{ "id": "edmund-spenser/mutability", "title": "Mutability", "ordinal": null, "subtitle": "The Legend of Constancy", "poet": "Edmund Spenser", "poet_slug": "edmund-spenser", "language": "en", "book": "The Faerie Queene", "book_slug": "the-faerie-queene", "book_kind": "volume", "sequence": 8, "container": null, "epigraph": null, "first_published": { "year": 1596, "venue": "The Faerie Queene (1596)", "note": "First located printing is this volume; an earlier periodical printing has not been established.", "uncertain": false, "sources": [ "https://archive.org/details/spensersfaeriequ01spenuoft", "https://archive.org/details/spensersfaeriequ02spenuoft", "https://archive.org/details/spensersfaeriequ03spenuoft", "https://archive.org/details/spensersfaeriequ04spenuoft", "https://archive.org/details/spensersfaeriequ05spenuoft", "https://archive.org/details/spensersfaeriequ06spenuoft", "https://github.com/standardebooks/edmund-spenser_the-faerie-queene" ] }, "source": { "kind": "standard-ebooks", "repo": "standardebooks/edmund-spenser_the-faerie-queene", "file": "mutability.xhtml", "upstream": [ "https://archive.org/details/spensersfaeriequ01spenuoft", "https://archive.org/details/spensersfaeriequ02spenuoft", "https://archive.org/details/spensersfaeriequ03spenuoft", "https://archive.org/details/spensersfaeriequ04spenuoft", "https://archive.org/details/spensersfaeriequ05spenuoft", "https://archive.org/details/spensersfaeriequ06spenuoft" ], "rights": "public domain (SE dedication; underlying text pre-1931)" }, "verification": { "level": "structural-only", "last_checked": "2026-08-20" }, "stats": { "n_lines": 1044, "n_stanzas": 116, "n_parts": 0, "longest_line_chars": 61, "max_indent": 1 }, "site_ready": true, "parts": [], "stanzas": [ [ { "text": "What man that sees the ever-whirling wheele,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Of Change, the which all mortall things doth sway,", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "But that therby doth find, and plainly feele,", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "How Mutability in them doth play", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "Her cruell sports to many mens decay?", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "Which that to all may better yet appeare,", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "I will rehearse that whylome I heard say,", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "How she at first her selfe began to reare", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "Gainst all the Gods, and th’empire sought from them to beare.", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "But first, here falleth fittest to unfold", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Her antique race and linage ancient,", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "As I have found it registred of old", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "In Faery Land mongst records permanent.", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "She was, to weet, a daughter by descent", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "Of those old Titans that did whylome strive", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "With Saturnes sonne for heavens regiment;", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "Whom though high Jove of kingdome did deprive,", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "Yet many of their stemme long after did survive:", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "And many of them afterwards obtained", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Great power of Jove, and high authority:", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "As Hecaté, in whose almighty hand", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "He plac’t all rule and principalitie,", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "To be by her disposed diversly", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "To Gods and men, as she them list divide;", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "And drad Bellona, that doth sound on hie", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "Warres and allarums unto Nations wide,", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "That makes both heaven and earth to tremble at her pride.", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "So likewise did this Titanesse aspire", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Rule and dominion to her selfe to gaine;", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "That as a Goddesse men might her admire,", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "And heavenly honors yield, as to them twaine:", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "And first, on earth she sought it to obtaine;", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "Where shee such proofe and sad examples shewed", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "Of her great power, to many ones great paine,", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "That not men onely (whom she soone subdewed)", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "But eke all other creatures her bad dooings rewed.", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "For she the face of earthly things so changed,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "That all which Nature had establisht first", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "In good estate, and in meet order ranged,", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "She did pervert, and all their statutes burst:", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "And all the worlds faire frame (which none yet durst", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "Of Gods or men to alter or misguide)", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "She alter’d quite; and made them all accurst", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "That God had blest, and did at first provide", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "In that still happy state for ever to abide.", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "Ne shee the lawes of Nature onely brake,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "But eke of Justice, and of Policie;", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "And wrong of right, and bad of good did make,", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "And death for life exchanged foolishlie:", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "Since which all living wights have learn’d to die,", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "And all this world is woxen daily worse.", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "O pittious worke of Mutability,", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "By which we all are subject to that curse,", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "And death, instead of life, have sucked from our Nurse!", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "And now, when all the earth she thus had brought", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "To her behest, and thralled to her might,", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "She gan to cast in her ambitious thought", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "T’attempt the empire of the heavens hight,", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "And Jove himselfe to shoulder from his right.", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "And first, she past the region of the ayre", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "And of the fire, whose substance thin and slight", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "Made no resistance, ne could her contraire,", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "But ready passage to her pleasure did prepaire.", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "Thence to the Circle of the Moone she clambe,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Where Cynthia raignes in everlasting glory,", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "To whose bright shining palace straight she came,", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "All fairely deckt with heavens goodly storie;", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "Whose silver gates (by which there sate an hory", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "Old aged Sire, with hower-glasse in hand,", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "Hight Time,) she entred, were he liefe or sory;", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "Ne staide till she the highest stage had scand,", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "Where Cynthia did sit, that never still did stand.", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "Her sitting on an Ivory throne shee found,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Drawne of two steeds, th’one black, the other white,", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "Environd with tenne thousand starres around,", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "That duly her attended day and night;", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "And by her side there ran her Page, that hight", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "Vesper, whom we the Evening-starre intend;", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "That with his Torche, still twinkling like twylight,", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "Her lightened all the way where she should wend,", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "And joy to weary wandring travailers did lend:", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "That when the hardy Titanesse beheld", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "The goodly building of her Palace bright,", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "Made of the heavens substance, and upheld", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "With thousand Crystall pillors of huge hight,", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "She gan to burne in her ambitious spright,", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "And t’envie her that in such glory raigned.", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "Eftsoones she cast by force and tortious might", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "Her to displace, and to her selfe to have gained", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "The kingdome of the Night, and waters by her wained.", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "Boldly she bid the Goddesse downe descend,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And let her selfe into that Ivory throne;", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "For she her selfe more worthy thereof wend,", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "And better able it to guide alone;", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "Whether to men, whose fall she did bemone,", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "Or unto Gods, whose state she did maligne,", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "Or to th’infernall Powers her need give lone", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "Of her faire light and bounty most benigne,", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "Her selfe of all that rule she deemed most condigne.", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "But she, that had to her that soveraigne seat", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "By highest Jove assign’d, therein to beare", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "Nights burning lamp, regarded not her threat,", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "Ne yielded ought for favour or for feare;", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "But with sterne count’naunce and disdainfull cheare,", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "Bending her horned browes, did put her back;", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "And, boldly blaming her for comming there,", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "Bade her attonce from heavens coast to pack,", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "Or at her perill bide the wrathfull Thunders wrack.", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "Yet nathemore the Giantesse forbare,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "But boldly preacing-on raught forth her hand", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "To pluck her downe perforce from off her chaire;", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "And, therewith lifting up her golden wand,", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "Threatned to strike her if she did withstand:", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "Whereat the starres, which round about her blazed,", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "And eke the Moones bright wagon still did stand,", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "All beeing with so bold attempt amazed,", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "And on her uncouth habit and sterne looke still gazed.", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "Mean-while the lower World, which nothing knew", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Of all that chaunced heere, was darkned quite;", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "And eke the heavens, and all the heavenly crew", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "Of happy wights, now unpurvaid of light,", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "Were much afraid, and wondred at that sight;", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "Fearing least Chaos broken had his chaine,", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "And brought againe on them eternall night;", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "But chiefely Mercury, that next doth raigne,", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "Ran forth in haste unto the king of Gods to plaine.", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "All ran together with a great outcry", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "To Joves faire palace fixt in heavens hight;", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "And, beating at his gates full earnestly,", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "Gan call to him aloud with all their might", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "To know what meant that suddaine lacke of light.", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "The father of the Gods, when this he heard,", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "Was troubled much at their so strange affright,", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "Doubting least Typhon were againe uprear’d,", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "Or other his old foes that once him sorely fear’d.", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "Eftsoones the sonne of Maia forth he sent", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Downe to the Circle of the Moone, to knowe", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "The cause of this so strange astonishment,", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "And why she did her wonted course forslowe;", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "And if that any were on earth belowe", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "That did with charmes or Magick her molest,", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "Him to attache, and downe to hell to throwe;", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "But if from heaven it were, then to arrest", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "The Author, and him bring before his presence prest.", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "The wingd-foot God so fast his plumes did beat,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "That soone he came whereas the Titanesse", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "Was striving with faire Cynthia for her seat;", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "At whose strange sight and haughty hardinesse", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "He wondred much, and feared her no lesse:", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "Yet laying feare aside to doe his charge,", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "At last he bade her (with bold stedfastnesse)", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "Ceasse to molest the Moone to walke at large,", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "Or come before high Jove her dooings to discharge.", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "And there-with-all he on her shoulder laid", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "His snaky-wreathed Mace, whose awfull power", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "Doth make both Gods and hellish fiends affraid:", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "Whereat the Titanesse did sternly lower,", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "And stoutly answer’d, that in evill hower", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "He from his Jove such message to her brought,", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "To bid her leave faire Cynthia’s silver bower;", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "Sith shee his Jove and him esteemed nought,", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "No more then Cynthia’s selfe; but all their kingdoms sought.", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "The Heavens Herald staid not to reply,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "But past away, his doings to relate", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "Unto his Lord; who now, in th’highest sky,", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "Was placed in his principall Estate,", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "With all the Gods about him congregate:", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "To whom when Hermes had his message told,", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "It did them all exceedingly amate,", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "Save Jove; who, changing nought his count’nance bold,", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "Did unto them at length these speeches wise unfold;", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "“Harken to mee awhile, yee heavenly Powers!", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Ye may remember since th’Earths cursed seed", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "Sought to assaile the heavens eternall towers,", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "And to us all exceeding feare did breed,", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "But, how we then defeated all their deed,", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "Yee all do knowe, and them destroyed quite;", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "Yet not so quite, but that there did succeed", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "An off-spring of their bloud, which did alite", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "Upon the fruitfull earth, which doth us yet despite.", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "“Of that bad seed is this bold woman bred,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "That now with bold presumption doth aspire", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "To thrust faire Phoebe from her silver bed,", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "And eke our selves from heavens high Empire,", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "If that her might were match to her desire.", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "Wherefore it now behoves us to advise", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "What way is best to drive her to retire,", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "Whether by open force, or counsell wise:", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "Areed, ye sonnes of God, as best as ye can devise.”", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "So having said, he ceast; and with his brow", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "(His black eye-brow, whose doomefull dreaded beck", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "Is wont to wield the world unto his vow,", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "And even the highest Powers of heaven to check)", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "Made signe to them in their degrees to speake,", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "Who straight gan cast their counsell grave and wise.", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "Mean-while th’Earths daughter, thogh she nought did reck", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "Of Hermes message, yet gan now advise", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "What course were best to take in this hot bold emprize.", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "Eftsoones she thus resolv’d; that whil’st the Gods", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "(After returne of Hermes Embassie)", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "Were troubled, and amongst themselves at ods,", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "Before they could new counsels re-allie,", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "To set upon them in that extasie,", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "And take what fortune, time, and place would lend.", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "So forth she rose, and through the purest sky", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "To Joves high Palace straight cast to ascend,", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "To prosecute her plot. Good onset boads good end.", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "Shee there arriving boldly in did pass;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Where all the Gods she found in counsell close.", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "All quite unarm’d, as then their manner was.", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "At sight of her they suddaine all arose", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "In great amaze, ne wist what way to chose:", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "But Jove, all fearlesse, forc’t them to aby;", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "And in his soveraine throne gan straight dispose", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "Himselfe, more full of grace and Majestie,", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "That mote encheare his friends, and foes mote terrifie.", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "That when the haughty Titanesse beheld,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "All were she fraught with pride and impudence,", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "Yet with the sight thereof was almost queld;", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "And, inly quaking, seem’d as reft of sense", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "And voyd of speech in that drad audience,", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "Until that Jove himselfe her selfe bespake:", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "“Speake, thou fraile woman, speake with confidence;", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "Whence art thou, and what doost thou here now make?", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "What idle errand hast thou earths mansion to forsake?”", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "She, halfe confused with his great commaund,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Yet gathering spirit of her natures pride,", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "Him boldly answer’d thus to his demaund:", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "“I am a daughter, by the mothers side,", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "Of her that is Grandmother magnifide", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "Of all the Gods, great Earth, great Chaos child;", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "But by the fathers, (be it not envide)", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "I greater am in bloud (whereon I build)", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "Then all the Gods, though wrongfully from heaven exil’d.", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "“For Titan (as ye all acknowledge must)", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Was Saturnes elder brother by birth-right,", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "Both sonnes of Uranus; but by unjust", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "And guilefull meanes, through Corybantes slight,", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "The younger thrust the elder from his right:", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "Since which thou, Jove, injuriously hast held", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "The Heavens rule from Titans sonnes by might,", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "And them to hellish dungeons downe hast feld.", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "Witnesse, ye Heavens, the truth of all that I have teld!”", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "Whil’st she thus spake, the Gods, that gave good eare", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "To her bold words, and marked well her grace,", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "(Beeing of stature tall as any there", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "Of all the Gods, and beautifull of face", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "As any of the Goddesses in