Page:Metamorphoses (Ovid, 1567).djvu/274

 The God did sigh, and sadly sayd: Myselfe shall moorne for thee, And thou for others: and ay one in moorning thou shalt bee. Such wood as this had Orphye drawen about him as among The herdes of beasts, and flocks of Birds he sate amyds the throng. And when his thumbe sufficiently had tryed every string, And found that though they severally in sundry sounds did ring, Yit made they all one Harmonie, he thus began to sing: O Muse my mother, frame my song of Jove, for every thing Is subject unto royall Jove. Of Jove the heavenly King I oft have shewed the glorious power. I erst in graver verse The Gyants slayne in Phlaegra feeldes with thunder, did reherse. But now I neede a meelder style to tell of prettie boyes That were the derlings of the Gods: and of unlawfull joyes That burned in the brests of Girles, who for theyr wicked lust According as they did deserve, receyved penance just. The King of Goddes did burne erewhyle in love of Ganymed The Phrygian and the thing was found which Jupiter that sted Had rather bee than that he was. Yit could he not beteeme The shape of any other Bird than Aegle for to seeme And so he soring in the ayre with borrowed wings trust up The Trojane boay who still in heaven even yit dooth beare his cup, And brings him Nectar though against Dame Junos will it bee. And thou Amyclys sonne (had not thy heavy destinee Abridged thee before thy tyme) hadst also placed beene By Phoebus in the firmament. How bee it (as is seene) Thou art eternall so farre forth as may bee. For as oft As watrie Piscis giveth place to Aries that the soft And gentle springtyde dooth succeede the winter sharp and stowre: So often thou renewest thyself, and on the fayre greene clowre Doost shoote out flowres. My father bare a speciall love to thee Above all others. So that whyle the God went oft to see Eurotas and unwalled Spart, he left his noble towne Of Delphos (which amid the world is situate in renowne) Without a sovereigne. Neyther Harp nor Bow regarded were. Unmyndfull of his Godhead he refused not to beare The nets, nor for to hold the hounds, nor as a peynfull mate To travell over cragged hilles, through which continuall gate