, and of a balustic lyneament, waxing small

towarde the ende and rounde: Which Axeltrees, were of fine pure golde

and massiue, neuer cankering or fretting; which is the deadly poyson and

destroyer of vertue and peaceable quyet.

This tryumph was solemnly celebrated, with moderate leaping and dauncing

about, and great applause: their habites were girded with skarfes, the

endes flying abroade.

And in like sort, those which did sit vpon the Centaures, commending in

their song, the occasion and mistery of the Tryumph, in voyces consonant

and cantionell verse; more pleasant than I am able to expresse, but let

this suffice.

_The second Tryumph._

The next Tryumph, was not lesse worthy to be beholden then the first.

The foure wheeles, the spokes, and naues, were all of Fulkish Agate, and

in dyuers places white veines: such as King _Pyrrhus_ could not shewe,

with the representation of the nine Muses, and _Apollo_ playing in the

middest of them vppon his Lute.

The Axeltrees and fashion of the same like the other: but the Tables

were of orient blewe Saphire, hauing in them, as small as motes in the

Sunne, certaine glinces of golde, gratefull to the Magicke Arte, and of

_Cupid_ beloued in the left hande.

Vpon the Table on the right side, I behelde engrauen, a goodly Matron

lying in a princely bed, beeing deliuered of two egges in a stately

Pallace: her Midwyues and other Matrons and yonge women, beeing greatly

astonished at the sight. Out of one of the which, spronge a flame of

fire: and out of the other egge two bright starres.

Vppon the other side were engrauen, the curious Parents, ignorant of

thys strange byrth, in the Temple of _Apollo_, before hys image, asking

by Oracle the cause and ende heereof, hauing this darke aunswere. _Vni

gratum Mare. Alterum gratum Mari._ And for thys ambiguous aunswere they

were reserued by their Parents.

Vppon the fore-ende of the Charyot, there was represented most liuely

the figure of _Cupid_, aloft in the skyes, with the sharpe heades of his

golden arrowes, wounding and making bleede the bodyes of dyuers foure

footed beastes, creeping Serpents, and flying Foules. And vppon the

earth, stoode dvuers persons, wondering at the force of such a little

slaue, and the effect of suche a vveake and slender Arrowe.

In the hynder ende, _Iupiter_ appoynting in hys steade, a prudent and

subtill Sheepehearde as a Iudge, awakened by hym, as hee lay sleeping

neere a most fayre Fountaine, whether of the three most fayre Goddesses,

hee esteemed best worthie. And hee beeing seduced by deuising _Cupid_,

gaue the Apple to the pleasant working _Venus_.

This tryumphant Charyot, was drawen by sixe white Elephants, coupled two

and two together, such as will hardly be found in Agesinua, nor among

the Gandars of India. _Pompei_ neuer had the like in his Tryumphes in

Affricke: neither were the like seene in the Tryumphes of the conquest

of India; their tronckes armed with deadly teeth of yuory, passing on

theyr way and drawing together, making a pleasant braying or noyse.

Their furniture & traces of pure blewe silke, twisted with threds of

golde and siluer: the fastnings in the furniture, all made vp with

square or true loue knots, lyke square eares of corne of the Mountaine

Garganus. Their Poyterelles of golde, set with Pearle and stone

different in collours; the beautie of the one striuing to excell the

beautie of the other. And thus was all their furniture or armings to the

traces, of silke as aforesayde.

Vppon them also, did ride (as before) sixe younge and tender Nymphes, in

like sort, but theyr Instruments different from the former, but agreeing

in consort: and what soeuer the first did, the same did these.

The first two were apparelled in Crymosen: the middle most two in fine

hayre collour: and the foremost in vyolet. The Caparisons of the

Eliphants were of cloth of golde, edged with great Pearles and precious

stones: And about their neckes were ornaments of great round iewelles,

and vpon their faces, great balles of Pearles, tasled with silke and

golde, vnstable and turning.

Ouer this stately Chariot tryumphant, I behelde a most white Swanne, in

the amorous imbracing of a noble Nymph, the daughter of _Theseus_, of an

incredible beautie: and vpon her lappe, sitting the same Swanne, ouer

her white thighes. She sate vppon two cushines of cloth of golde, finely

and softely wouen, with all the ornaments necessary for them.

Her selfe apparelled in a Nimphish sort, in cloth of siluer, heere and

there powdered with golde, ouer one and vnder three, without defect or

want of any thing, requisite to the adorning of so honorable a

representation, which to the beholder, may occasion a pleasurable

delight. In euery sort performed with as great applause as the first.

_The third Tryumph._

Then followed the thyrd Tryumph, with foure wheles of [Ae]thyopian

Chrysolite, sparkling out golde: that which hath beene helde in the

same, in olde time hath beene thought good to dryue away malignant

spirits. The wheeles vpwardly couered, as aforesaide, and the naues and

spokes of the same fashion, of greene Helitropia of Cyprus: whose vertue

is, to keepe secret in the day light, to diuine giftes, full of drops of

blood.

This Historie was engrauen vppon the right side of the Table thereof,

as followeth. _A man of great Maiestie, requesting to knowe what should

happen to his fayre daughter: her Father vnderstanding, that by her

meanes he should be dispossessed of his Crowne and dignitie; and to the

ende she shoulde not be carried away or stollen of any, he built a

mightie stronge Tower, and there, with a watchfull garde caused her to

bee kept: and shee remayning there in this sort with great content, had

falling into her virgineall lap, drops of Golde._

Vppon the other side was chased out a valiant youth, who with great

reuerence did receiue a protection of a Christall shielde, and with his

sworde afterward cutting off the heade of a terryble woman, and

afterwardes proudly bearing her heade in signe of victorie; Out of the

hotte blood of whome, did rise vp a flying horse: who striking vppon a

Mountaine with one of hys houes, made a strange springe of water to gush

out.

Vpon the fore ende I behelde the mightie _Cupid_, drawing hys golden

Arrowe, and shooting the same vp into the heauens, causing them to raine

bloode: whereat a number stoode wonderfully amazed, of all fortes of

people. Vpon the other ende, I did see _Venus_ in a wonderfull

displeasure, hauing taken her son by a Knight in a Net, and getting him

by the winges, she was about to plucke of his fethers: hauing plucked of

one handfull, that flewe about, the little elph crying out pitteously;

and an other sent from _Jupiter_, tooke him away and saued him from his

mother, and presented him to _Jupiter_: against whose diuine mouth, were

in Attic Letter these wordes written, +SUMOIPL UKUSTEKAIPKROS+ and hee

couered him in the lap of his celestiall gowne.

This tryumphant Charriot, was pompously drawne with sixe fierce

Vnicornes: their heades like Harts, reuerencing the chaste _Diana_. The

poyterelles and furniture about their stronge breasts, was of golde, set

with precious stone, and fringed with siluer and hayre colloured silke,

tyed into knots, in manner of a net worke, and tasseled at euery

prependent point, their caparisons like the other before spoken of.