place,)", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "Stood all astonied; like a sort of steeres,", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "Mongst whom some beast of strange and forraine race", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "Unwares is chaunc’t, far straying from his peeres:", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "So did their ghastly gaze bewray their hidden feares.", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "Till, having pauz’d awhile, Jove thus bespake:", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "“Will never mortall thoughts ceasse to aspire", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "In this bold sort to Heaven claime to make,", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "And touch celestiall seats with earthly mire?", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "I would have thought that bold Procrustes hire,", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "Or Typhons fall, or proud Ixions paine,", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "Or great Prometheus tasting of our ire,", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "Would have suffiz’d the rest for to restraine,", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "And warn’d all men by their example to refraine.", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "“But now this off-scum of that cursed fry", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Dare to renew the like bold enterprize,", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "And chalenge th’ heritage of this our skie;", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "Whom what should hinder, but that we likewise", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "Should handle as the rest of her allies,", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "And thunder-drive to hell?” With that, he shooke", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "His Nectar-deawed locks, with which the skyes", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "And all the world beneath for terror quooke,", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "And eft his burning levin-brond in hand he tooke.", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "But when he looked on her lovely face,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "In which faire beames of beauty did appeare", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "That could the greatest wrath soone turne to grace,", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "(Such sway doth beauty even in Heaven beare)", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "He staid his hand; and, having chang’d his cheare,", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "He thus againe in milder wise began:", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "“But ah! if Gods should strive with flesh yfere,", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "Then shortly should the progeny of man", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "Be rooted out, if Jove should do still what he can.", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "“But thee, faire Titans child, I rather weene,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Through some vaine errour, or inducement light,", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "To see that mortall eyes have never seene;", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "Or through ensample of thy sisters might,", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "Bellona, whose great glory thou doost spight,", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "Since thou hast seene her dreadfull power belowe,", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "Mongst wretched men (dismaide with her affright)", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "To bandie Crownes, and Kingdoms to bestowe:", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "And sure thy worth no lesse then hers doth seem to showe.", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "“But wote thou this, thou hardy Titanesse,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "That not the worth of any living wight", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "May challenge ought in Heavens interesse;", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "Much lesse the Title of old Titans Right:", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "For we by conquest, of our soveraine might,", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "And by eternal doome of Fates decree,", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "Have wonne the Empire of the Heavens bright;", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "Which to our selves we hold, and to whom wee", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "Shall worthy deeme partakers of our blisse to bee.", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "“Then ceasse thy idle claime, thou foolish gerle;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And seeke by grace and goodnesse to obtaine", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "That place, from which by folly Titan fell:", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "There to thou maist perhaps, if so thou faine", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "Have Jove thy gracious Lord and Soveraine.”", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "So having said, she thus to him replide:", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "“Ceasse, Saturnes sonne, to seeke by proffers vaine", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "Of idle hopes t’allure me to thy side,", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "For to betray my Right before I have it tride.", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "“But thee, O Jove! no equall Judge I deeme", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Of my desert, or of my dewfull Right;", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "That in thine owne behalfe maist partiall seeme:", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "But to the highest him, that is behight", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "Father of Gods and men by equall might,", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "To weet, the God of Nature, I appeale.”", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "Thereat Jove wexed wroth, and in his spright", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "Did inly grudge, yet did it well conceale;", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "And bade Dan Phœbus scribe her Appellation seale.", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "Eftsoones the time and place appointed were,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Where all, both heavenly Powers and earthly wights,", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "Before great Natures presence should appeare,", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "For triall of their Titles and best Rights:", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "That was, to weet, upon the highest hights", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "Of Arlo-hill (Who knowes not Arlo-hill?)", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "That is the highest head (in all mens sights)", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "Of my old father Mole, whom Shepheards quill", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "Renowmed hath with hymnes fit for a rurall skill.", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "And, were it not ill fitting for this file", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "To sing of hilles and woods mongst warres and Knights,", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "I would abate the sternenesse of my stile,", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "Mongst these sterne stounds to mingle soft delights;", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "And tell how Arlo, through Dianaes spights,", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "(Beeing of old the best and fairest Hill", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "That was in all this holy Islands hights)", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "Was made the most unpleasant and most ill:", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "Meane-while, O Clio! lend Calliope thy quill.", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "Whylome when Ireland florished in fame", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Of wealths and goodnesse, far above the rest", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "Of all that beare the British Islands name,", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "The gods then us’d (for pleasure and for rest)", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "Oft to resort thereto, when seem’d them best;", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "But none of all therein more pleasure found", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "Then Cynthia, that is soveraine Queene profest", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "Of woods and forrests which therein abound,", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "Sprinkled with wholsom waters more then most on ground:", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "But mongst them all, as fittest for her game,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Eyther for chace of beasts with hound or boawe,", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "Or for to shrowde in shade from Phœbus flame,", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "Or bathe in fountaines that do freshly flowe", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "Or from high hilles or from the dales belowe,", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "She chose this Arlo; where she did resort", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "With all her Nymphes enranged on a rowe,", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "With whom the woody Gods did oft consort,", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "For with the Nymphes the Satyres love to play and sport.", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "Amongst the which there was a Nymph that hight", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Molanna; daughter of old Father Mole,", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "And sister unto Mulla faire and bright,", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "Unto whose bed false Bregog whylome stole,", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "That Shepheard Colin dearely did condole,", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "And made her lucklesse loves well knowne to be:", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "But this Molanna, were she not so shole,", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "Were no lesse faire and beautifull then shee;", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "Yet, as she is, a fayrer flood may no man see.", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "For, first, she springs out of two marble Rocks,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "On which a grove of Oakes high-mounted growes,", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "That as a girlond seemes to deck the locks", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "Of som faire Bride, brought forth with pompous showes", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "Out of her bowre, that many flowers strowes:", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "So through the flowry Dales she tumbling downe", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "Through many woods and shady coverts flowes,", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "(That on each side her silver channell crowne)", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "Till to the Plaine she come, whose Valleyes she doth drowne.", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "In her sweet streames Diana used oft", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "(After her sweaty chace and toylesome play)", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "To bathe her selfe; and, after, on the soft", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "And downy grasse her dainty limbes to lay", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "In covert shade, where none behold her may;", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "For much she hated sight of living eye.", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "Foolish god Faunus, though full many a day", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "He saw her clad, yet longed foolishly", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "To see her naked mongst her Nymphes in privity.", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "No way he found to compasse his desire,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "But to corrupt Molanna, this her maid,", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "Her to discover for some secret hire:", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "So her with flattering words he first assaid;", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "And after, pleasing gifts for her purvaid,", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "Queene-apples, and red Cherries from the tree,", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "With which he her allured, and betrayd", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "To tell what time he might her Lady see", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "When she her selfe did bathe, that he might secret bee.", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "Thereto he promist, if shee would him pleasure", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "With this small boone, to quit her with a better;", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "To weet, that whereas shee had out of measure", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "Long lov’d the Fanchin, who by nought did set her,", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "That he would undertake for this to get her", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "To be his Love, and of him liked well:", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "Besides all which, he vow’d to be her debter", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "For many moe good turnes then he would tell,", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "The least of which this little pleasure should excell.", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "The simple mayd did yield to him anone;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And eft him placed where he close might view", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "That never any saw, save onely one,", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "Who, for his hire to so foolehardy dew,", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "Was of his hounds devour’d in Hunters hew.", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "Tho, as her manner was on sunny day,", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "Diana, with her Nymphes about her, drew", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "To this sweet spring; where, doffing her array,", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "She bath’d her lovely limbes, for Jove a likely pray.", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "There Faunus saw that pleased much his eye,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And made his hart to tickle in his brest,", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "That, for great joy of somewhat he did spy,", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "He could him not containe in silent rest;", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "But, breaking forth in laughter, loud profest", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "His foolish thought: A foolish Faune indeed,", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "That couldst not hold thy selfe so hidden blest,", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "But wouldest needs thine owne conceit areed!", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "Babblers unworthy been of so divine a meed.", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "The Goddesse, all abashed with that noise,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "In haste forth started from the guilty brooke;", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "And, running straight whereas she heard his voice,", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "Enclos’d the bush about, and there him tooke,", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "Like darred Larke, not daring up to looke", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "On her whose sight before so much he sought.", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "Thence forth they drew him by the hornes, and shooke", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "Nigh all to peeces, that they left him nought;", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "And then into the open light they forth him brought.", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "Like as an huswife, that with busie care", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Thinks of her Dairy to make wondrous gaine,", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "Finding whereas some wicked beast unware", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "That breakes into her Dayr’ house, there doth draine", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "Her creaming pannes, and frustrate all her paine,", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "Hath, in some snare or gin set close behind,", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "Entrapped him, and caught into her traine;", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "Then thinkes what punishment were best assign’d,", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "And thousand deathes deviseth in her vengefull mind.", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "So did Diana and her maydens all", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Use silly Faunus, now within their baile:", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "They mocke and scorne him, and him foule miscall;", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "Some by the nose him pluckt, some by the taile,", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "And by his goatish beard some did him haile:", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "Yet he (poore soule!) with patience all did beare;", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "For nought against their wils might countervaile:", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "Ne ought he said, what ever he did heare,", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "But, hanging downe his head, did like a Mome appeare.", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "At length, when they had flouted him their fill,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "They gan to cast what penaunce him to give.", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "Some would have gelt him; but that same would spill", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "The Wood-gods breed, which must for ever live:", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "Others would through the river him have drive", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "And ducked deepe; but that seem’d penaunce light:", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "But most agreed, and did this sentence give,", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "Him in Deares skin to clad; and in that plight", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "To hunt him with their hounds, him selfe save how hee might.", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "But Cynthia’s selfe, more angry then the rest,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Thought not enough to punish him in sport,", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "And of her shame to make a gamesome jest;", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "But gan examine him in straighter sort,", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "Which of her Nymphes, or other close consort,", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "Him thither brought, and her to him betraid?", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "He, much affeard, to her confessed short", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "That ’twas Molanna which her so bewraid.", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "Then all attonce their hands upon Molanna laid.", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "But him (according as they had decreed)", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "With a Deeres-skin they covered, and then chast", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "With all their hounds that after him did speed;", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "But he, more speedy, from them fled more fast", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "Then any Deere, so sore him dread aghast.", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "They after followed all with shrill outcry,", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "Shouting as they the heavens would have brast;", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "That all the woods and dales, where he did flie,", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "Did ring againe, and loud re-eccho to the skie.", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "So they him follow’d till they weary were;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "When, back returning to Molann’ againe,", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "They, by commaund’ment of Diana, there", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "Her whelm’d with stones. Yet Faunus (for her paine)", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "Of her beloved Fanchin did obtaine,", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "That her he would receive unto his bed:", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "So now her waves passe through a pleasant Plaine,", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "Till with the Fanchin she her selfe do wed,", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "And (both combin’d) themselves in one faire river spred.", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "Nath’lesse Diana, full of indignation,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Thenceforth abandond her delicious brooke,", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "In whose sweet streame, before that bad occasion,", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "So much delight to bathe her limbes she tooke:", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "Ne onely her, but also quite forsooke", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "All those faire forrests about Arlo hid;", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "And all that Mountaine, which doth overlooke", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "The richest champain that may else be rid;", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "And the faire Shure, in which are thousand Salmons bred.", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "Them all, and all that she so deare did way,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Thenceforth she left; and, parting from the place,", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "Thereon an heavy haplesse curse did lay;", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "To weet, that Wolves, where she was wont to space,", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "Should harbour’d be and all those Woods deface,", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "And Thieves should rob and spoile that Coast around:", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "Since which, those Woods, and all that goodly Chase", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "Doth to this day with Wolves and Thieves abound:", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "Which too-too true that lands in-dwellers since have found.", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "Ah! whither doost thou now, thou greater Muse,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Me from these woods and pleasing forrests bring,", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "And my fraile spirit, (that dooth oft refuse", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "This too high flight, unfit for her weake wing)", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "Lift up aloft, to tell of heavens King", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "(Thy soveraine Sire) his fortunate successe;", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "And victory in bigger notes to sing", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "Which he obtain’d against that Titanesse,", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "That him of heavens Empire sought to dispossesse?", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "Yet, sith I needs must follow thy behest,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Do thou my weaker wit with skill inspire,", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "Fit for this turne; and in my feeble brest", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "Kindle fresh sparks of that immortall fire", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "Which learned minds inflameth with desire", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "Of heavenly things: for who, but thou alone", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "That art yborne of heaven and heavenly Sire,", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "Can tell things