Page:Metamorphoses (Ovid, 1567).djvu/279

 Or if yee will beeleeve the deede, beleeve the vengeance too Which lyghted on the partye that the wicked act did doo. But if that it be possible that any wyght so much From nature should degenerate, as for to fall to such A heynous cryme as this is, I am glad for Thracia, I Am glad for this same world of ours, yea glad exceedingly I am for this my native soyle, for that there is such space Betweene it and the land that bred a chyld so voyd of grace. I would the land Panchaya should of Amomie be rich, And Cinnamom, and Costus sweete, and Incence also which Dooth issue largely out of trees, and other flowers straunge, As long as that it beareth Myrrhe: not woorth it was the chaunge, Newe trees to have of such a pryce. The God of love denyes His weapons to have hurted thee, O Myrrha, and he tryes Himselfe ungiltie by thy fault. One of the Furies three With poysonde Snakes and hellish brands hath rather blasted thee. To hate ones father is a cryme as heynous as may bee, But yit more wicked is this love of thine than any hate. The youthfull Lordes of all the East and Peeres of cheef estate Desyre to have thee to their wyfe, and earnest sute doo make. Of all (excepting onely one) thy choyce, O Myrrha, take. Shee feeles her filthye love, and stryves ageinst it, and within Herself sayd: Whither roonnes my mynd? what thinke I to begin? Yee Gods (I pray) and godlynesse, yee holy rites and awe Of parents, from this heynous cryme my vicious mynd withdrawe, And disappoynt my wickednesse. At leastwyse if it bee A wickednesse that I intend. As farre as I can see, This love infrindgeth not the bondes of godlynesse a whit. For every other living wyght dame nature dooth permit To match without offence of sin. The Heifer thinkes no shame To beare her father on her backe: the horse bestrydes the same Of whom he is the syre: the Gote dooth bucke the kid that hee Himself begate: and birdes doo tread the selfsame birdes wee see Of whom they hatched were before. In happye cace they are That may doo so without offence. But mans malicious care Hath made a brydle for it self, and spyghtfull lawes restreyne The things that nature setteth free. Yit are their Realmes (men sayne)