Vpon these did sit, six fayre virgines, in such pompe and manner as

before, apparelled in cloth of golde, wouen with blewe silke into diuers

leaues & flowers; these had a consort of liuncyers winde Instruments,

full of spirite. And vppon the toppe of the Chariot, was placed a stoole

of green Iasper, set in siluer: needfull in byrth, and medicinable for

chastitie; at the foote it was sixe square, and growing smaller towarde

the seate, and from the middle to the foote, champhered and furrowed,

and vpward wrought with nextrulles: the seate whereof was somewhat

hallowed, for the more easily sitting vppon it. The Lyneaments thereof

most excellent.

A loft vppon the same did sit a most singuler fayre Nymph, richly

apparelled in cloth of golde and blewe silke, dressed lyke a virgine,

and adorned with innumerable sortes of Pearles and stone; she shewed an

affectious delight, to beholde droppes of golde fall from heauen into

her lappe. She sate in solemne pompe like the other, and with great

applause, with her fayre and plentifull haire spreading downe ouer her

backe, crowned with a Dyademe of golde, set with sundry precious stones.

_The fourth Tryumph._

The fourth Tryumph was borne vppon foure wheeles, with Iron strakes,

forcibly beaten out without fire; All the rest of the Charyot, in

fashion like the former, was of burning Carbuncle, shewing light in the

darkest places, of an expolite cutting: past any reason, to thinke howe

or where it was possible to be made, or by what workeman.

The right side whereof, helde this History. _An honourable woman with

childe, vnto whome Jupiter shewed himselfe (as he was wont With Iuno) in

thunder and lightning: insomuch, as shee fell all to ashes, out of the

which was taken vp a younge infant._

Vpon the other side, I behelde _Iupiter_, hauing the saide Infant in his

hands, & delyuering him to a yonge man, with winged buskyns, and a

staffe, with two serpents winding about it: who deliuered the Infant to

certaine Nymphes in a Caue, to be fostered.

In the fore-ende, I might see howe _Cupid_ hauing shot vp into heauen

with hys mischeeuous Arrowe, had caused _Iupiter_ to beholde a mortall

Nymph: and a great number of wounded people woondering at it.

In the hinder end was _Iupiter_ sitting in a tribunall seate as iudge,

and _Cupide_ appeering limping before him, and making grieuous

complaints against his louing mother, bicause that by hir means he had

wounded himselfe extreemly with the loue of a faire damsell, and that

his leg was burnt with a drop of a lampe, presenting also the yoong

Nymph and the lampe in hir hand. And _Iupiter_ with a smiling

countenance speaking to _Cupid_,

_Perfer scintillam qui coelum accendis & omnes._

This _Monosticon_ was grauen in Latine letters in a square table before

the faces of their supreame maiesties, the rest as is described.

This mysticall triumph was drawen by sixe spotted beasts of yealow

shining colour, and swift as the tygers of _Hyrcania_ called Leopards,

coupled togither with withes of twined vines, full of tender greene

leaues, and stalkes full of greene clusters. This chariot was drawen

very leisurely.

Vpon the middle of which plaine there was placed a base of golde by the

lowest diameter, one foote and three handfuls high, the lataster or

lowest verdge round and hollowed, in the middle vnder the vpper sime or

brimme in forme of a pallie with nextrubs, rules and cordicels: the

vpper plaine of this base was euacuated, wherein rested the traines of

the fower eagles standing vpon the plaine, smooth superficies of the

base, which were of precious [Ae]tite of Persia, of the colour of a

sakers plume. And these stood with their shoulders one opposite against

another, and their pounces of gold fastened and sticking in the said

base, euery one surueying with their wings, and the flowering tips of

their sarcellets touching one another. Ouer these as vpon a nest, was

placed this maruellous vessell of [Ae]thiopian Hyacints cleere and

bright, _Celso inimicus, Comiti gratiosus_. This vessell was crusted with

emeralds and vaines of diuers other pretious stones, a worke incredible.

The height thereof two foote and a halfe, the fashion in maner round,

the breadth by diameter one foote and a halfe, and the circumference

consisted of three diameters. From the heads of the eagles the bottome

or foote of the vessell did ascend vp one triens, and a border going

about the thicknes of a hand, from which border to the beginning of the

belly of the vessel, and to the bottome of the foote with this hand

breadth, was a foote and a halfe. Vpon this stood the forme of the

vessell aforesaid one handfull and a halfe broader, which halfe handfull

was distributed to the border, about the brimme of foulding leaues and

flowers standing out from the hyacinth. The diameter two quarters & a

halfe. Vnder this border there did stick out round about certaine

proportions like walnut shels, or the keele of a ship, somwhat thicke

and broade at the vpper end, and lessing themselues to nothing belowe.

From thence to the orifice it did rise vp two quarters and a halfe,

furrowed with turning champhers, and an excellent sime: and in steed of

eares to take vp the vessell by, it had two lips standing out and

turning in round like the head of a base viall.

Vnder and aboue the borders, the vessel was wrought with turned gululs,

vnduls, and imbossings, and with such lineaments were the borders

wrought, both vnder and aboue. Vppon the border in the necke of the

couer, were two halfe rings, suppressed in the border by transuersion,

one of them iust against another, which were holden in the biting teeth

of two Lysarts, or byting Dragons of greene emerauld, bearing out from

the couer. They stoode with their serpentlike feete vpon the lower part

of the couer vnder the necke, betwixt the which and the lower vessell,

was one quantitie, and from his vpper gracilament descending, he ioyned

with the turned in sime of the circumferent lymbus or verdge, where they

did closely byte togither. This couer to the necke was made in skalie

work of _Hyacinth_, except the vaynes of smaragd, for the little

dragons, their bellies and feetes fastening to the skalie couer. These

little dragons one against an other, their brests and throtes hollowing

out from the border and the couer, and their tayles turning vpwards

againe, did serue for the eares of the couer, iust ouer them of the

lower vessell.

The lower turning about, where the couer did close with the vessell

being of two parts, ioyned togither with an excellent foliature, halfe a

foote broad, as if they had bin inseparable.

The bodie of this vessell was all run ouer with a Vine, the stringes and

vaines whereof, and small curling twists, were of Topas, farre better

then is founde in the Ilande Ophiadis, the leaues of fine smaragd, and

the braunches of Amethist, to the sight most beautifull, and to the

vnderstanding woonderfull contemplable. The subiect vessell appearing

thorough the same of Hiacinth so round and polished, as any wheele can

send foorth: except, vnder the leaues there was a substaunce left,

which helde the foliature to the vessell of Hiacinth, passing ouer and

separated from the subiect. The hollowed and bending leaues with all the

other lapicidariall lineaments, were performed with such an emulation of

nature as was woonderfull.

Let vs nowe returne to the circumferent brim of the pretious vessell.