doen in heaven so long ygone,", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "So farre past memory of man that may be knowne?", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "Now, at the time that was before agreed,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "The gods assembled all on Arlo Hill;", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "As well those that are sprung of heavenly seed,", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "As those that all the other world do fill,", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "And rule both sea and land unto their will:", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "Onely th’infernall Powers might not appeare;", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "As well for horror of their count’naunce ill,", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "As for th’unruly fiends which they did feare;", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "Yet Pluto and Proserpina were present there.", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "And thither also came all other creatures,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Whatever life or motion do retaine,", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "According to their sundry kinds of features,", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "That Arlo scarsly could them all containe,", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "So full they filled every hill and Plaine;", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "And had not Natures Sergeant (that is Order)", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "Them well disposed by his busie paine,", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "And raunged farre abroad in every border,", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "They would have caused much confusion and disorder.", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "Then forth issewed (great goddesse) great dame Nature", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "With goodly port and gracious Majesty,", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "Being far greater and more tall of stature", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "Then any of the gods or Powers on hie:", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "Yet certes by her face and physnomy,", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "Whether she man or woman inly were,", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "That could not any creature well descry;", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "For with a veile, that wimpled every where,", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "Her head and face was hid that mote to none appeare.", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "That, some do say, was so by skill devized,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "To hide the terror of her uncouth hew", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "From mortall eyes that should be sore agrized;", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "For that her face did like a Lion shew,", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "That eye of wight could not indure to view:", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "But others tell that it so beautious was,", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "And round about such beames of splendor threw,", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "That it the Sunne a thousand times did pass,", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "Ne could be seene but like an image in a glass.", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "That well may seemen true; for well I weene,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "That this same day when she on Arlo sat,", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "Her garment was so bright and wondrous sheene,", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "That my fraile wit cannot devize to what", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "It to compare, nor finde like stuffe to that:", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "As those three sacred Saints, though else most wise,", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "Yet on mount Thabor quite their wits forgat,", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "When they their glorious Lord in strange disguise", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "Transfigur’d sawe; his garments so did daze their eyes.", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "In a fayre Plaine upon an equall Hill", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "She placed was in a pavilion;", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "Not such as Craftes-men by their idle skill", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "Are wont for Princes states to fashion;", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "But th’Earth herselfe, of her owne motion,", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "Out of her fruitfull bosome made to growe", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "Most dainty trees, that, shooting up anon,", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "Did seeme to bow their bloosming heads full lowe", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "For homage unto her, and like a throne did showe.", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "So hard it is for any living wight", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "All her array and vestiments to tell,", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "That old Dan Geffrey (in whose gentle spright,", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "The pure well head of Poesie did dwell)", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "In his Foules parley durst not with it mel,", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "But it transferd to Alane, who he thought", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "Had in his Plaint of kinde describ’d it well:", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "Which who will read set forth so as it ought,", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "Go seek he out that Alane where he may be sought.", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "And all the earth far underneath her feete", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Was dight with flowers that voluntary grew", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "Out of the ground, and sent forth odours sweet;", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "Tenne thousand mores of sundry sent and hew,", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "That might delight the smell, or please the view,", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "The which the Nymphes from all the brooks thereby", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "Had gathered, they at her foot-stoole threw;", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "That richer seem’d then any tapestry,", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "That Princes bowres adorne with painted imagery.", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "And Mole himselfe, to honour her the more,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Did deck himselfe in freshest faire attire;", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "And his high head, that seemeth alwayes hore", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "With hardned frosts of former winters ire,", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "He with an Oaken girlond now did tire,", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "As if the love of some new Nymph, late seene,", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "Had in him kindled youthfull fresh desire,", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "And made him change his gray attire to greene:", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "Ah, gentle Mole! such joyance hath thee well beseene.", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "Was never so great joyance since the day", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "That all the gods whylome assembled were", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "On Haemus hill in their divine array,", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "To celebrate the solemne bridall cheare", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "Twixt Peleus and Dame Thetis pointed there;", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "Where Phœbus selfe, that god of Poets hight,", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "They say, did sing the spousall hymne full cleere,", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "That all the gods were ravisht with delight", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "Of his celestiall song, and Musicks wondrous might.", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "This great Grandmother of all creatures bred,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Great Nature, ever young, yet full of eld;", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "Still mooving, yet unmoved from her sted;", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "Unseene of any, yet of all beheld;", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "Thus sitting in her throne, as I have teld,", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "Before her came dame Mutability;", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "And, being lowe before her presence feld", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "With meek obaysance and humilitie,", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "Thus gan her plaintif Plea with words to amplifie:", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "“To thee, O greatest Goddesse, onely great!", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "An humble suppliant loe! I lowely fly,", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "Seeking for Right, which I of thee entreat,", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "Who Right to all dost deale indifferently,", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "Damning all Wrong and tortious Injurie,", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "Which any of thy creatures do to other", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "(Oppressing them with power unequally,)", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "Sith of them all thou art the equall mother,", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "And knittest each to each, as brother unto brother.", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "“To thee therefore of this same Jove I plaine,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And of his fellow gods that faine to be,", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "That challenge to themselves the whole worlds raign,", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "Of which the greatest part is due to me,", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "And heaven it selfe by heritage in Fee:", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "For heaven and earth I both alike do deeme,", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "Sith heaven and earth are both alike to thee,", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "And gods no more then men thou doest esteeme;", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "For even the gods to thee, as men to gods, do seeme.", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "“Then weigh, O soveraigne goddesse! by what right", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "These gods do claime the worlds whole soverainty,", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "And that is onely dew unto thy might", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "Arrogate to themselves ambitiously:", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "As for the gods owne principality,", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "Which Jove usurpes unjustly, that to be", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "My heritage Jove’s selfe cannot denie,", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "From my great Grandsire Titan unto mee", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "Deriv’d by dew descent; as is well knowen to thee.", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "“Yet mauger Jove, and all his gods beside,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "I do possesse the worlds most regiment;", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "As if ye please it into parts divide,", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "And every parts inholders to convent,", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "Shall to your eyes appeare incontinent.", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "And, first, the Earth (great mother of us all)", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "That only seemes