Page:Metamorphoses (Ovid, 1567).djvu/87

 And with his brothers gan to treat attonement for to make. The which at length (by Pallas helpe) so good successe did take, That faithfull friendship was confirmd and hand in hand was plight. These afterward did well assist the noble Tyrian knight, In building of the famous towne that Phebus had behight. Now Thebes stoode in good estate, now Cadmus might thou say That when thy father banisht thee it was a luckie day. To joyne aliance both with Mars and Venus was thy chaunce, Whose daughter thou hadst tane to wife, who did thee much advaunce, Not only through hir high renowne, but through a noble race Of sonnes and daughters that she bare: whose children in like case It was thy fortune for to see all men and women growne. But ay the ende of every thing must marked be and knowne. For none the name of blessednesse deserveth for to have Onlesse the tenor of his life last blessed to his grave. Among so many prosprous happes that flowde with good successe, Thine eldest Nephew was a cause of care and sore distresse. Whose head was armde with palmed homes, whose own hounds in the wood Did pull their master to the ground and fill them with his bloud. But if you sift the matter well, ye shall not finde desart But cruell fortune to have bene the cause of this his smart. For who could doe with oversight? Great slaughter had bene made Of sundrie sortes of savage beastes one morning: and the shade Of things was waxed verie short. It was the time of day That mid betweene the East and West the Sunne doth seeme to stay. When as the Thebane stripling thus bespake his companie, Still raunging in the waylesse woods some further game to spie: Our weapons and our toyles are moist and staind with bloud of Deere: This day hath done inough as by our quarrie may appeare. As soone as with hir scarlet wheeles next morning bringeth light, We will about our worke againe. But now Hiperion bright Is in the middes of Heaven, and seares the fieldes with firie rayes. Take up your toyles, and cease your worke, and let us go our wayes. They did even so, and ceast their worke. There was a valley thicke With Pinaple and Cipresse trees that armed be with pricke. Gargaphie hight this shadie plot, it was a sacred place Tochast Diana and the Nymphes that wayted on hir grace.