Page:Metamorphoses (Ovid, 1567).djvu/243

 I pray you for to pardon mee. I turned not myne eye A t'one syde ne a toother from this place, but did apply My labor hard. And that you may the lesser stand in dowt, So Neptune further still the Art and craft I go abowt, As now a whyle no living Wyght uppon this levell sand (Myself excepted) neyther man nor woman heere did stand. Her maister did beleeve her words: and turning backward went His way beguyld: and streight to her her native shape was sent. But when her father did perceyve his daughter for to have A bodye so transformable, he oftentymes her gave For monny. But the damzell still escaped, now a Mare And now a Cow, and now a Bird, a Hart, a Hynd, or Hare, And ever fed her hungry Syre with undeserved fare. But after that the maladie had wasted all the meates As well of store as that which shee had purchast by her feates: Most cursed keytife as he was, with bighting hee did rend His flesh, and by diminishing his bodye did intend To feede his bodye, till that death did speede his fatall end. But what meene I to busye mee in forreine matters thus? To alter shapes within precinct is lawfull even to us, My Lords. For sumtime I am such as you do now mee see, Sumtyme I wynd mee in a Snake: and oft I seeme to bee A Capteine of the herd with homes. For taking homes on mee I lost a tyne which heeretofore did arme mee as the print Dooth playnly shew. With that same word he syghed and did stint.