Page:Metamorphoses (Ovid, 1567).djvu/133

 Filde all the coast and heaven it selfe. The parents of the Maide Cassiope and Cepheus were glad and well appayde: And calling him their sonne in law confessed him to bee The helpe and savegarde of their house. Andromade the fee And cause of Perseys enterprise from bondes now beyng free, He washed his victorious hands. And lest the Snakie heade With lying on the gravell hard should catch some harme, he spred Soft leaves and certaine tender twigs that in the water grew, And laid Medusas head thereon: the twigs yet being new And quicke and full of juicie pith full lightly to them drew The nature of this monstrous head. For both the leafe and bough Full straungely at the touch thereof became both hard and tough. The Sea nymphes tride this wondrous fact in divers other roddes And were full glad to see the chaunge, bicause there was no oddes Of leaves or twigs or of the seedes new shaken from the coddes. For still like nature ever since is in our Corall founde: That looke how soone it toucheth Ayre it waxeth hard and sounde, And that which under water was a sticke, above is stone. Three altars to as many Gods he makes of Turfe anon: Upon the left hand Mercuries: Minervas on the right: And in the middle Jupiters: to Pallas he did dight A Cow: a Calfe to Mercurie: a Bull to royall Jove. Forthwith he tooke Andromade the price for which he strove Endowed with hir fathers Realme. For now the God of Love And Hymen unto mariage his minde in hast did move. Great fires were made of sweete perfumes, and curious garlandes hung About the house, which every where of mirthful musicke rung The gladsome signe of merie mindes. The Pallace gates were set Wide open. None from comming in were by the Porters let. All Noblemen and Gentlemen that were of any port To this same great and royall feast of Cephey did resort. When having taken their repast as well of meate as wine Their hearts began to pleasant mirth by leysure to encline, The valiant Persey of the folke and facions of the land Began to be inquisitive. One Lincide out of hand The rites and manners of the folke did doe him t'understand. Which done he sayd: O worthie knight I pray thee tell us by