ABSTRACT
Within a while. Ye doe to me the highest great good turne That can be, if you bring to passe I may my sister see. Immediately the King commaundes his shippes a flote to bee. And shortly after, what with sayle and what with force of Ores, In Athens haven he arrives and landes at Pyrey 1 shores. Assoone as of his fathrinlaw the presence he obtainde, And had of him bene courteously and friendly entertainde, Unhappie handsell entred with their talking first togither. The errandes of his wife the cause of his then comming thither He had but new begon to tell, and promised that when She had hir sister seene, she should with speede be sent agen: When (see the chaunce) came Philomele in raiment very rich, And yet in beautie farre more rich, even like the Fairies which Reported are the pleasant woods and water springs to haunt, So that the like apparell and attire to them you graunt. King Tereus at the sight ofhir did burne in his desire, As if a man should chaunce to set a gulfe of corne on fire, Or burne a stacke of hay. Hir face in deede deserved love.} But as for him, to fleshy lust even nature him did move. For of those countries commonly the people are above All measure prone to lecherie. And therefore both by kinde His flame encreast, and by his owne default of vicious minde. He purposde fully to corrupt hir servants with reward: Or for to bribe hir Nurce, that she should slenderly regard Hir dutie to hir mistresseward. And rather then to fayle, The Ladie even hirselfe with giftes he minded to assayle, And all his kingdome for to spend: or else by force of hand To take hir, and in maintenance thereof by sword to stand. There was not under heaven the thing but that he durst it
prove, So far unable was he now to stay his lawlesse love. Delay was deadly: Backe againe with greedie minde
to frame His talke at will. As oft as he demaunded out of square, Upon his wives importunate desire himselfe he bare. He also wept: as though his wife had willed that likewise. o God, what blindnesse doth the heartes of mortall men
disguise?