unmov’d and permanent,", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "And unto Mutabilitie not thrall,", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "Yet is she chang’d in part, and eeke in generall:", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "For all that from her springs, and is ybredde,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "However faire it flourish for a time,", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "Yet see we soone decay; and, being dead,", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "To turne againe unto their earthly slime:", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "Yet, out of their decay and mortall crime,", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "We daily see new creatures to arize,", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "And of their Winter spring another Prime,", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "Unlike in forme, and chang’d by strange disguise:", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "So turne they still about, and change in restlesse wise.", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "“As for her tenants, that is, man and beasts,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "The beasts we daily see massacred dy", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "As thralls and vassals unto mens beheasts;", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "And men themselves do change continually,", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "From youth to eld, from wealth to poverty,", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "From good to bad, from bad to worst of all:", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "Ne doe their bodies only flit and fly,", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "But eeke their minds (which they immortall call)", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "Still change and vary thoughts, as new occasions fall.", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "“Ne is the water in more constant case,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Whether those same on high, or these belowe;", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "For th’Ocean moveth still from place to place,", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "And every River still doth ebbe and flowe;", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "Ne any Lake, that seems most still and slowe,", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "Ne Poole so small, that can his smoothnesse holde", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "When any winde doth under heaven blowe;", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "With which the clouds are also tost and roll’d,", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "Now like great Hills, and streight like sluces them unfold.", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "“So likewise are all watry living wights", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Still tost and turned with continuall change,", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "Never abiding in their stedfast plights:", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "The fish, still floting, doe at random range,", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "And never rest, but evermore exchange", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "Their dwelling places, as the streames them carrie:", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "Ne have the watry foules a certaine grange", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "Wherein to rest, ne in one stead do tarry;", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "But flitting still doe flie, and still their places vary.", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "“Next is the Ayre; which who feeles not by sense", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "(For of all sense it is the middle meane)", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "To flit still, and with subtill influence", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "Of his thin spirit all creatures to maintaine", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "In state of life? O weake life! that does leane", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "On thing so tickle as th’unsteady ayre,", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "Which every howre is chang’d and altred cleane", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "With every blast that bloweth, fowle or faire:", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "The faire doth it prolong; the fowle doth it impaire.", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "“Therein the changes infinite beholde,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Which to her creatures every minute chaunce;", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "Now boyling hot, streight friezing deadly cold;", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "Now faire sunshine, that makes all skip and daunce;", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "Streight bitter stormes, and balefull countenance", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "That makes them all to shiver and to shake:", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "Rayne, haile, and snowe do pay them sad penance,", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "And dreadfull thunder-claps (that make them quake)", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "With flames and flashing lights that thousand changes make.", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "“Last is the fire; which, though it live for ever,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Ne can be quenched quite, yet every day", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "We see his parts, so soone as they do sever,", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "To lose their heat and shortly to decay;", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "So makes himself his owne consuming pray:", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "Ne any living creatures doth he breed,", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "But all that are of others bredd doth slay;", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "And with their death his cruell life dooth feed;", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "Nought leaving but their barren ashes without seede.", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "“Thus all these fower (the which the groundwork bee", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Of all the world and of all living wights)", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "To thousand sorts of Change we subject see:", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "Yet are they chang’d (by other wondrous slights)", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "Into themselves, and lose their native mights;", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "The Fire to Ayre, and th’Ayre to Water sheere,", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "And Water into Earth; yet Water fights", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "With Fire, and Ayre with Earth, approaching neere:", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "Yet all are in one body, and as one appeare.", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "“So in them all raignes Mutabilitie;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "However these, that Gods themselves do call,", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "Of them do claime the rule and soverainty;", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "As Vesta, of the fire asthereall;", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "Vulcan, of this with us so usuall;", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "Ops, of the earth; and Juno, of the ayre;", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "Neptune, of seas; and Nymphes, of Rivers all:", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "For all those Rivers to me subject are,", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "And all the rest, which they usurp, be all my share.", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "“Which to approven true, as I have told,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Vouchsafe, O Goddesse! to thy presence call", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "The rest which doe the world in being hold;", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "As times and seasons of the yeare that fall:", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "Of all the which demand in generall,", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "Or judge thyselfe, by verdit of thine eye,", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "Whether to me they are not subject all.”", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "Nature did yeeld thereto; and by-and-by", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "Bade Order call them all before her Majesty.", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "So forth issew’d the Seasons of the yeare.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "First, lusty Spring, all dight in leaves of flowres", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "That freshly budded and new bloosmes did beare,", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "(In which a thousand birds had built their bowres", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "That sweetly sung to call forth Paramours)", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "And in his hand a javelin he did beare,", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "And on his head (as fit for warlike stoures)", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "A guilt engraven morion he did weare;", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "That as some did him love, so others did him feare.", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "Then came the jolly Sommer, being dight", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "In a thin silken cassock coloured greene,", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "That was unlyned all, to be more light;", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "And on his head a girlond well beseene", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "He wore, from which, as he had chauffed been,", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "The sweat did drop; and in his hand he bore", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "A boawe and shaftes, as he in forrest greene", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "Had hunted late the Libbard or the Bore,", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "And now would bathe his limbes with labor heated sore.", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "Then came the Autumne all in yellow clad,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "As though he joyed in his plentious store,", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "Laden with fruits that made him laugh, full glad", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "That he had banisht hunger, which tofore", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "Had by the belly oft him pinched sore:", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "Upon his head a wreath, that was enrold", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "With ears of corne of every sort, he bore;", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "And in his hand a sickle he did holde,", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "To reape the ripened fruits the which the earth had yold.", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "Lastly, came Winter cloathed all in frize,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Chattering his teeth for cold that did him chill;", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "Whil’st on his hoary beard his breath did freese,", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "And the dull drops, that from his purpled bill", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "As from a limbeck did adown distill.", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "In his right hand a tipped staffe he held,", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "With which his feeble steps he stayed still;", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "For he was faint with cold, and weak with eld,", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "That scarse his loosed limbes he hable was to weld.", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "These, marching softly, thus in order went;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And after them the Monthes all riding came.", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "First, sturdy March, with brows full sternly bent", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "And armed strongly, rode upon a Ram,", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "The same which over Hellespontus swam;", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "Yet in his hand a spade he also hent,", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "And in a bag all sorts of seeds ysame,", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "Which on the earth he strowed as he went,", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "And fild her wombe with fruitfull hope of nourishment.", "indent": 1 } ], [ { "text": "Next came fresh Aprill, full of lustyhed,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And wanton as a Kid whose home new buds:", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "Upon a Bull he rode, the same which led", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "Europa floting through th’Argolick fluds:", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "His hornes were gilden all with golden studs,", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "And garnished with garlonds goodly dight", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "Of all the fairest flowres and freshest buds", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "Which th’earth brings forth; and wet he seem’d in sight", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "With waves, through which he waded for his loves delight.", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "Then came faire May, the fayrest mayd on ground,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Deckt all with dainties of her seasons pryde,", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "And throwing flowres out of her lap around:", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "Upon two brethrens shoulders she did ride,", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "The twinnes of Leda; which on eyther side", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "Supported her like to their soveraigne Queene:", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "Lord! how all creatures laught when her they spide", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "And leapt and daunc’t as they had ravisht beene!", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "And Cupid selfe about her fluttred all in greene.", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "And after her came jolly June, arrayd", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "All in greene leaves, as he a Player were;", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "Yet in his time he wrought as well as playd,", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "That by his plough-yrons mote right well appeare.", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "Upon a Crab he rode, that him did beare", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "With crooked crawling steps an uncouth pase,", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "And backward yode, as Bargemen wont to fare", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "Bending their force contrary to their face;", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "Like that ungracious crew which faines demurest grace.", "indent": 1 } ], [ { "text": "Then came hot July boyling like to fire,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "That all his garments he had cast away.", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "Upon a Lyon raging yet with ire", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "He boldly rode, and made him to obay:", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "It was the beast that whylome did forray", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "The Nemæan forrest, till th’Amphytrionide", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "Him slew, and with his hide did him array.", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "Behinde his back a sithe, and by his side", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "Under his belt he bore a sickle circling wide.", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "The sixt was August, being rich arrayd", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "In garment all of gold downe to the ground;", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "Yet rode he not, but led a lovely Mayd", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "Forth by the lilly hand, the which was cround", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "With cares of corne, and full her hand was found:", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "That was the righteous Virgin, which of old", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "Liv’d here on earth, and plenty made abound;", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "But after Wrong was lov’d, and Justice solde,", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "She left th’unrighteous world, and was to heaven extold.", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "Next him September marched, eeke on foote,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Yet was he heavy laden with the spoyle", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "Of harvests riches, which he made his boot,", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "And him enricht with bounty of the soyle:", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "In his one hand, as fit for harvests toyle,", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "He held a knife-hook; and in th’other hand", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "A paire of waights, with which he did assoyle", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "Both more and lesse, where it in doubt did stand,", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "And equall gave to each as Justice duly scann’d.", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "Then came October full of merry glee;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "For yet his noule was totty of the must,", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "Which he was treading in the wine-fats see,", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "And of the joyous oyle, whose gentle gust", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "Made him so frollick and so full of lust:", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "Upon a dreadfull Scorpion he did ride,", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "The same which by Dianaes doom unjust", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "Slew great Orion; and eeke by his side", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "He had his ploughing-share and coulter ready tyde.", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "Next was November; he full grosse and fat", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "As fed with lard, and that right well might seeme;", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "For he had been a fatting hogs of late,", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "That yet his browes with sweat did reek and steem,", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "And yet the season was full sharp and breem:", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "In planting eeke he took no small delight.", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "Whereon he rode not easie was to deeme;", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "For it a dreadfull Centaure was in sight,", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "The seed of Saturne and faire Nais, Chiron hight.", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "And after him came next the chill December:", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Yet he, through merry feasting which he made", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "And great bonfires, did not the cold remember;", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "His Saviour’s birth his mind so much did glad.", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "Upon a shaggy-bearded Goat he rode,", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "The same wherewith Dan Jove in tender yeares,", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "They say, was nourisht by th’Idæan mayd;", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "And in his hand a broad deepe boawle he beares,", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "Of which he freely drinks an health to all his peeres.", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "Then came old January, wrapped well", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "In many weeds to keep the cold away;", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "Yet did he quake and quiver, like to quell,", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "And blowe his nayles to warme them if he may;", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "For they were numbd with holding all the day", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "An hatchet keene, with which he felled wood", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "And from the trees did lop the needlesse spray:", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "Upon an huge great Earth-pot steane he stood,", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "From whose wide mouth there flowed forth the Romane Flood.", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "And lastly came cold February, sitting", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "In an old wagon, for he could not ride,", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "Drawne of two fishes, for the season fitting,", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "Which through the flood before did softly slyde", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "And swim away: yet had he by his side", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "His plough and harnesse fit to till the ground,", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "And tooles to prune the trees, before the pride", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "Of hasting Prime did make them burgein round.", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "So past the twelve Months forth, and their dew places found.", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "And after these there came the Day and Night,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Riding together both with equall pase,", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "Th’one on a Palfrey blacke, the other white;", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "But Night had covered her uncomely face", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "With a blacke veile, and held in hand a mace,", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "On top whereof the moon and stars were pight;", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "And sleep and darknesse round about did trace:", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "But Day did beare upon his scepters hight", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "The goodly Sun encompast all with beames bright.", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "Then came the Howres, faire daughters of high Jove", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Night; the which were all endewed", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "With wondrous beauty fit to kindle love;", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "But they were virgins all, and love eschewed", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "That might forslack the charge to them foreshewed", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "By mighty Jove; who did them porters make", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "Of heavens gate (whence all the gods issued)", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "Which they did daily watch, and nightly wake", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "By even turnes, ne ever did their charge forsake.", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "And after all came Life, and lastly Death;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Death with most grim and griesly visage seene,", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "Yet is he nought but parting of the breath;", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "Ne ought to see, but like a shade to weene,", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "Unbodied, unsoul’d, unheard, unseene:", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "But Life was like a faire young lusty boy,", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "Such as they faine Dan Cupid to have beene,", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "Full of delightfull health and lively joy,", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "Deckt all with flowres, and wings of gold fit to employ.", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "When these were past, thus gan the Titanesse:", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "“Lo! mighty mother, now be judge, and say", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "Whether in