THE Excellent Historye of Theseus and Ariadne.

Wherein is declared her fer­uent loue to hym: and his Tray­terous dealynge towarde her: Written in English Meeter in Cōmendacion of all good women: and to the Infamie of suche lyght Huswyues as Phe­dra the sister of Ariadne was: which fled away w t The­seus her Sisters Hus­bande: as is decla­red in this History.

By Thomas Vnderdowne.

Imprinted at London by Rycharde Iohnes: and are to be sold at his Shop, ioynyng to the Southwest Doore of Paules Churche.

1566, 28. of Ianuarie.

[...]

¶The Preface to the Reader.

SEynge the pricke where­vnto the Lyne of oure lyfe guydeth vs, is knowledg of thynges wherof we are ig­norant: & that of all know­ledges, none is more estimable or worthy for those that acknowledge them selues by the names of men, then the Science of the Natures and qualyties of thynges: and of Natures, the best & moste excellent is the acquaintaunce with Mankind, and knowledge of his con­dicions. I haue thought it good (gentell Reader) to set before thyne eyes Thistorie of Theseus & Aryadne: the whiche, though the Style and Meetre be to base for so per­fyte a Paterne of so many thynges: yet by the perswasions & earnest request of diuers and those my verye frendes, I haue gyuen it thee: wherin thou maiste beholde, as in a Glasse almoste all maner of dealynges for sundry kindes of purposes. As if thou seeke for true loue, looke vpon Ariadne: who ad­uētured her fame, body & goods to go with Theseus. If thou seeke for good counsell, [Page] howe to eschewe the blasynge brandes of the fyerye flames of loue, see Phedra. If Crafte, Dissimulacion, Perfidye, Periu­rye, or forgetfulnes of good turnes: behold Theseus. If thou craue an Example of vnnaturall lust, lechery: or as I mought say, incest: let Phedra come before thyne eyes: who hauynge no respect to honestie, fame, ire of the Goddes, nor kynred: entysed the vnconstant Theseus to forsake her Sister, and loue her. Certaynly in that she was a woman, she deserued pardon: but in that shee was a Sister, shee deserued perpetuall ignomynie and euerlastynge shame & dis­honour. And seynge the Sister maye not truste her Sister, sithe bothe came oute of one belye, and sucked of one pappes: what other wyll be so mad, or so muche without reason as to trust a woman? whose disho­nest partes haue hitherto, and yet do so properlye playe their Pageantes, as no tonge can tell, no Pen can wryte, nor any harte comprehende: I wyll not that any honest and vertuous Woman be towched with that I mynde to saye: but they onely who in readynge hereof, shall by anye meanes fynde them selues agreeued. And I wyll touche no poynt, but onelye Beautie.

For yf I shoulde saye, what I haue seene, reade and harde, a yeare were to lytell to tell of their trickes.

Assuredly, he that desyreth a fayre woman armeth him selfe to a right great and dan­gerous aduenture: and why? a fayre wo­man is nothynge but a gasynge stocke of ydell folkes: an earelye wakynge for them that bee lyghte: and she that is desired for her Beautie in her youthe, maye hope too haue but a sorye lyfe in her age.

An infallyble Rule it is, that shee that is desyred for her fayrenesse, is hated for her sowlenesse: and Beautie of trouthe is not perpetuall, but fadeth as the flowers and greene grasse. Also he that hathe a fayre woman must suffre her pryde: for Beautie and Pryde go alwaye together. Also hee must suffre her expences: for beautie in the face, and folye in the head, be two wormes that fret the lyfe, and consume the goodes. Also hee must suffre her Ryotes: for a faire woman wyll, that none but shee haue her commaundementes in the Howse.

