Page:Metamorphoses (Ovid, 1567).djvu/397

 And duskye nyght had put up hers most thick with starres bespred. The selfsame God by Myscelus did seeme to stand eftsoone, Commaunding him the selfsame thing that he before had doone, And threatning mo and greater plages onlesse he did obey. Then being stricken sore in feare he went about streyghtway His household from his natyve land to forreine to convey. A rumor heereuppon did ryse through all the towne of Arge And disobedience of the lawe was layed to his charge. Assoone as that the cace had first beene pleaded and the deede Apparantly perceyved, so that witnesse did not neede, Arreyned and forlorne to heaven he cast his handes and eyes, And sayd: O God whoose labours twelve have purchaste thee the skyes, Assist mee, I thee pray. For thou art author of my cryme. When judgement should bee given it was the guyse in auncient tyme With whyght stones to acquit the cleere, and eeke with blacke to cast The giltye. That tyme also so the heavy sentence past. The stones were cast unmercifull all blacke into the pot. But when the stones were powred out to number, there was not A blacke among them. All were whyght. And so through Hercles powre A gentle judgement did proceede, and he was quit that howre. Then gave he thankes to Hercules, and having prosprous blast, Cut over the Ionian sea, and so by Tarent past Which Spartanes buylt, and Cybaris, and Neaeth Salentine, And Thurine bay, and Emese, and eeke the pastures fyne Of Calabrye. And having scarce well sought the coastes that lye Uppon the sea, he found the mouth of fatall Aeserye. Not farre from thence, he also found the tumb in which the ground Did kiver Crotons holy bones, and in that place did found The Citie that was willed him, and gave thereto the name Of him that there lay buryed. Such originall as this same This Citie in th'Italian coast is sayd to have by fame. Heere dwelt a man of Samos Ile, who for the hate he had To Lordlynesse and Tyranny, though unconstreynd was glad To make himself a bannisht man. And though this persone weere Farre distant from the Goddes by site of heaven: yit came he neere To them in mynd. And he by syght of soule and reason cleere Behild the things which nature dooth to fleshly eyes denye.