In the smooth partes whereof, vppon eyther sides of the tayles of the

Lysarts, I behelde two hystorials woorthy of regard, ingrauen in this

sort. Vpon the foreside of the vessell, the representation of _Iupiter_,

holding in his right hande a glistering sword, of the vayne of the

[Ae]thiopian Chrysolits: and in the other hande a thunder bolt of shining

Rubie. His countenance sauour of the vaine of Gallatits, and crowned

with stars like lightening, he stoode vpon an aultar of Saphyre. Before

his fearefull maiestie, were a beuie of Nymphs, seauen in number,

apparrelled in white, proffering with their sweete voices to sing, and

after transforming themselues into greene trees like emeralds full of

azure flowers, and bowing themselues downe with deuotion to his power:

Not that they were all transformed into leaues, but the first into a

tree, hir feete to rootes, their armes and heads into braunches, some

more then other, but in a shewe that they must followe all alike, as

appeared by their heads.

Vpon the other Anaglyph, I did behold a merrie and pleasant maiesticall

personage, like a yoong fat boye, crowned with two folding serpents, one

white, and the other blacke, tied into a knot. Hee rested delightfullie

vnder a plentifull vine tree full of ripe grapes, and vpon the top of

the frame there were little naked boies, climing vp and sitting aloft

gathering the ripe clusters: others offering them in a basket to the

God, who pleasantly receiued them: other some lay fast a sleepe vpon the

ground, being drunke with the sweet iuice of the grape. Others applying

themselues to the worke of mustulent autumne: others singing and piping:

all which expression was perfected by the workman in pretious stones, of

such colour as the naturall liuelinesse of euery vaine, leafe, flower,

berrie, body, proportion, shape, and representation required. And in

this imagerie, although it was very small, yet there was no defect to be

found in the least part belonging thereunto, but perfectly to be

discerned.

Out of this former described vessell did spring vp a greene flourishing

vine, the twisting branches thereof full set with clusters of grapes,

the tawny berries of Indian Amethyst, and the leaues of greene Silenitis

of Persia: Not subiect to the change of the moone, delighted of _Cupid_.

This tree shadowed the chariot: At euery corner of this triumphant

chariot vpon the plaine where the vessell stood, was placed a

candlesticke, of excellent workmanship, vpon three feet of red corrall,

well liked of the ruder sort, resisting lightening and tempests,

fauourable and preseruatiue to the bearer: The like were not found vnder

the head of _Gorgon_ of Persia, nor in the Ocean _Erythreum_. The steale

of one of the candlesticks was of white corrall, beloued of _Diana_, of

a conuenient length, with round knobs and ioints, in height two foote.

Another was of most fine stone _Dionisias_, hauing spots growing from a

blackish to a pure red, the same pounded smelleth sweetly. The third was

of perfect _Medea_ of the colour of darke gold, and hauing the smell of

Nectar. The fourth of pretious _Nebritis_ from a blacke growing to a

white and greene. Out of the hollowed steales whereof, there ascended vp

a pyramidall flame of euerlasting fire, continually burning. The

brightnes of the works expressed through the reflexion of the lights,

and the sparkling of the pretious stones were such, as my eies dazeled

to behold them.

About which heauenly triumph, with a maruellous and solemne pompe,

infinite troups of Nymphs, their faire and plentifull tresses falling

loose ouer their shoulders, some naked with aprons of goates skins and

kids, others with tymbrels and flutes, making a most pleasaunt noise, as

in the daunce called Thiasus, in the trieterie of _Bacchus_, with green

leaffie sprigs and vine branches, instrophyated about their heads and

wasts, leaping and dauncing before the triumphs: immediately after the

triumphs followed an olde man vpon an asse, and after him was led a

goate adorned for a sacrifice: And one that followed after carrieng vpon

hir head a fanne, making an vnmeasurable laughter, and vsing furious and

outragious gestures. This was the order of these _Mimallons_, _Satirs_,

and seruants to Bacchus, bawds, _Tyades_, _Naiades_ and such as followed

after.

_The Nymph doth shew to Poliphilus the multitude of yoong

Louers, and their Loues, what they were,

and in what sort beloued_

It is verie hard for a man to accommodate his speech to apte termes,

whereby he may expreslie declare the great pompe, indesinent triumph,

vncessaunt ioie and delightful iettings aboute these rare and vnseene

chariots, and being once vndertaken, it is as vneasie to leaue off:

besides the notable companie of yoong youths, and the increasing troups

of innumerable faire and pleasant Nymphs, more sharpe witted, wise,

modest, and discreet, then is ordinarily seene in so tender yeeres, with

their beardles Louers, scarce hauing downy cheekes, pleasantly deuising

with them matters of Loue. Manie of them hauing their torches burning,

others pastophorall, some with ancient spoiles vppon the endes of

streight staues, and others with diuers sorts of Trophes vpon launces,

curiouslie hanging, caried before the mystical triumphs, with shouting

resounds aboue in the aire. Some with winde-instruments of diuers

fashions and maner of windings, sagbuts and flutes. Others with heauenly

voices singing with ineffable delights, and exceeding solace, past mans

reason to imagine: within them passed about the glorious triumphs,

turning vpon the florulent ground, and green swoord, a place dedicated

to the happie, without anie stub or tree, but the fielde was as a plaine

coequate medowe of sweete hearbes and pleasaunt flowers, of all sorts of

colours, and sundry varieng fashions, yeelding so fragrant a smell as is

possible to speake of, not burnt with the extreeme heat of the sunne,

but moderate, the ground moystened with sweete ryuers, the aire pure and

cleane, the daies all alike, the earth continually greene, the spring

neuer decaieng but renuing, the coole grasse with variable flowers like

a painting, remaining alwaies vnhurt, with their deawie freshnesse,

reseruing and holding their colours without interdict of time. There

grewe the fower sortes of Violets, Cowslops, Melilots, Rose Parsley or

Passeflower, Blew bottles, Gyth, Ladies seale, Vatrachium, Aquilegia,

Lillie conually, Amaranth, Flower gentle, Ideosmus, all sorts of sweete

pinks, and small flowring hearbs of odoriferous fragrancie and smell,

Roses of Persia, hauing the smel of muske and Amber, and innumerable

sorts of others without setting, but naturally growing in a woonderfull

distribution, peeping out from their greene leaues, and barbs very

delightfull to behold.

In this place I might see goodly braue women as the Archadian _Calisto_

the daughter of _Lycaon_, with the vnknowen _Diana_. The Lesbian

_Antiopa_ daughter to _Nycteus_, and mother to _Amphion_ and _Zeteus_

that built Thebes, with hir satyre. _Issa_ the daughter of _Machareus_

with hir shepheard. _Antichia_ the daughter of _Aecus_ and yoong

_Danae:_. _Asterie_ the daughter to _C[ae]us_, and _Alchmena_ with hir

fained husband. Afterward I beheld the pleasant _[Ae]gina_ solacing hir

selfe with the cleere flood and diuine fire. The daughter of _Fullus_

and that of _Menemphus_, with hir counterfeit father, and that other of

_Diodes_ with hir lap full of flowers and a writhing serpent, and the

faire yoong gyrle no more sorrowing for the growing of hir hornes.