Also bee muste suffre her nyce Mynions: for a fayre woman wyll passe her time in pleasures. Also hee muste suffre her Presumption: for euerye fyne and [Page] fayre womā wyll haue preeminence before all other: & at a worde, he that hath a fayre woman is apparelde with as great peryll as euer was Cartha with Scipio, Ierusa­lem with Titus, or Rome with Brennus: No man complayneth that the Goddes a­mong his destenies haue giuen him a foule wife: let euery man chuse as him lyst. The noble Armynus of Carthage for the space of fourescore yeres wherin he ruled the cō ­mon wealth there, was as straunge to wo­men, as famyliar to his Bookes. And this age passed, his frendes desired him instant­lye to take a wyfe, that the memorye of so perfyte a wyse man might remayne to the posterytie: and the more earnest they were, the more he resisted & sayd: If she be fowle, I shall abhorre her: if she be fayre, I must take hede to her: if she be ryche, I must suf­fer her: if she be poore, I must mayntayne her: if she be a shrew, I can not forbere her: and the least plague of these is sufficient to slaye a. M. men. But let vs see how they of olde tyme passed their dayes, & let vs con­sider whither the Grafts that were slipped from these trees, be any whyt degenerated from the olde stocke. Myrrha lay with her father. Byblys caused her brother Cannus [Page] for vniuste and vnnaturall lust to be bany­shed. Medea slewe her Brother Absyrtus, therby to scape her fathers danger▪ & folow Iason into Grece: and this our Phedra left her sister in a vast forest a pray to the fierce and cruel Beastes, and ran away with her Husbande. I speake not of any light fault, but of suche, wherby the fawties haue got­ten them no lesse reproch in their time, thē shame with vs by beynge Examples of so filthy factes. As for those that lyue nowe with vs I feare me, thei shalbe as yll reported of tyme to come, as they be hated nowe with wise and auncient men: their lookes be so loftie, their gate so stately, their apparell so disguised, their courage so hawtye, that you may muse to here of their maners gestures and behauiours, no lesse then thei were Monsters, or thinges wherin Nature eyther had erred, or woulde not shewe her force. And where in time passed, all that was done otherwyse then honestie permit­ted was done very secretely. Now (I know no cause why) they that be dyffamed do as muche reioyce in their naughtines, as they aforetime were ashamed of their misdedes: I can alledge no reason why suche thyngs shoulde come to passe nowe, rather then in [Page] tymes paste: but that oure women lyue so yedellye, that they eschewe all honeste laboure, and whollye addicte them selues to vnhonest ydlenesse. For this is certaine: where the handes is occupyed: there, the harte muste needes do somwhat: and if I saye not true, let any man alleadge when euer there were moe ydell Women in the whole worlde, then is nowe in the small Circuit of Englande. I reade, howe di­uers haue ben cōmended for kepynge them selues close in their Howses, vsynge them selues discretelye with companye: mode­ratelye with their Housholde: decentlye with their Husbandes. But neuer was any lauded, for leadynge of an ydell lyfe. You ydle Dames whersoeuer you be, tell me I praye you? what was the cause that Penelope was so muche honoured in her tyme, and left eternal memorie of her good renowne to vs after her death? What trade of lyfe led shee when Vlysses was at the Siege of Troye? shee beynge a Quene dyd paynfullye spyn and keepe her howse, and for all the knot of gentell Woers that she had, she neuer left her worke to dallye and toye with them, thoughe her Husband were awaye .xx. yeares? What dyd the [Page] wicked Torquyne fynde the good Ladye Lucres doynge when he came to rauysshe her? If ye knowe not (O ye amorous La­dyes to you I speake) I wyll tell you: shee sat spynnyge with her Maydes: and beyng deflowred: shee neither gaue Torquyne thankes for his good wyll, nor reward for his paynes, but flewe her selfe, because her Husbandes bedde was defyled. Let these to Ladyes be Examples, to you (O ye La­dyes enamorous) howe you shall occupye your selues in your Howses: they were no vyle women, for the firste was Quene of Ithaca, thother a Consuls wyfe of Rome. But I suppose you cannot away with spinnynge, for that vtterlye taketh awaye all vayne thoughtes, and occupyeth the minde with honest studyes: for all the Senses be moued by it: the eyes with seyeng that the threde be well twyned: the eares with hea­rynge the sownde of the wheele: the hands with turnyng it aboute, so that no place is voyde of doing somwhat: wherby no yl can tary or raigne in y e hart: thus much I haue said because Ariadnes idlenes caused al her griefe: for if she had not bē idle, she had not gone out of her chamber: if she had not gon out of her chamber, she had not come to the [Page] Laberynthe wherein Theseus was: if shee had not gone to the Laberynthe, she hadde not hard his complaint: if she had not hard his complaint, she had not loued him: if she had not loued him, she had ben safe frō the chaunce whiche happened to her: as in the Historye shalbe declared. Ydlenes is ther­fore the ground of all vice, & ouerthroweth quyte all the foundations of Vertue. But as I haue said of these two, I might speake of many mo: but this is ynough if it be wel vnderstanded. But to leaue this, and come to the Historye agayne, from the whiche I haue a lytle dygressed: if thou looke for an example of paynfulnes, take them all, and thynke with howe great paines they slewe and subdued the fel Monster Mynotaurus: If thou desire to here of vnmercyfulnes of Parentes, cast thou eyes to Theseus, who lost his father Egeus through his defaut. But because it is but lytle touched in this Historye, I wyll pretermyt that: Yf myse­rye, call to mynde Aryadne left in the wil­dernesse: and to be short of all vnhappynes let her be a Paterne. I might apply eche of these to diuers other cōmen places: but thē I should make my Entry greater then my whole Howse. I wyll therfore leue the rest [Page] to be scanned of thee (gentle Reader) & if I shal perceiue that this is welcome to thee, hereafter as occasion shall serue, thou shalt encourage me to do the more: Thus ho­pynge that thou wilte take in good parte whatsoeuer is said herein, I byd thee fare­well: desirynge thee if oughte bee amysse, frendlye to correcte it, or gentlye to admo­nysshe mee therof. Farewell.

¶A Rule for Women to brynge vp their Daughters.

YE Mothers that your Daughters wyll
brynge vp and nurture well:
These Rules do keepe, & them obserue,
Whiche I shall here nowe tell.
¶If they wyll go or gad abrode,
their legges let broken bee:
Put out their eyes if they wyll looke
or gase vndecentlye.
¶If they their eares wyll gyue to bark
what other men do saye:
Stoppe them vp quyte, if geue or take,
then cut their handes awaye.
¶If they dare lyghtly vse to talke,
their lyppes together sowe:
If they wyll ought lyghtly entende,
lette Grasse vpon them growe.
¶And at a worde, if she be yll,
let her yll aunswers haue:
And for her dower geue sharpe wordes
and for her house a graue.
¶Therfore ye Mothers, if ye vse
and kepe my Rules in mynde:
Daughters you shall haue none at all,
or those of Phenyx kynde.
¶Finis.

¶The Historie of Theseus and Ariadne.

THere dwelt somtyme in Crete a kyng;
that mightie Minos hight:
Who had to wife Pasiphae,
a passyng wylye wight.
This carefull Quene bewayled sore,
her husbandes absence longe:
She did lament with pensiue thought.
her iniurie and wronge.
And moste for that dame Venus sport
she wanted suche a space:
There was no man in all her Court,
that could deserue her grace.
They were eche one to base of bloud,
or of to lowe degree:
As that they might obtayne or haue
so peerelesse a Ladie.
And why? she did mutche more esteeme
her honour and her fame:
Then that she list to hasard them,
with sutche reproche and shame.
Thus did therfore her broylyng breast,
inuent to put in vre:
Least that her ardent secrete flames,
shuld not be kept in sure.
A Cowe of wodde for to be made,
shee did therfore deuise:
Compacte with connyng handycrafte,
and perfite Artifice.
For Dedalus the Carpenter,
did frame it in sutche sorte:
As it once seene, you would in dede,
a very Cowe reporte.
For it one were within the wood,
the gynnes were trimmed so,
That if they were pluckt aright,
the Cowe would walke or go.
This worke when it was finisshed,
the quene for her solace,
would oftimes get into the same,
and sitte in it a space.
Tyl that the Gynnes she could once turne
and rule them as she lyst:
Then she to worke her wanton wyll,
begyns as she thynkes best.
Somtymes she goes, somtimes she ronnes
somtymes she lyeth styll:
And finally she doth eche thynge,
that pleases her wicked wyll.
Then smellynge oyntments doth she take
and doth annoynt this Cowe:
For to prouoke the boysterous Bull,
as women knowe well howe.
This done she goeth into the same,
the Bull also is brought:
And there betwixt the Bull and Cowe
is pretie pastime wrought.
Pasiphae thus hath her wyll,
except I be beguylde:
Soone after this congresse was done,
the Quene was founde with childe,
Shortlye after, the kynge retournde
and did lye by this quene,
And she was great of kynge and Bull,
at once, as then was seene.
For when she should be brought to bed,
came foorth a Monster fell:
That had both shape of man and beast
as auncient Stories tell.
The Fame of this deformed Beast
harde Countreies neare and farre,
And for bycause two formes he had,
men called him Mynotare.
This furyous Feende, this hungry thing
would eate nought els but men,
Wherfore from all the sorye Landes,
that Mynes conquerd then.
There cōmeth many men by lotte,
this hungrye Beast to feede,
And howe they speede for to reherse,
ywys it is no neede.
Till at the last noble Theseus,
Good king Egeus sonne:
Who for his sake from Turrets top,
In sea headlong did ronne.
Came into Crete to Laberynthe,
Wherin this monster was:
There for to ende his gloryous lyfe,
from wealth to woe to passe:
Where he once put with clamours huge,
gan to extoll his crye:
Bewaylyng muche his fatall fall,
and present myserye.
With these, or other suche lyke wordes,
he did begin his mone:
Salted with sighes and bytter teares,
he was so woe begone.
What do auayle my warlyke prowesse,
my strength and hautie hart:
They can not in this seoberdye,
at all releas my smarte.
Ah wretche full of calamytie,
alas what hap haue I?
In Crete thus in the Laberynthe,
in pryson stronge to dye.
Why dyd I not submytte my selfe,
to Tygres tirranye?
Or rampynge Lyons dagynge teeth,
or ennemies crueltie.
Why dyd not Giaunts me subdue?
or Wolues in wyldernes:
or Serpentes stynge in tyme tofore,
ryd me from this distresse.
Why didst not thou Hippolite,
thyne ennemie ouerthrowe:
Whiche nowe is in extremetie,
in myserie and woe?
Why didst thou not threeheaded Dog,
thou Porter of Hell gate:
Destroye me quite, when I did thee
so cruellye assaute?
Why did I not some poyson take,
to ryd me of my lyfe:
Why did not cruell dynt of sworde,
stynt all this hatefull strife?
Oh all ye Gods that all thyngs guyde,
whom men do gentell call:
Why do ye not pety my griefe,
and rayse me from this fall.
Remember me whom ye haue made,
a kynges sonne lo I am:
In warlyke force and hardines,
surmountynge euery man.
In flower of youthe without redresse,
Oh cruell Destenie:
Do lye in feare, alas the whyle,
lookynge when I must dye.
My weapons all are raught from me,
wherwith I me defende:
Well, weale awaye, I saye no more,
but thus wyll make an ende.
This sayd, the bytter teares and sighes,
his senses do oppresse:
So that ye neuer sawe a man,
in so mutche heauynesse.
All this complaynt and wofull crye,
kynge Mynos Daughters harde:
And were in mynde, if that they might,
to take him out of warde.
And therof spake thelder mayde,
vnto her sister deare:
Doste thou not here this man quoth she,
that makes this ruthefull cheare?
I beare quoth she, and do bewayle
this wofull wretches case:
What shall we do to helpe alas,
we haue no tyme nor space?
Well, well: quoth Ariadne thoe,
(that was the Elders name:)
I wyll prouyde some spedye helpe,
come what wyll of the same.
And thou my sister Phedra deare,
assist me as thou can:
For I must either die therfore,
or els enioye this man.
For I do loue with suche a zeale,
and with so feruent loue:
That I can not abyde suche flames,
I sweare by the Gods aboue.
This sayd: the yonger sister saide,
alas what wilt thou do?
Oh sister deare, nowe rule thy selfe,
and let suche folye goe.
Remember thou kynge Mynos wrathe,
remember thyne owne fame:
And how the worlde wyll speake of thee
both vyllanie and shame.
Oh canst thou not content thy selfe,
with thyne happye state?
Why wilt thou cast awaye thy selfe?
why dost thou thy wealth hate?
Dost thou not knowe that no Realme is
safe from kynge Mynos sight?
Dost thou not know that all the world,
is subiect to his might.
Whiche way wilt thou thy selfe conuay
where he shall not thee finde?
Therfore let this thy folye go
and put it out of mynde.
Dost thou not know y e kyngs are wonte
longe handes to exercise?
Dost thou not know that kyngs are said
that they haue Lynres eyes.
Dost thou not knowe that Mynos is
of nature very fell?
Thou knowest all his qualyties,
I neade them not thee tell.
But put the case thou haue thy wyll,
marke well what I thee saye:
He wyll at length forsake thee quite,
and cast thee cleane awaye.
Example take by Sylla fayre,
kynge Nysus Daughter deare,
Who vpon promysse made to her,
by Mynos kynge or sier.
Who promysed to cary her
with hym into his lande:
If that she woulde her father geue,
and Citie to his hande.
She did with haste and dilygence,
perfourme his whole request:
But he alas vnto her payne,
did frustrat his behest.
Did not Medea by her meanes,
yonge Iasons lyfe preserue:
What curtesye and gentlenes
did her good wyll deserue?
She kept hym safe from ennemies force,
from Dragons stynge also,
She slewe her Brother for his sake.
and with him she did go.
Yet he at length did cast her of,
suche is the Greekysh kynde:
And wilte thou nowe a Greeke beleue,
who hath bewitcht thy mynde?
Do thou therfore suche foolysshe toyes,
out of thy mynde let slyde:
And neuer let suche fancies force,
thy vnconstant head to guide.
This sayd, her sister wared redde,
and looked lowryngly:
As though that she displeased were,
yet kepte it secretly.
Least that her Syster shoulde disclose,
her pryuie enterpryse:
Whiche she wold not shuld come to pas
in any maner wyse.
And spake with silent voyce againe,
