Page:Metamorphoses (Ovid, 1567).djvu/83



he God now having laide aside his borrowed shape of Bull Had in his likenesse shewde himself: and with his pretie trull Tane landing in the Ile of Crete. When in that while hir Sire Not knowing where she was become, sent after to enquire Hir brother Cadmus, charging him his sister home to bring, Or never for to come againe: wherein he did a thing, For which he might both justly kinde and cruell called bee. When Cadmus over all the world had sought, (for who is hee That can detect the thefts of Jove?) and no where could hir see, Then as an outlaw (to avoyde his fathers wrongfull yre) He went to Phebus Oracle most humbly to desire His heavenly counsell, where he would assigne him place to dwell. An Heifer all alone in field (quoth Phebus) marke hir well, Which never bare the pinching yoke, nor drew the plough as yit, Shall meete thee. Follow after hir, and where thou seest hir sit, There builde a towne, and let thereof Beotia be the name. Downe from Parnasus stately top scarce fully Cadmus came, When royling softly in the vale before the herde alone He saw an Heifer on whose necke of servage print was none. He followde after leysurly as hir that was his guide, And thanked Phebus in his heart that did so well provide. Now had he past Cephisus forde, and eke the pleasant groundes About the Citie Panope conteinde within those boundes. The Heifer staide, and lifting up hir forehead to the skie Full seemely for to looke upon with homes like braunches hie Did with hir lowing fill the Ayre: and casting backe hir eie Upon the rest that came aloofe, as softly as she could Kneelde downe and laide hir hairie side against the grassie mould. Then Cadmus gave Apollo thankes, and falling flat bylow Did kisse the ground and haile the fields which yet he did not know. He was about to sacrifice to Ioue the Heavenly King, And bad his servants goe and fetch him water of the spring. An olde forgrowne unfelled wood stoode neare at hand thereby, And in the middes a queachie plot with Sedge and Osiers hie,