Page:Metamorphoses (Ovid, 1567).djvu/198

 For killing of the Cretish Bull that wasted those same groundes. The folke of Cremyon thinke themselves beholden unto thee. For that without disquieting their fieldes may tilled be. By thee the land of Epidaure behelde the clubbish sonne Of Vulcane dead. By thee likewise the countrie that doth runne Along Cephisus bankes behelde the fell Procrustes slaine. The dwelling place of Ceres, our Eleusis glad and faine, Beheld the death of Cercyon. That orpid Sinis who Abusde his strength in bending trees and tying folke thereto, Their limmes asunder for to teare when loosened from the stops The trees unto their proper place did trice their streyned tops, Was killde by thee. Thou made the way that leadeth to the towne Alcathoe in Beotia cleare by putting Scyron downe. To this same outlawes scattred bones the land denied rest, And likewise did the Sea refuse to harbrough such a guest: Till after floting to and fro long while as men doe say At length they hardened into stones: and at this present day The stones are called Scyrons cliffes. Now if we should account Thy deedes togither with thy yeares, thy deedes would far surmount Thy yeares. For thee, most valiant Prince, these publike vowes we keepe For thee with cherefull heartes we quaffe these bolles of wine so deepe. The Pallace also of the noyse and shouting did resounde The which the people made for joy. There was not to be founde In all the Citie any place of sadnesse. Nathelesse (So hard it is of perfect joy to find so great excesse, But that some sorrow therewithall is medled more or lesse), Aegeus had not in his sonnes recoverie such delight, But that there followed in the necke a piece of fortunes spight. King Minos was preparing war, who though he had great store Of ships and souldiers yet the wrath the which he had before Conceyved in his fathers brest for murthring of his sonne Androgeus made him farre more strong and fiercer for to ronne To rightfull battell to revenge the great displeasure donne. Howbeit he thought it best ere he his warfare did begin To finde the meanes of forreine aides some friendship for to win. And thereupon with flying fleete where passage did permit He went to visit all the Iles that in those seas doe sit.