_Astiochia_ and _Antigone_ the daughter of _Laomedon_ solaciously

delighting hir selfe in hir storkish plumes, and _Lurisile_ the first

inuentrix of wheeles. _Garamantide_ the dauncing Nymph holding by hir

little finger, and washing hir delicate pretie feete from sweate in the

riuer Bagrada. After that I beheld a quaile flying, and a faulcon

pursuing hir: _Erigone_ hauing hir faire shining brest stickt full of

sweete grapes, and the daughter of king _Chollus_ with hir bull,

_Eriphile_ and hir changed husband: The daughter of _Alpes_ and the

virgin _Melantho_ with hir dolphin, _Phyllira_ the daughter of old

_Oceanus_ with the father of _Chiron_. Next hir _Ceres_ with hir head

instrophyated with ripe eares of corne imbracing the scalie _Hydra_: And

the faire Nymph _Lara_ sorting with _Argiphon_: and the sweete _Futurna_

of the riuer _Numicus_.

And whilest I stood with excessiue delight beholding onely as an

ignorant this rare companie and mysticall triumphes, circumsept with

these and such like sorts, and so also the delicious fields, but that me

thought it was a louely sight to behold, and so I should haue continued:

then the gratious Nymph associating and leading me, seeing my

simplicitie and carelesnes, with a ready countenance and sweete and

pleasant words, without asking, she said thus vnto me: My _Poliphilus_,

doest thou see these? (shewing me those of the olde world) these were

beloued of _Iupiter_, and this, and this was such a one, and these were

in loue with him, by this meanes shewing vnto me their high and mighty

linage, and not knowing their names, she in great curtesie told me.

Afterward she shewed me a great number of little virgins, vnder the

gouernment of three sober and discreete matrones the leaders to so great

delight: Adding thereunto very pleasantly (changing hir angellike

countenance) My _Poliphilus_, thou shalt vnderstand, that no earthly

creature can enter in heere without a burning torch as thou seest me,

either with extreeme loue and great paines, or for the fauour and

company of those three matrones. And from hir hart setting a deepe sigh,

she said: This torch haue I brought hither for thy sake, minding to put

it out in yonder temple.

These speeches pearced my hart, they were so delightfull and desired,

and so much the more, bicause she called me hir _Poliphilus_. Whereupon

I assured my selfe, that she was _Polia_, and from top to the toe I

found an extreeme alteration into a supreame delight, my hart flying

onely to hir. Which thoughts were bewraied by my countenance, and

whispering small sighes.

Which she cunningly perceiuing, brake on this new accident with these

words: Oh how many be there which would most gladly behold these

triumphes, and therefore _Poliphilus_, addresse thy thoughts to other

matters, and behold what noble and woorthy Nymphs shew themselues

deseruedly consorted with their amorous louers, curteous and affable:

who with sweete and pleasant notes in measured verse, praise and commend

one another without wearines, incessantly celebrating their turnes with

excessiue delight, and extolling the triumphs, the aire also full of the

chirpings of diuers pretie birds, yeelding a diffused charme.

About the first triumph among the reioising companie, the nine Muses did

sing, with their leader the diuine Luter _Apollo_.[A]

[Sidenote A: This verse consisted of _Strophe_, _Aristophe_, and

_Epodus_.]

After the triumph followed the faire Parthenopeian _Leria_, with a

lawrell crowne, accompanied with _Melanthia_, whose habites and voices

represented the pride of Greece,[A] whereupon the great Macedon rested

his head: She bare a splendent lampe, communicating the light thereof

with hir companion, then the rest more excellent both in voice and song.

[Sidenote A: _Homer._]

There the faire Nymph shewed me the auncient _Iphianassa_, and after the

old father _Himerinus_ his daughters and their drinke, and one betwixt

the two Theban brothers: These with pleasant noises, sweete musicke and

fine agilities, paste on about the first triumph.

About the second triumph was the noble _Nemesis_ with the _Lesbian

Corina_, _Delia_ and _Ne[ae]ra_, with diuers others amorous Nymphs,

making pleasaunt soundes vppon stringed instruments of yealow wood.

About the thirde triumph, the glorious Nymphs shewed me _Quintilia_ and

_Cynthea Nauta_, with others, in great solace, making sweete harmonies,

and singing pleasant verses: there also I behelde the virgin

_Violantilla_ with hir Doue, and the other sorrowing for hir Sparrow.

About the fourth triumph, before it went the _Lidian Cloe_, _Lide_,

_Neobole_, sweete _Phillis_, and the faire _Lyce_ _Tyburts_ & _Pyra_,

with their harps singing and making a most pleasant noyse. After this

fourth triumph among the M[ae]nades and sacrificers to _Bacchus_, there

folowed an amorous damosell singing in the commendation of the head of

hir louer _Plaon_, she desired hornes. And after them all she shewed me

two women, one of them apparelled in white, and the other in greene,

which came hindermost singing togither.

And thus they marched about in a most pleasant and delightfull maner

vpon the fresh greene and flourishing plaine: Some instrophiated with

laurel, some with myrtle, and others with other sorts of flowers and

garlands, incessantly without any wearines or intermission in a

perfection of the felicitie of this world, mutually enioying one

anothers aspect and companie.

_The Nymph hauing at large declared vnto Poliphilus the mysticall

triumphs and extreeme loue, afterwards she desired him to go on

further, where also with great delight he beheld innumerable other

Nymphs, with their desired louers, in a thousand sorts of pleasures

solacing themselues vpon the greene grasse, fresh shadowes, and by

the coole riuers and cleere fountaines. And how Poliphilus there had

with madnes almost forgotten himselfe in the passions of desire, but

hope did asswage his furie, quieting himselfe in the beholding of the

sweete sauour of the faire Nymph._

Not onely happie but aboue all other most happie were he, to whom it

should be granted continually by speciall fauour to beholde the glorious

pompe, high triumphs, beautiful places, sweet scituations, togither with

the goddesses, halfe goddesses, faire Nymphes of incredible delight and

pleasure, but especially to be seconded and accompanied with so

honorable a Nymph of so rare and excellent beautie. And this I thought

not to be the least and smallest point of my felicitie. Now hauing

looked vpon these sights, I remained a great space recording of the

same, being therewith beyonde measure abundantly contented.

Afterwards, the faire and sweet damsell my guide said thus vnto me:

_Poliphilus_, let vs now go on a little further. And then immediately we

tended our walke toward the fresh fountains and shady riuers, compassing

about the flourshing fields with chrystalline currents and gratious

streames.

In which cleare water, grew the purple flowering sonne of the Nymph

_Liriope_, looking vp from his tender stringes and leaues. And al the

faire riuers were ful of other flowers sweetlie growing among their

greene and fresh leaues. This delightfull place was of a spatious and

large circuit, compassed about and inuironed with wooddie mountaines, of

a moderate height of greene lawrell, fruitefull memerels, hearie & high

pine trees, and within the cleere channels, with graueled banks, and in

some places the bottom was faire soft yealow sande, where the water ran

swifte, and the three leaued driope grew.

