Till faint through yrkesome wearines, adowne The sunbeames bright upon her body playd, And pierst into her wombe; where they embayd With so sweet sence and secret powre unspide, That in her pregnant flesh they shortly fructifide. Miraculous may seeme to him that reades So straunge ensample of conception; But reason teacheth that the fruitfull seades Infinite shapes of creatures men doe fynd 7 Informed in the mud on which the Sunne hath shynd. Great father he of generation Is rightly cald, th' authour of life and light; 9 Ministreth matter fit, which, tempred right Which still increast till she her terme had full outgone. Whereof conceiving shame and foule disgrace, IO It fortuned, faire Venus having lost II Her little sonne, the winged god of love, Who, for some light displeasure which him crost, Was from her fled as flit as ayery Dove, And left her blisfull bowre of joy above: (So from her often he had fled away, When she for ought him sharpely did reprove, And wandred in the world in straunge aray, Disguiz'd in thousand shapes, that none might him bewray.) 12 Him for to seeke, she left her heavenly hous, The enimy of peace, and authour of all strife. 14 Then in the countrey she abroad him sought, 15 Where also many plaintes to her were brought, How he their heedelesse harts with love had fir'd, And his false venim through their veines inspir'd: And eke the gentle Shepheard swaynes, which sat Keeping their fleecy flockes as they were hyr'd, She sweetly heard complaine, both how and what Her sonne had to them doen; yet she did smile thereat. But when in none of all these she him got, She gan avize where els he mote him hyde: Shortly unto the wastefull woods she came, She, having hong upon a bough on high 16 17 18 Her bow and painted quiver, had unlaste Her silver buskins from her nimble thigh, And her lanck loynes ungirt, and brests unbraste, After her heat the breathing cold to taste : Her golden lockes, that late in tresses bright Embreaded were for hindring of her haste, Now loose about her shoulders hong undight, And were with sweet Ambrosia all besprinckled light. 19 Soone as she Venus saw behinde her backe, And shortly asked her, what cause her brought 20 [fraught? From her sweete bowres, and beds with pleasures That suddein chaung she straung adventure thought. To whom halfe weeping she thus answered; That she her dearest sonne Cupido sought, Who in his frowardnes from her was fled, That she repented sore to have him angered. 21 Thereat Diana gan to smile, in scorne Of her vaine playnt, and to her scoffing sayd: "Great pitty sure that ye be so forlorne Of your gay sonne, that gives ye so good ayd To your disports: ill mote ye bene apayd." But she was more engrieved, and replide; "Faire sister, ill beseemes it to upbrayd A dolefull heart with so disdainfull pride: The like that mine may be your paine another tide. "As you in woods and wanton wildernesse Your glory sett to chace the salvage beasts, So my delight is all in joyfulnesse, 22 In beds, in bowres, in banckets, and in feasts: And ill becomes you, with your lofty creasts, To scorne the joy that Jove is glad to seeke: We both are bownd to follow heavens beheasts, And tend our charges with obeisaunce meeke. Spare, gentle sister, with reproch my paine to eeke; "And tell me, if that ye my sonne have heard To lurke emongst your Nimphes in secret wize, Or keepe their cabins ? much I am affeard Least he like one of them him selfe disguize, And turne his arrowes to their exercize. So may he long him selfe full easie hide For he is faire and fresh in face and guize As any Nimphe; (let not it be envide.") So saying, every Nimph full narrowly she eide. But Phœbe therewith sore was angered, ; 23 24 And sharply saide: "Goe, Dame; goe, seeke your But if I catch him in this company, By Stygian lake I vow, whose sad annoy The Gods doe dread, he dearly shall abye: Ile clip his wanton wings, that he no more shall flye." Whom whenas Venus saw so sore displeasd, Shee inly sory was, and gan relent 25 What shee had said: so her shee soone appeasd To search the God of love her Nimphes she sent 26 |