Page:Metamorphoses (Ovid, 1567).djvu/270



Rom thence in saffron colourd robe flew Hymen through ayre, And into Thracia beeing called by Orphy did repayre. He came in deede at Orphyes call: but neyther did he sing The woordes of that solemnitie, nor merry countnance bring, Nor any handsell of good lucke. His torch with drizling smoke Was dim: the same to burne out cleere, no stirring could provoke. The end was woorser than the signe. For as the Bryde did rome Abrode accompanyde with a trayne of Nymphes to bring her home, A serpent lurking in the grasse did sting her in the ancle: Whereof shee dyde incontinent, so swift the bane did rancle. Whom when the Thracian Poet had bewayld sufficiently On earth, the Ghostes departed hence he minding for to trie, Downe at the gate of Tænarus did go to Limbo lake. And thence by gastly folk and soules late buried he did take His journey to Persephonee and to the king of Ghosts That like a Lordly tyran reignes in those unpleasant coasts. And playing on his tuned harp he thus began to sound: O you, the Sovereines of the world set underneath the ground, To whome wee all (what ever thing is made of mortall kynd) Repayre, if by your leave I now may freely speake my mynd, I come not hither as a spye the shady Hell to see: Nor yet the foule three headed Curre whose heares all Adders bee To tye in cheynes. The cause of this my vyage is my wyfe Whose foote a Viper stinging did abridge her youthfull lyfe. I would have borne it paciently: and so to doo I strave, But Love surmounted powre. This God is knowen great force to have Above on earth. And whether he reigne heere or no I dowt. But I beleeve hee reignes heere too. If fame that flies abowt Of former rape report not wrong, Love coupled also yow. By theis same places full of feare: by this huge Chaos now, And by the stilnesse of this waste and emptye Kingdome, I Beseech yee of Eurydicee unreele the destinye That was so swiftly reeled up. All things to you belong. And though wee lingring for a whyle our pageants do prolong,