There were a great companie of delicate faire Nymphs of tender age, with

a redolent flower of bashfulnes, and beyond all credite beautifull, with

their beardles louers continuallie accompanied. Among which Nymphs, some

verie pleasantly with wanton countenaunces in the cleere streams shewed

themselues sportefull and gamesome, hauing taken vppe finelie their thin

garments of silke of diuers colours, and holding them in the bouts of

their white armes, the forme of their rounde thighs were seene vnder the

plytes, and their faire legges were reuealed to the naked knees, the

current streames comming vp so high: it was a sight which woulde haue

prepared one to that which were vnfit, and if himselfe had been vnable

thereunto. And there where the water was most still, turning downe their

faire faces of exceeding beautie, and bending their bodies of rare

proportion, as in a large goodly glasse they might behould their

heauenly shapes, breaking off the same with the motion of their pretie

feete, making a noyse with the contrast of the circulating water. Some

solaciouslie striuing to go by the tame swimming swans, and sportingly

casting water one at another, with the hollownes of their palms: others

standing without the water vpon the soft coole grasse, making vp of

nosegaies and garlands of sundrie sweete flowers, & giuing the same to

their louers as tokens of their fauorable remembraunce, not denieng

their sweet kisses, & louing imbracings, with the amorous regardes of

their star-like eyes.

And some were set vpon the greene banks not ouergrown with reed and

segs, but finely beautified with sweete hearbs and flowers, among the

which the tender Nymphs comming wet out of the water more cleere then

_Axius_ in _Mygdonia_, vnder the vmbragious trees, did sit sporting and

deuising one with another in delightfull imbracings, with their

reuerencing louers, not cruelly scorning & reiecting them, but with a

sociable loue and benigne affablenesse, disposing themselues to the like

shew of true affection, their sweete gestures and pleasant behauiours

far more gratious to the eie, then flowing teares be to the frowarde and

vnmercifull _Cupid_, the sweete fountaines and moist dewes to the green

fieldes, and desired forme to vnfashioned matter.

Some did sing amorous sonnets, and verses of loue, breathing out in the

same from their inflamed breasts, scalding sighs ful of sweete accents,

able to enamorate harts of stone: And to make smooth the ruggednesse of

the vnpassageable mountaine _Caucasus_, to staie whatsoeuer furie the

harpe of _Orpheus_ woulde prouoke, and the fowle and euill fauoured face

of _Medusa_, to make any horrible monster tame and tractable, and to

stop the continuall prouocation of the deuouring _Scylla_. Some rested

their heads in the chaste laps of their faire loues, recounting the

pleasaunt deuises of _Iupiter_, and they instrophyating their curled

locks with sweete smelling flowers.

Others of them fained that they were forsaken, and seemed to flie and go

awaie from them, whom dearely they did affect, and then was there

running one after another with loud laughters, and effeminate criengs

out, their faire tresses spredding downe ouer their snowie shoulders

like threeds of gold, bound in laces of greene silke: Some loose after a

Nymphish maner, others bounde vp in attyres of golde set with pearle.

Afterwards comming neere togither, they would stowpe downe, and twiching

vp the sweete flowers with their faire and tender fingers, fling the

same in the faces of their pursuing louers with great pleasure and

solace, maintaining their fained disgracings.

Others with great curtesie were putting of Rose leaues one after another

into their laced brests, adding after them sweete kisses, some giuing

their louers (if ouer-bold) vpon the cheekes with their harmles palmes

pretie ticks, making them red like the wheeles of _Phoebus_ in a faire

and cleere morning: with other new and vnthought contentions, such as

loue could deuise. They all being pleasant, merrie, and disposed to

delight: Their gestures and motions girlish, and of a virgineall

simplicitie, putting on sincere loue without the offence of honorable

vertue: Free and exempt from the occursion of griefe or emulation of

aduers fortune: Sitting vnder the shade of the weeping sister of the

whited _Phaeton_, and of the immortall _Daphne_ and hairie pineapple

with small and sharpe leaues, streight Cyprus, greene Orenge trees, and

tall Cedars, and others most excellent, abounding with greene leaues,

sweete flowers, and pleasant fruits still flourishing in such sort as is

inestimable, euenly disposed vpon the gratious banks, & orderly growing

in a moderat distance vpon thee grassie ground, inuested with green

Vinca peruince or laurel. What hart is so cold and chilling, that would

not be stirred vp to heate, manifestly beholding the delightfull duties

of reciprocall loue, such as I was perswaded would haue kindled _Diana_

hir selfe?

Whereupon I was bold to shew that folly which tormented my inward

spirits, enuying to see what others possessed, that was a continuall

delight in pleasure and solace without any wearines in full cloying, and

thus diuers times my hart being set on fire by my eies, and extreemely

burning, my minde still fixed vpon delightfull pleasures and their

smacking kisses, and regarding with a curious eie the abounding guerdons

of the fethered god, me thought at that instant, that I did behold the

extreeme perfection of pleasure. And by this meanes I stood wauering and

out of measure amazed, and as one which had droonke an amorous potion,

calling into remembrance the ointments of the mischeeuous _Circes_, the

forcible hearbs of _Medea_, the hurtfull songs of _Byrrena_, and the

deadly verses of _Pamphile_, I stood doubtfull that my eies had seene

somthing more than humane, and that a base, dishonorable, and frail

bodie should not be where immortall creatures did abide.

After that I was brought from these long and doubtfull thoughts and

phantasticall imaginations, and remembring all those maruellous diuine

shapes and bodies which I had personally seene with mine eies, I then

knew that they were not deceitfull shadowes, nor magicall illusions, but

that I had not rightly conceiued of them.

And now with earnest consideration among these beholding the most

excellent Nymph fast by me, my eies filled with amorous darts ceased not

to wound my passionate hart, by means wherof incontinently all my

wandering thoughts were stirred vp, compact, and fixed vpon hir their

desired obiect, recalling my mortified soule afresh to be tormented in

his first flames, which most cruelly I suffered, in that I durst not be

bold to aske if she were my desired _Polia_, for she had put me in some

doubt thereof before, and now fearing to offend hir with my being ouer

bolde, and ore troublesome with my rude and vntilled toong, diuers times

when my voice was breaking out betwixt my lips, vpon that occasion I

suppressed the same. But what she should be, it was beyond my compasse

to imagine, and I stood as suspicious thereof, as the deceiued _Socia_

with the fained _Atlantiades_. Thus with diligent regards and cordiall

searches examining hir heauenly features inuaded with a burning desire

beyond measure, I said to my self: Oh that I might be, if it were

possible, a free man in such a place, for no sorrow shoulde greeue me,

nor imminent danger should make me afraid: although that frowarde

fortune shoulde oppose hir selfe against me, I woulde spende my life

without any regard therof, not refusing to vndertake the laborsome and

great enterprise of the two gates shewed to the sonne of _Amphitrio_.

To spend the prime of my youth and pleasure of my yeers in the mortall

daungers of the merciles seas, and in the fearfull places of

_Trinacria_, with the excessiue trauels and terrors of _Ulysses_, in the

darke caue of the horrible _Polyphem_, the son of _Neptune_, to be

transformed in the companie of _Calypso_, although I lost my life, or

indured the most hard & long seruitude of _Androdus_, for all wearines

is forgotten where loue is vehement. To vndertake with the amorous

_Minalion_ and _Ileus_ to runne with _Atalanta_, or to com but in such

sort as the strong and mightie _Hercules_ for his loue _Deianira_, did

with the huge _Achelous_, so as I might atchieue so gratious a fauor,

and attaine to so high delight, as the remaining in these solacious

places, and aboue all to enioy the precious loue and inestimable good

wil of hir, more faire without comparison, then _Cassiopeia_, of better

fauour then _Castiamira_. Ah me, my life and death is in hir power! And

if so be that I seeme vnwoorthie of hir fellowshippe and amorous

commers, yet would God it might be granted me as a speciall rewarde and

priuiledge to looke vpon hir: and then I saide to my selfe, oh

_Poliphilus_, if these heauie and burthenous weights of amarous conceits

do oppresse thee; the sweetenes of the fruite doth allure thee

thereunto: and if the peremptorie dangers strike thee into a terror, the

hope of the supportation and helpe of so faire a Nymph will animate thee

to be resolute. Thus my thought being diuers, I said, Oh God, if this be

that desired _Polia_ which I see at this present, and whose precious

impression without intermission, I haue stil born in my burning and

wounded hart, fro the first yeers of my loue vntil this present, I am

contented with all sorrows, & besides hir, I desire no other request but

only this, that she may be drawne to my feruent loue, that it may be

with vs alike, or that I may be at liberty, for I am no longer able to

dissemble my griefe, or hide the extremity of my smart, I die liuing, &

liuing am as dead: I delight in that which is my griefe: I go mourning:

I consume my self in the flame, & yet the flame doth norish me, &

burning like gold in the strong cement, yet I find my self like cold

yce. Ah wo is me, that loue should be more greeuous vnto me then the

weight of _Iuarime_ to _Typhon_. It disperseth me more, then the

rauenous vulturs the glomerated bowels of _Tityus_: It holdeth me in

more, then the labirinth crooking: It tosseth me more, then the

northeast winds the calme seas: It teareth me woorse then _Acteons_

dogges their flieng master: It troubleth my spirits more then horrible

death doth them who desire to liue: It is more direfull to my vexed

hart, then the crocodils bowels to _Ichneumon_. And so much the more is

my greefe, that with all the wit I haue, I knowe not to thinke in what

part of the worlde I shoulde be, but streight before the sweete fire of

this halfe goddesse, which without any corporall substance consumeth me:

hir aboundant and faire yealow haire, a snare and net for my hart to be

masked in: hir large and phlegmatique forehead, like white lillies, bynd

me in as with a withe: hir pearcing regards take away my life as sweete

prouocations to afflict me: hir roseall cheekes do exasperate my desire,

hir ruddie lips continue the same, and hir delicious breasts like the

winter snow vpon the hyperboreall mountaines, are the sharp spurs and

byting whip to my amorous passions: hir louely gestures and pleasant

countenance do draw my desire to an imaginatiue delight, heaping vp my

sorrow. And to all these insulting martyrdoms and greeuous vexations of

that impious and deceitfull _Cupid_ I laie open, mightilie striuing to

beare them, and no waie able to resist them, but to suffer my selfe to

be ouercome: neither coulde I shun the same, but remained still as one

vnawares lost in the Babylonian fen.

Oh _Titius_, thou canst not perswade me that thy paine is equall with

mine, although that the vultures teare open thy breast, and taking out

thy smoking warm hart, do pluck it in peeces with their crooked beaks,

and pinch the same in their sharpe tallents, eating vp also the rest of

thy flesh, vntill they haue ingorged thenselues, & within a while after

thou renewed againe, they begin afresh to pray vpon thee. Thou hast a

time to be reuiued againe, and made sound as euer thou wert: but two

eies without all pitie or intermission haue wounded me, deuour and

consume me, leauing me no time of rest, or space to be comforted.

And hauing had these discourses with my selfe, I began secretly to

mourne and weepe, and desire a way that I might die, fetching deepe

sighes as if my hart had torne in sunder with euery one of them. And

diuers times I had purposed with a lamentable voice to desire hir helpe,

for that I was at the point of death: but as one drowned and

ouerwhelmed, I deemed that way to be vaine, and to no purpose, and

therfore furiously, and as one of a raging spirit I thought thus: Why

doest thou doubt, _Poliphilus_? Death for loue is laudable, and

therefore my greeuous and malignant fortune, my sorrowful accident and

hard hap in the loue of so beautifuil a Nymph, will be writ and reported

when I shall lie interred. The same will be sung in doleful tunes vpon

sweete instruments of musicke, manifesting the force of hurtfull loue.

And thus continuing the follie of my thoughts, I said: It may be that

this Nymph, by al likelihoods, is some reuerend goddesse, and therefore

my speeches will be but as the crackling reedes of Archadia in the moist

and fennie sides of the riuer Labdone, shaken with the sharpe east wind,

with the boisterous north, cloudy south & rainie south west wind.

Besides this, the gods will be seuere reuengers of such an insolencie,

for the companions of _Vlysses_ had been preserued from drowning and

shipwracke, if they had not stolne _Apollos_ cattell kept by _Phaetusa_

and hir sister _Lampetia_. _Orion_ had not beene slaine by a scorpion,

if he had not attempted the cold & chast _Diana_, and therefore if I

should vse any indecencie against the honor of this Nymph in any sort,

such like reuenge or woorse woulde be vsed vpon me. At last getting

foorth of these changeable thoughts, I did greatly comfort my selfe in

beholding and contemplating the excellent proportion and sweete sauour

of this ingenuous and most rare Nymph, containing in hir al whatsoeuer

that may prouoke amorous conceits and sweete loue, giuing from hir faire

eies so gratious and fauorable regards, as thereby I somewhat tempered

my troublesome and vnbrideled thoughts. And my resounding sighes

reflexed with a flattering hope (oh the amorous foode of louers and

sauce of salt teares) by these and no other rains I did manage my

vehement thoughts, and made them stop in a conceiued hope, fixing mine

eies with excessiue delight vpon hir faire bodie and well disposed

members, by all which, my discontented desires were gently mitigated and

redeemed from that furie and amorous fire, which so neere had bred the

extremitie of my passions.

_The Nymph leadeth the inamored Poliphilus to other pleasant places,

where he beheld innumerable Nymphs solacing them, and also the triumph

of Vertumnus and Pomona._

By no meanes I was able to resist the violent force of _Cupids_

artillerie, and therefore the elegant Nymph hauing amorously gotten an

irrevocable dominion ouer me a miserable louer, I was inforced to follow

still after hir moderate steps, which led me into a spatious and large

plaine, the conterminate bound of the flowered greene & sweet smelling

vallie, where also ended the adorned mountaines and fruitfull hils,

shutting vp the entrance into this golden countrie, full of incredible

delight with their ioining togither: couered ouer with green trees of a

conspicuous thicknes & distance, as if they had been set by hand, as Yew

trees, wild Pynes, vnfruitfull but dropping Resin, tall pineapple,

straight Firre, burning Pitch trees, the spungie Larix[A], the aierie

Teda[B] beloued of the mountains, celebrated and preserued for the

festiuall Oreades[C]. There both of vs walked in the greene and

flowering plaine, shee being my guide through the high cypres trees, the

broad leaued beech, coole shadie okes full of maste, and other

hornebeames, pricking iuniper, weake hasell, spalt ash, greene lawrell,

and humbryferous esculies, knottie plane trees & lyndens[D] moouing by

the sweet breath of the pleasant Zephirus, whistling through their

tender branches, with a benigne and fauorable impulsion.

