Page:Metamorphoses (Ovid, 1567).djvu/360

 Did send it out of Thessaly: but Alcon one of Myle Did make the cuppe. And hee theron a story portrayd out. It was a Citie with seven gates in circuit round about, Which men myght easly all discerne. The gates did represent The Cities name, and showed playne what towne thereby was ment. Without the towne were funeralls a dooing for the dead, With herces, tapers, fyres, and tumbes. The wyves with ruffled head And stomacks bare pretended greef. The nymphes seemd teares to shead, And wayle the drying of theyr welles. The leavelesse trees did seare. And licking on the parched stones Goats romed heere and there. Behold amid this Thebane towne was lyvely portrayd out Echions daughters twayne, of which the one with courage stout Did prefer bothe her naked throte and stomacke to the knyfe: And tother with a manly hart did also spend her lyfe, For saufgard of her countryfolk: and how that theruppon They both were caryed solemly on herces, and anon Were burned in the cheefest place of all the Thebane towne. Then (least theyr linage should decay whoo dyde with such renowne,) Out of the Asshes of the maydes there issued twoo yong men, And they unto theyr moothers dust did obsequies agen. Thus much was graved curiously in auncient precious brasse, And on the brim a trayle of flowres of bearbrich gilded was. The Trojans also gave to him as costly giftes agen. Bycause he was Apollos preest they gave to him as then A Chist to keepe in frankincence. They gave him furthermore A Crowne of gold wherin were set of precious stones great store. Then calling to remembrance that the Trojans issued were Of Tewcers blood, they sayld to Crete. But long they could not there Abyde th'infection of the aire: and so they did forsake The hundred Cities, and with speede to Itayleward did make. The winter wexed hard and rough, and tost them verry sore. And when theyr shippes arrived were uppon the perlous shore Among the Strophad Iles, the bird Aello did them feare. The costes of Dulich, Ithaca, and Same they passed were, And eeke the Court of Neritus where wyse Ulysses reignd, And came to Ambrace for the which the Gods strong stryfe maynteind. There sawe they turned into stone the judge whoose image yit