Page:Metamorphoses (Ovid, 1567).djvu/81

 They had bene made by cunning hand or out of waxe bene wrought. More cleare they were a hundreth fold than is the Christall stone, In all his forehead fearfull frowne or wrinkle there was none. No fierce, no grim, nor griesly looke as other cattle have, But altogether so demure as friendship seemde to crave. Agenors daughter marveld much so tame a beast to see, But yet to touche him at the first too bolde she durst not bee. Annon she reaches to his mouth hir hand with herbes and flowres. The loving beast was glad thereof and neither frownes nor lowres. But till the hoped joy might come with glad and fauning cheare He lickes hir hands and scarce ah scarce the resdue he forbeare. Sometime he friskes and skippes about and showes hir sport at hand Annon he layes his snowie side against the golden sand. So feare by little driven away, he offred eft his brest To stroke and coy, and eft his hornes with flowers to be drest. At last Europa knowing not (for so the Maide was calde) On whome she venturde for to ride, was nerawhit appalde To set hir selfe upon his backe. Then by and by the God From maine drie land to maine moyst Sea gan leysurly to plod. At first he did but dip his feete within the outmost wave, And backe againe, then further in another plunge he gave. And so still further till at the last he had his wished pray Amid the deepe where was no meanes to scape with life away. The Ladie quaking all for feare with rufull countnance cast Ay toward shore from whence she came, held with hir righthand fast One of his hornes: and with the left did stay upon his backe. The weather flaskt and whisked up hir garments being slacke.