[Sidenote A: _Larix_, is a tree hauing leaues like a pine, & good

for building, it will neither rot, woormeate, nor burne to coales.]

[Sidenote B: _Teda_, is a tree out of the which issueth a liquor

more thinne than pitch.]

[Sidenote C: _Oreades_, be countrie Nymphs.]

[Sidenote D: _Lyndens_ or teile trees, in Latin _Tili[ae]_, they

beare a fruit as big as a bean, hauing within seedes like anyse

seeds.]

All which greene trees were not thickly twisted togither, but of a

conuenient distaunce one from another, and all of them so aptly

distributed as to the eie the sight thereof bred great delight.

This place was frequented with countrie Nymphs and _Dryades_[A], their

small and slender wastes being girded with a brayding of tender corules

of sprigs, leaues, and flowers and vpon their heads their rising vp

haires, were compassed about as with garlands. Amongst them were the

horned faunes, and lasciuious satyres, solemnising their faunall feasts,

being assembled togither out of diuers places, within this fertile &

pleasant cuntrie: bearing in their hands so tender green and strange

boughs, as are not to be found in the wood of the goddes _Feronia_,[B]

when the inhabitants carrie hir image to the fire.

[Sidenote A: _Dryades_, be Nymphs of the woods.]

[Sidenote B: _Feronia_ a goddesse of the woods.]

From thence we entered into a large square inclosure compassed about

with broade walkes, straight from one corner to another, with a quick-set

vpon either sides, in height one pace, of pricking iuniper thicke set

togither, and mixt with box, compassing about the square greene mead.

In the rowes of which quick-set there were symmetrially planted the

victorious palme trees, whose branches were laden with fruite, appearing

out of their husks, some blacke, some crymosen, and many yealow, the

like are not to be found in the land of [Ae]gypt, nor in Dabulam[A]

among the Arabian Sc[ae]nits,[B] or in Hieraconta beyond the

Sauromatans.[C] All which were intermedled with greene Cytrons, Orenges,

Hippomelides, Pistack trees, Pomegranats, Meligotons, Dendromirts,

Mespils, and Sorbis, with diuers other fruitfull trees.

[Sidenote A: _Dabulam_, a fertile place in Arabia.]

[Sidenote B: _Sc[ae]nits_, be a people in Arabia, that dwell

altogither in tents.]

[Sidenote C: _Sauromatans_, be people of Sarmatia, which is a large

cuntry, reaching from Germany & the riuer Vistula to Hyc[ae]nia, and

is deuided into two parts Europea and Asiatica.]

In this place vppon the greene swoord of the flowering mead, and vnder

the fresh and coole shadowes, I might behold a great assemblie met

togither of strange people, & such as I had neuer before seene, full of

ioyes and pastimes, but basely apparrelled, some in fauns skins, painted

with white spots, some in lynx[A] skins, others in leopards: and manie

had fastened togither diuers broad leaues, instrophiating them with

sundrie flowers, therewithall couering their nakednes, singing, leaping,

and dauncing with great applause.

[Sidenote A: _Lynx_ is a beast spotted, but in shape like a wolph,

being quicke of sight.]

These were the Nymphs Hamadryades,[A] pleasantly compassing vppon either

sides the flowered _Vertumnus_,[B] hauing vppon his heade a garlande of

roses, and his gowne lap full of faire flowers, louing the station of

the woollie ramme. He sate in an ancient fashioned carre, drawne by

fower horned fauns or satyrs, with his louing and faire wife _Pomona_,

crowned with delicate fruits, hir haire hanging downe ouer hir

shoulders, of a flaxen colour, and thus she sate participating of hir

husbands pleasure and quiet, and at hir feete laie a vessell called

Clepsydra[C]. In hir right hand she held a copie full of flowers,

fruits, and greene leaues, and in hir left hande a branch of flowers,

fruits and leaues.

[Sidenote A: _Hamadryades_ were nymphs of the wood and _Symenides_]

[Sidenote B: _Vertumnus_ the God of fruits.]

[Sidenote C: _Clepsydra_ is sometime taken for a diall measuring

time by the running of water, but here for a pot to water a garden

and yoong sectlings in a nourcery for an orchyard.]

Before the carre and the fower drawing satyrs, there marched two faire

Nymphs, the one of them bare a troph[ae] with a pr[ae]pendant table,

whereupon was written this title,

_Integerrimam corporis valetudinem & stabile robur castasque

mensarum delitias, & beatam animi securitatem cultoribus

me offero._

And the other bare a troph[ae] of certaine greene sprigges bound

togither, and among them diuers rurall instruments fastened. These

passed on thus after the ancient maner, with great ceremonies, and much

solemnitie, compassing about a great square stone like an aulter,

standing in the middest of this faire mead, sufficiently moystened with

current streames from beautifull fountaines.

This square stone or aulter was of pure white marble, curiouslie cut by

a cunning lapicidarie, vpon euery front wherof was a woonderfull goodly

expression, of an elegant image, so exact, as the like else-where is

hardly to be found.

The first was a faire goddesse, hir treces flieng abroad, girded with

roses and other flowers, vpon a thin vpper garment couering hir

beautifull and pleasant proportion. She helde hir right hand ouer an

ancient vessell, in maner of a chafing-dish, called Chytropodus, sending

foorth a flame of fire, into the which shee did cast roses and flowers,

and in the other hand she held a branch of sweete myrtle, full of

berries. By hir side stoode a little winged boy smiling, with his bowe

and arrowes. Ouer hir head were two pigeons. And vnder the foote of this

figure was written

_Florido veri S._

Vpon the other side I beheld in an excellent caruing, the representation

of a damosell of a maidenly countenaunce, whose stately maiestie gaue

great commendation to the curious deuise of the workeman. She was

crowned with a garland of wheat eares, hir haire flingering abroade, and

hir habyte Nymphish. In hir right hand she held a copie full of rype

graine, and in the other hand three eares of corne, vpon their strawie

stalks. At hir feete lay a wheat sheaue bound vp, and a little boy with

gleanings of corne in either hands. The subscription was this.

_Flau[ae] Messi S._

Vpon the third side was the likenes in a deuine aspect naked of a yoong

boy, crowned with vine leaues, and of a wanton countenance, holding in

his left hand certaine clusters of ripe grapes, and in the other, a

copie full of grapes which did hang ouer the mouth thereof. At his feete

laie a hayrie goate and this writing vnder.

