Page:Metamorphoses (Ovid, 1567).djvu/5

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The rage of wrath and jelozie to have no kynd of stay: And that lyght credit to reportes in no wyse should be given, For feare that men too late to just repentance should bee driven. The fable of Ocyroee by all such folk is told As are in serching things to come too curious and too bold. A very good example is describde in Battus tale For covetous people which for gayne doo set theyr toongs to sale. All such as doo in flattring freaks, and hawks, and hownds delyght, And dyce, and cards, and for to spend the tyme both day and nyght In foule excesse of chamberworke, or too much meate and drink: Uppon the piteous storie of Acteon ought to think. For theis and theyr adherents usde excessive are in deede The dogs that dayly doo devour theyr followers on with speede. Tyresias willes inferior folk in any wyse to shun Too judge betweene their betters least in perill they doo run. Narcissus is of scornfulnesse and pryde a myrror cleere, Where beawties fading vanitie most playnly may appeere. And Echo in the selfsame tale dooth kyndly represent The lewd behaviour of a bawd, and his due punishment. The piteous tale of Pyramus and Thisbee doth conteine The headie force of frentick love whose end is wo and payne. The snares of Mars and Venus shew that tyme will bring to lyght The secret sinnes that folk commit in corners or by nyght. Hermaphrodite and Salmacis declare that idlenesse Is cheefest nurce and cherisher of all volupteousnesse, And that voluptuous lyfe breedes sin: which linking all toogither Make men to bee effeminate, unweeldy, weake and lither. Rich Piers daughters turnd to Pies doo openly declare That none so bold to vaunt themselves as blindest bayardes are. The Muses playnly doo declare ageine a toother syde, That whereas cheefest wisdom is, most meeldnesse dooth abyde. Arachnee may example bee that folk should not contend Ageinst their betters, nor persist in error to the end. So dooth the tale of Niobee and of her children: and The transformation of the Carles that dwelt in Lycie land, Toogither with the fleaing of of piper Marsies skin. The first doo also show that long it is ere God begin Too pay us for our faults, and that he warnes us oft before Too leave our folly: but at length his vengeance striketh sore. And therfore that no wyght should strive with God in word nor thought Nor deede. But pryde and fond desyre of prayse have ever wrought Confusion to the parties which accompt of them do make. For some of such a nature bee that if they once doo take Opinion (be it ryght or wrong) they rather will agree To dye, than seeme to take a foyle: so obstinate they bee. The tale of Tereus, Philomele, and Prognee dooth conteyne That folke are blynd in thyngs that to their proper weale perteyne. And that the man in whom the fyre of furious lust dooth reigne Dooth run to mischeefe like a horse that getteth loose the reyne.

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