Page:Metamorphoses (Ovid, 1567).djvu/187

 To see the straunge pastimes. The King most stately to beholde With yvorie Mace above them all did sit in throne of golde. Anon the brazenhoved Bulles from stonie nostrils cast Out flakes of fire: their scalding breath the growing grasse did blast. And looke what noise a chimney full of burning fewell makes, Or Flint in softning in the Kell when first the fire it takes By sprincling water thereupon: such noyse their boyling brests Turmoyling with the firie flames enclosed in their chests, Such noise their scorched throtebolles make. Yet stoutly Jason went To meete them. They their dreadfull eyes against him grimly bent, ' And eke their homes with yron tipt: and strake the dust about In stamping with their cloven clees: and with their belowing out Set all the fielde upon a smoke. The Mynies seeing that Were past their wits with sodaine feare, but Jason feeled nat So much as any breath of theirs: such strength hath sorcerie. Their dangling Dewlaps with his hand he coyd unfearfully. And putting yokes upon their neckes he forced them to draw The heavie burthen of the plough which erst they never saw, And for to breake the fielde which erst had never felt the share. The men of Colchos seeing this, like men amazed fare. The Mynies with their shouting out their mazednesse augment, And unto Jason therewithall give more encouragement. Then in a souldiers cap of steele a Vipers teeth he takes, And sowes them in the new plowde fielde. The ground then soking makes The seede foresteepte in poyson strong, both supple lithe and soft, And of these teeth a right straunge graine there growes anon aloft. For even as in the mothers wombe an infant doth begin To take the lively shape of man, and formed is within To due proportion piece by piece in every limme, and when Full ripe he is, he takes the use of Aire with other men: So when that of the Vipers teeth the perfect shape of man Within the bowels of the earth was formed, they began To rise togither orderly upon the fruitefull fielde: And (which a greater wonder is) immediatly they wielde Their weapons growing up with them, whom when the Greekes behilde Preparing for to push their Pikes (which sharply headed were) In Jasons face, downe went their heades, their heartes did faint for feare: