Page:Metamorphoses (Ovid, 1567).djvu/67

 She feared lest in Phebes shape that Jove had come againe, But when she saw the troope of Nymphes that garded hir about, She thought there was no more deceyt, and came among the rout. Oh Lord how hard a matter ist for guiltie hearts to shift And kepe their countnance? from the ground hir eyes scarce durst she lift. She prankes not by hir mistresse side, she preases not to bee The foremost of the companie, as when she erst was free. She standeth muet: and by chaunging of hir colour ay The treading of hir shooe awrie she plainely doth bewray, Diana might have founde the fault but that she was a May. A thousand tokens did appeare apparant to the eye, By which the Nymphes themselves (they say) hir fault did well espie. Nine times the Moone full to the worlde had shewde hir horned face When fainting through hir brothers flames and hunting in the chace. She found a coole and shadie lawnde through midst whereof she spide A shallow brooke with trickling streame on gravell bottom glide. And liking well the pleasant place, upon the upper brim She dipt hir foote, and finding there the water coole and trim, Away (she sayd) with standers by: and let us bath us here. Then Parrhasis cast downe hir head with sad and bashfull chere. The rest did strip them to their skinnes. She only sought delay, Untill that would or would she not hir clothes were pluckt away. Then with hir naked body straight hir crime was brought to light. Which yll ashamde as with hir hands she would have hid from sight, Fie beast (quoth Cynthia) get thee hence, thou shalt not here defile This sacred Spring, and from hir traine she did hir quite exile. The Matrone of the thundring Jove had inckling of the fact, Delaying till convenient time the punishment to exact. There is no cause of further stay. To spight hir heart withall, Hir husbands Leman bare a boy that Arcas men did call. On whome she casting lowring looke with fell and cruell minde Saide: Was there, arrant strumpet thou, none other shift to finde But that thou needes must be with barne? that all the world must see My husbandes open shame and thine in doing wrong to mee? But neyther unto heaven nor hell this trespasse shalt thou beare. I will bereve thee of thy shape through pride whereof thou were So hardy to entyce my Feere. Immediatly with that