Page:Metamorphoses (Ovid, 1567).djvu/296

 And hilld her in imbracing armes. There now he one while walks Togither with hir cheeke by cheeke: another while he stalks Before her, and another whyle he followeth her. And now Without all kinde of forfeyture he saufly myght avow His looking backward at his wyfe. But Bacchus greeved at The murther of the Chapleine of his Orgies, suffred not The mischeef unrevengd to bee. For by and by he bound The Thracian women by the feete with writhen roote in ground, As many as consenting to this wicked act were found. And looke how much that eche of them the prophet did pursew, So much he sharpening of their toes, within the ground them drew. And as the bird that fynds her legs besnarled in the net The which the fowlers suttletye hathe clocely for her set, And feeles shee cannot get away, stands flickering with her wings, And with her fearefull leaping up drawes clocer still the strings: So eche of theis when in the ground they fastned were, assayd Aflayghted for to fly away. But every one was stayd With winding roote which hilld her downe. Her frisking could not boote. And whyle she lookte what was become of Toe, of nayle, and foote, Shee sawe her leggs growe round in one, and turning into woode. And as her thyghes with violent hand shee sadly striking stoode, Shee felt them tree: her brest was tree: her shoulders eeke were tree. Her armes long boughes yee myght have thought, and not deceyved bee. But Bacchus was not so content: he quyght forsooke their land: And with a better companye removed out of hand Unto the Vyneyarde of his owne mount Tmolus, and the river Pactolus though as yit no streames of gold it did deliver, Ne spyghted was for precious sands. His olde accustomd rout Of woodwards and of franticke froes envyrond him about. But old Silenus was away. The Phrygian ploughmen found Him reeling bothe for droonkennesse and age, and brought him bound With garlands unto Midas, king of Phrygia, unto whom The Thracian Orphye and the preest Eumolphus comming from The towne of Athens erst had taught the Orgies. When he knew His fellowe and companion of the selfesame badge and crew, Uppon the comming of this guest, he kept a feast the space Of twyce fyve dayes and twyce fyve nyghts togither in that place.