_Mustulento Autumno S._

The last square did beare vpon it a kingly image passing well cut, his

countenance displeasant and austere, in his left hand he held a scepter

vp into the heauens, the aire cloudie, troublesome and stormie, and with

the other hand reaching into the clouds full of haile. Behinde him also

the aire was rainie and tempestuous. He was couered with beasts skins,

and vpon his feete he ware sandals, where vnder was written,

_Hiemi [Ae]oli[ae] S._

From thence the most faire and pleasant Nymph brought me towards the sea

side and sandie shore, where we came to an olde decaied temple, before

the which vpon the fresh and coole hearbs, vnder sweete shadie trees we

sate downe and rested ourselues, my eies very narrowly beholding, with

an vnsatiable desire, in one sole perfection and virgineall bodie, the

accumulation and assembly of all beauties; an obiect interdicting my

eies to behold any gracious, that except, or of so great content.

Where refreshing in a secret ioy with new budding conceits my burning

hart, and leauing off vulgar and common follies, I began to consider of

the intelligible effect of honest loue, and withall of the cleerenes of

the skies, the sweete and milde aire, the delightfull site, the pleasant

countrie, the green grasse decked with diuersity of flowers, the faire

hils adorned with thicke woods, the quiet time, fresh windes, and

fruitfull place, beautifully enriched with diffluent streames, sliding

downe the moist vallies betwixt the crooked hils in their grauelled

channels, and into the next seas with a continued course softly vnlading

themselues.

A ground most healthfull, the grasse coole and sweet: and from the trees

resounded the sweete consents of small chirping birds. The flouds and

fields of Thessalie[A] must giue place to this.

[Sidenote A: _Thessalie_ is a region of Greece, hauing vpon the

one side Macedonia, and on the other Boeotia, reaching betweene

Thermopyl[ae], and the riuer Pineus, euen to the sea side, it is the

garden of Grecia.]

And there sitting thus togither among the sweete flowers and redolent

roses, I fastened mine eies vpon this heauenly shape of so faire and

rare a proportion, whereunto my sences were so applied, drawen and

addicted, that my hart was ouerwhelmed with extreeme delights, so as I

remained senceles, and yet cast into a curious desire to vnderstand and

knowe what should be the reason and cause that the purple humiditie in

the touch of hir bodie, in the smoothnes of hir hand should be as white

as pure milke: and by what meanes that nature had bestowed in hir faire

bodie the fragrant sweetnes of Arabia. And by what industrie in hir

starrie forehead pampynulated with threds of gold aptly disposed, she

had infixed the fairest part of the heauens, or the splendycant

Heraclea[A].

[Sidenote A: _Heraclea_, is the name of diuers faire cities, one in

the confines of Europe, another in Italie & in Pontus by the riuer

Licus, also in Narbon by Rodanus, also in Caria, Crete & Lydia,

whereof the Lodestone taketh his name.]

Afterward letting fall mine eies towards hir prety feete, I beheld them

inclosed in red leather cut vpon white, fastened vpon the instep with

buttons of gold in loopes of blew silke. And from thence I returned

vpward my wanton regard to hir straight necke compassed about with a

carkenet of orient pearle, striuing but not able to match with the

whitenes of the sweet skin. From thence descending down to hir shining

breast and delitious bosome, from whence grew two round apples, such as

_Hercules_ neuer stole out of the garden of _Hesperides_[A]. Neither did

euer _Pomona_ behold the like to these two standing vnmooueable in hir

roseall breast, more white than hils of snowe in the going downe of the

sunne. Betwixt the which there passed downe a delicious vallie, wherein

was the delicate sepulcher of my wounded hart exceeding the famous

_Mausolea_[B].

[Sidenote A: _Hesperides_, were the 3. daughters of Atlas, [Ae]gle,

Aretusa and Hesperetusa, who had an orchard of golden apples, kept

by a dragon whom Hercules slew & tooke away the apples.]

[Sidenote B: A sepulcher built by Artemisia in the honor of hir

husbande Mausolus king of Cania.]

I then being content with a wounded hart full well vnderstanding that

mine eies had drawen it dying into all these elegant parts. Yet

neuertheles I could not so bridle and suppresse my amorous inflamed

sighes, or so closely couer them, but that they would needs expresse my

inward desire.

By means whereof she was changed from contagious loue, and striking with

hir stolen regards (enuying the same) she turned it vpon me, so as I

perceiued an incensing fire pruriently diffusing it selfe through my

inward parts and hollow veines: and during the contemplate beholding of

hir most rare and excellent beautie, a mellifluous delight and sweete

solace constrained me thereunto. Thus disordinately beaten with the

importune spur of vnsatiable desire, I found my selfe to be set vpon

with the mother of loue, inuironed round about with hir flamigerous

sonne, and inuaded with so faire a shape, that I was with these and

others so excellent circumstances brought into such an agonie of minde

and sicknes of bodie, and in such sort infeebled, that the least haire

of hir head was a band forcible ynough to hold me fast, and euery rowled

tramell a chaine and shackle to fetter me, being fed with the sweetnes

of hir beautie, and hooked with the pleasant baits of hir amorous

delights, that I was not able with whatsoeuer cunning deuise to resist

the inuading heates and prouoking desires still comming vpon me, that I

determined rather to die than longer to endure the same, or in this

solitarie place to offer hir any dishonor.

Then againe I was determined with humble requests and submissiue

intreaties to say thus:

Alas most delighted _Polia_, at this present to die by thee is a thing

that I desire, and my death if it were effected by these thy small,

slender and faire hands, the ende thereof should be more tolerable,

sweete and glorious vnto me, bicause my hart is compassed about with

such tormenting flames, still more and more cruelly increasing, and

burning the same without pitie or intermission, so as by meanes thereof

I am bereft of all rest.

And heerewithall intending to put in execution another determinate

purpose, behold my hart was tormented with more sharpe flames, that me

thought I was all of a light fire. Ah wo is me what wert thou aduised to

do _Poliphilus_? Remember the violence done to _Deianira_ and the chaste

Roman lady. Consider what followed them for a reward, and diuers others.

Call to minde that mighty princes haue beene reiected of their

inferiors, how much more then a base and abiect person, but tract of

time giueth place to them which expect the bountie thereof. Time causeth

the fierce lions to be tame, and whatsoeuer furious beast: the small ant

by long trauell laieth vp hir winter foode in the hard tree, and shall

not a diuine shape lying hid in a humane bodie take the impression of

feruent loue, and then holding the same, shake off all annoyous and

vexing passions, hoping to enioy amorous fruits, desired effects, and

triumphing agonismes.

The Nymph _Polia_ perceiuing well the change of my colour and blood

comming in more stranger sort than _Tripolion_ or _Teucrion_, thrise a

day changing the colour of his flowers, and my indeuoring to sende out

scalding sighes deeply set from the bottome of my hart, she did temper

and mitigate the same with hir sweete and friendly regards, pacifieng

the rage of my oppressing passions, so as notwithstanding my burning

minde in these continuall flames and sharpe prouocations of loue, I was

aduised patiently to hope euen with the bird of Arabia in hir sweet nest

of small sprigs, kindled by the heate of the sunne to be renewed.