Page:Metamorphoses (Ovid, 1567).djvu/294



Ow whyle the Thracian Poet with this song delyghts the mynds Of savage beastes, and drawes both stones and trees ageynst their kynds, Behold the wyves of Ciconie with red deer skinnes about Their furious brists as in the feeld they gadded on a rout, Espyde him from a hillocks toppe still singing to his harp. Of whom one shooke her head at him, and thus began to carp: Behold (sayes shee) behold yoon same is he that doth disdeine Us women. And with that same woord shee sent her lawnce amayne At Orphyes singing mouth. The Lawnce armd round about with leaves, Did hit him, and without a wound a marke behynd it leaves. ' Another threw a stone at him, which vanquisht with his sweete And most melodius harmonye, fell humbly at his feete As sorye for the furious act it purposed. But rash And heady ryot out of frame all reason now did dash, And frantik outrage reigned. Yit had the sweetenesse of his song Appeasd all weapons, saving that the noyse now growing strong With blowing shalmes, and beating drummes, and bedlem howling out, And clapping hands on every syde by Bacchus drunken rout, Did drowne the sownd of Orphyes harp. Then first of all stones were Made ruddy with the prophets blood, and could not give him eare. And first the flocke of Bacchus froes by violence brake the ring Of Serpents, birds, and savage beastes that for to heere him sing Sate gazing round about him there. And then with bluddy hands They ran uppon the prophet who among them singing stands. They flockt about him like as when a sort of birds have found An Owle a daytymes in a tod: and hem him in full round, As when a Stag by hungrye hownds is in a morning found, The which forestall him round about and pull him to the ground. Even so the prophet they assayle, and throwe their Thyrses greene At him, which for another use than that invented beene. Sum cast mee clods, sum boughes of trees, and sum threw stones. And lest That weapons wherwithall to wreake theyr woodnesse which increast Should want, it chaunst that Oxen by were tilling of the ground And labring men with brawned armes not farre fro thence were found