Page:Metamorphoses (Ovid, 1567).djvu/160

 Bestirde their cunning handes apace. Their earnestnesse was such As made them never thinke of paine. They weaved verie much Fine Purple that was dide in Tyre, and colours set so trim That eche in shadowing other seemde the very same with him. Even like as after showres of raine when Phebus broken beames Doe strike upon the Cloudes, appeares a compast bow of gleames Which bendeth over all the Heaven: wherein although there shine A thousand sundry colours, yet the shadowing is so fine, That looke men nere so wistly, yet beguileth it their eyes: So like and even the selfsame thing eche colour seemes to rise Whereas they meete, which further off doe differ more and more. Of glittring golde with silken threede was weaved there good store. And stories put in portrayture of things done long afore. Minerva painted Athens towne and Marsis rocke therein, And all the strife betweene hirselfe and Neptune, who should win The honor for to give the name to that same noble towne. In loftie thrones on eyther side of Jove were settled downe Six Peeres of Heaven with countnance grave and full of Majestie, And every of them by his face discerned well might be. The Image of the mightie Jove was Kinglike. She had made Neptunus standing striking with his long thre tyned blade Upon the ragged Rocke: and from the middle of the clift She portrayd issuing out a horse, which was the noble gift For which he chalengde to himselfe the naming of the towne. She picturde out hirselfe with shielde and Morion on hir crowne With Curet on hir brest, and Speare in hand with sharpened ende. She makes the Earth (the which hir Speare doth seeme to strike) to sende An Olyf tree with fruite thereon: and that the Gods thereat Did wonder: and with victorie she finisht up that plat. Yet to th'intent examples olde might make it to be knowne To hir that for desire of praise so stoutly helde hir owne, What guerdon she shoulde hope to have for hir attempt so madde, Foure like contentions in the foure last corners she did adde. The Thracians Heme and Rodope the formost corner hadde: Who being sometime mortall folke usurpt to them the name Of Jove and Juno, and were turnde to mountaines for the same. A Pigmie womans piteous chaunce the second corner shewde,