all thy creatures more or lesse", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "Change doth not raign and bear the greatest sway;", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "For who sees not that Time on all doth pray?", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "But Times do change and move continually:", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "So nothing heere long standeth in one stay:", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "Wherefore this lower world who can deny", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "But to be subject still to Mutability?”", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "Then thus gan Jove: “Right true it is, that these", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And all things else that under heaven dwell", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "Are chaung’d of Time, who doth them all disseise", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "Of being: But who is it (to me tell)", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "That Time himselfe doth move, and still compell", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "To keepe his course? Is not that namely wee", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "Which poure that vertue from our heavenly cell", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "That moves them all, and makes them changed be?", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "So them we gods do rule, and in them also thee.", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "To whom thus Mutability: “The things,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Which we see not how they are mov’d and swayd", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "Ye may attribute to your selves as Kings,", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "And say, they by your secret powre are made:", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "But what we see not, who shall us perswade?", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "But were they so, as ye them faine to be,", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "Mov’d by your might and ordered by your ayde,", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "Yet what if I can prove, that even yee", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "Your selves are likewise chang’d, and subject unto mee?", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "“And first, concerning her that is the first,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Even you, faire Cynthia; whom so much ye make", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "Joves dearest darling, she was bred and nurst", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "On Cynthus hill, whence she her name did take;", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "Then is she mortall borne, how-so ye crake:", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "Besides, her face and countenance every day", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "We changed see and sundry formes partake,", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "Now hornd, now round, now bright, now browne and gray;", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "So that ‘as changefull as the Moone’ men use to say.", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "“Next Mercury; who though he lesse appeare", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "To change his hew, and alwayes seeme as one,", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "Yet he his course doth alter every yeare,", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "And is of late far out of order gone.", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "So Venus eeke, that goodly Paragone,", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "Though faire all night, yet is she darke all day:", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "And Phœbus selfe, who lightsome is alone,", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "Yet is he oft eclipsed by the way,", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "And fills the darkned world with terror and dismay.", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "“Now Mars, that valiant man, is changed most;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "For he sometimes so far runnes out of square,", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "That he his way doth seem quite to have lost,", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "And cleane without his usuall spheere to fare;", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "That even these Star-gazers stonisht are", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "At sight thereof, and damne their lying bookes:", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "So likewise grim Sir Saturne oft doth spare", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "His sterne aspect, and calme his crabbed lookes.", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "So many turning cranks these have, so many crookes.", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "“But you, Dan Jove, that only constant are,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And King of all the rest, as ye doe clame,", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "Are you not subjedt eeke to this misfare?", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "Then, let me aske you this withouten blame;", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "Where were ye borne? Some say in Crete by name,", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "Others in Thebes, and others otherwhere;", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "But, wheresoever they comment the same,", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "They all consent that ye begotten were", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "And borne here in this world; ne other can appeare.", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "“Then are ye mortall borne, and thrall to me", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Unlesse the kingdome of the sky yee make", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "Immortall and unchangeable to be:", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "Besides, that power and vertue which ye spake,", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "That ye here worke, doth many changes take,", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "And your owne natures change; for each of you,", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "That vertue have or this or that to make,", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "Is checkt and changed from his nature trew,", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "By others opposition or obliquid view.", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "“Besides, the sundry motions of your Spheares,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "So sundry wayes and fashions as clerkes faine,", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "Some in short space, and some in longer yeares,", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "What is the same but alteration plaine?", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "Onely the starry skie doth still remaine:", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "Yet do the Starres and Signes therein still move,", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "And even itselfe is mov’d, as wizards saine:", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "But all that moveth doth mutation love;", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "Therefore both you and them to me I subject prove.", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "“Then, since within this wide great Universe", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Nothing doth firme and permanent appeare,", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "But all things tost and turned by transverse,", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "What then should let, but I aloft should reare", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "My Trophee, and from all the triumph beare?", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "Now judge then, (O thou greatest goddesse trew)", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "According as thy selfe doest see and heare,", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "And unto me addoom that is my dew;", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "That is, the rule of all, all being rul’d by you.”", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "So having ended, silence long ensewed;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Nature to or fro spake for a space,", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "But with firme eyes affixt the ground still viewed.", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "Meane-while all creatures, looking in her face,", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "Expecting th’end of this so doubtfull case,", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "Did hang in long suspence what would ensew,", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "To whether side should fall the soveraine place:", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "At length she, looking up with chearefull view,", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "The silence brake, and gave her doome in speeches few.", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "“I well consider all that ye have said,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And find that all things stedfastnesse do hate", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "And changed be; yet, being rightly wayd,", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "They are not changed from their first estate;", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "But by their change their being do dilate,", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "And turning to themselves at length againe,", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "Do worke their owne perfection so by fate:", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "Then over them Change doth not rule and raigne,", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "But they raigne over Change, and do their states maintaine.", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "“Cease therefore, daughter, further to aspire,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And thee content thus to be rul’d by mee,", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "For thy decay thou seekst by thy desire;", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "But time shall come that all shall changed bee,", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "And from thenceforth none no more change shal see.”", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "So was the Titanesse put downe and whist,", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "And Jove confirm’d in his imperiall see.", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "Then was that whole assembly quite dismist,", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "And Natur’s selfe did vanish, whither no man wist.", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "When I bethink me, on that speech whyleare", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Of Mutabilitie, and well it way:", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "Me seemes, that though she all unworthy were", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "Of the heav’ns rule; yet, very sooth to say,", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "In all things else she bears the greatest sway.", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "Which makes me loath this state of life so tickle,", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "And love of things so vaine to cast away;", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "Whose flowring pride, so fading and so fickle,", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "Short Time shall soon cut down with his consuming sickle.", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "Then gin I thihke on that which Nature said,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Of that same time when no more Chance shall be", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "But stedfast rest of all things, firmly stayd", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "Upon the Pillours of Eternity,", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "That is contrayr, to Mutabilitie:", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "For all that moveth doth in Change delight:", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "But thenceforth all shall rest eternally", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "With Him that is the God of Sabaoth hight:", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "O that great Sabaoth God, grant me that sabaoths sight.", "indent": 0 } ] ] }