what panges of dolfulnesse
Do I susteyne? what weepynge wayles
can halfe ynoughe expresse?
The flames that I do hydden keepe
within my burnynge breast?
Oh sister deare assiste thou me,
that I maye get some rest.
I do not weye kynge Mynos wrathe,
I do it not regarde:
So that I maye my Theseeus
delyuer out of warde.
What do I care, what men do saye,
of mee, when I am gone:
So that I neuer here their talke,
and I shall leaue to mone.
And so should I be happy then,
whiche nowe vnhappy proue:
Then shuld I saue my selfe which now
do languysh, lost in loue.
I do not care for Mynos might,
as myghty men as he:
Haue mist their wyll of meaner men
then Theseus and mee.
I knowe that Mynos might is great,
yet loue is greater muche:
And suche as feare his Ire or wrath,
leaue of to loue let suche.
I knowe that kynges haue armes longe
and that they can see farre:
Yet Loue is farre without their reache:
they can not see so farre.
I knowe that Mynos is both fell,
and of great crueltie:
And if that he vs apprehende,
I knowe that we must dye.
But come or happe what wyll to mee,
I care not for his might:
For if that I might Theseus haue,
I were a blessed wight.
Thou oughtest not (sister) to compare
Mynos with Theseus:
The one is roughe and hastie both:
the other curteous.
I knowe not what yonge Iason was:
ne of what stocke he came:
But if he dyd, as you reporte,
he hath deserued blame.
But sure I am that Theseus,
his promys made, wyll keepe.
And I twyse happy should then be,
in his sweete armes to sleepe.
But I alone, do I, I saye
alone attempt by flight:
My loue to haue, and him enioye:
is this so straunge a sight?
Hath not such chaunces chaunced before
for Louers to haue ioye?
Did not Dame Helene companye,
sir Parys vnto Troye?
Did not trusty Theagenes,
conuaye Cariclea:
Vntyll they came with muche adoe,
to Ethiopia.
Where after many sturdye stormes,
and burnynge broylynge past:
They did enioye eche other bothe,
longe looked for at last.
I could reherse thee many moe,
if I had tyme and space:
But all to longe I feare alas
we tarye in this place.
These wordes did quayle her sister well
and foorth they go both two:
Vnto the Denne where Theseus was,
in myserye and wo.
They call the Porter vnto them,
and byd hym ope the doore:
And in they go together bothe
and stoode Theseus before.
And Ariadne spake to hym,
and said sir howe fare ye?
Alas Madame but yll quoth hee,
in this extremytie.
And in suche sorte they talke a whyle,
then did she speake agayne:
And would you gladly sir quoth shee,
be eased of this payne?
If you wyll promys mee one thynge,
and graunt mee my behest:
That when I shall desyre you,
you wyll graunt mee my request.
We wyll seeke meanes all that we may
for to delyuer you:
We wyll assiste you as we can,
this Monster to subdue.
When Theseus harde so ioyfull newes,
he fell vpon his knee:
And did request her of her ayde,
and that right spedelye.
And I quoth he, wyll all thynges do,
that you can me commande:
I wyll be yours, all that I haue
I put into your hande.
Therfore Madame, helpe me I praye,
that am your owne at wyll,
Loe I am yours at all assayes,
to saue, or els to spyll.
Therfore saye on Oh curteous Quene,
here saye what is your wyll:
Some seruyce do to mee commaunde,
and I wyll it fulfyll.
Nought els I wyll of thee quoth shee,
but that thou promys here:
That thou wilt carye vs with thee,
into thy countrey dere.
And that thou shalt mee take to wyfe,
and lyue with me for ay:
This sure, and thou delyuered,
shalt be this present daye.
Oh Ladye fayre, happye were I,
yea thryse happye I saye:
If you would mee accept your man,
and your seruaunte alwaye.
And as for Mariage, I suppose,
that you will not bestowe
your selfe on mee: whome here tofore,
you haue not seene ne knowe.
And as for me, I do confesse,
I am to base of blood:
As that I maye attayne vnto
so fayre a Queene and good.
Alas, what is poore Theseus?
what is Egeus sonne.
Whose fate is suche, that styll he must,
his myserie bemone.
But if you wyll vouchesafe taccepte
mee, for your man or slaue:
As I that in your mercye lyes,
either to lose or saue.
I were mutche bounde vnto your grace,
I were muche bounde I saye:
And I nowe am, and styll shalbe
your owne, at eche assaye.
Leaue of quoth she these words, & swere
I knowe well what thou arte:
Come of, and do as I request,
and ease my payne and smarte
And thou streyght waye shalbe exempte
from pryson and from warde:
Do as I saye, if thou hast ought
vpon thy selfe regarde.
Well than quoth he, sith me your make
you wyll vouchsafe to haue:
Whiche would be glad, if you so would
to be your page or slaue.
Marke well and harke what I wyll say,
myne aunswere thus shalbe,
Whiche I wyll styll auouche and keepe
what so betyde of me.
I sweare to you by all the Goddes,
and powers in heauens hye:
By all the spyrytes that hell do rule,
the earth and sterry skye.
That I wyll be your man and make,
both nowe and eke for aye:
Styll you to loue, and none but you,
if you saue me this daye.
And these also, that you do brynge,
I wyll them styll defende:
From tyme to tyme as nede shalbe,
vntyll my lyfe shall ende.
When in suche sorte his othe he made,
Oh Lorde howe glad was shee,
Her bloud did come, her hart did leape,
she gan to waxe merye.
Then by and by they take in hande,
this Monster for to kyll:
And Balles of Heere & Pitch they make
to gyue to hym his fyll.
None was so earnest in this worke,
none laboured so mutche:
As Arsadne did, as whome
these wisshed Ioyes did tutche.
And to be shorte, with trauell great,
and with great toyle and payne:
This disformed Beast, this Feend so fel
was murthered and slayne.
Then speede they make vnto their ships
whyle as it was yet daye,
And Phebe had not with her starres
chased the lyght awaye.
With haste they get a boorde eche one,
they labour all the nyght:
All do put to their helpynge handes,
to further this their flight.
Vntyll Aurora did them tell,
that Phebus was at hande:
And therby founde gesse that they
approched to some Lande.
In dede these Damselles could not well
abyde the ragynge Seas:
Therfore they labour to get lande,
theron them selues to ease.
And then aboute the tyme that Sole,
approched to the place:
Where from the hiest heauens toppe,
he shewes his shynyng face.
Thei leaue their ships, and find a Land
where pleasures do abounde:
Where they lye downe to take their rest
vpon that fruitfull grounde.
And those that sleepe did not oppresse,
they gather flowers gaye:
Or els did walke into the woods,
to dryue their cares awaye.
Nothynge there was in all the Lande,
that could not moue their spirites:
Their eyes, their eares and senses all,
moued them to braue delytes.
But Aryadne had good cause
not to haue slepte at all:
Although it were to her vnknowen,
what should to her befall.
For Theseus, Oh traytour lyke,
when she so surely slepte:
Awaye from her as secretelye
as he could, from her crepte.
He gathered his men to hym,
that wandred in the woode:
Were rangyng here, and walking there
as eche of them thought good.
And hastely they went aboorde,
and lancht into the deepe:
And left not one with her a shore,
where she alas did sleepe.
Forgettynge quyte her benefytes,
whiche she to hym had done:
And howe she had her countrey loste,
and parentes left eche one.
But so soone as she did awake,
and felt that he was gone:
She starteth vp, and stares aboute,
but men she seeth none.
She ronneth streight vnto the place,
where as the shyps did stande:
Where she a farre into the sea,
did looke from Naxus lande.
And when she had espyed the shyppes,
where they awaye did sayle.
She wept and wrange her hands apace
but what did teares auayle?
And so soone as her teares did cease,
amyd her myserye:
She dyd begyn with pyteous playnt
for to extoll her crye.
What tyme quod she, this Theseus
by cruell fates constraynt:
Within my father Mynos Realme,
did vtter his complaynt.
In daunger with dispayre,
a lothsome lyfe he led:
With scaldyng sighes and bytter teares
desyrynge to be deade.
But I poore wretche, alas I dyd
laye playsters to his sore:
That he had neuer after cause,
to weepe or wayle no more.
I dyd repayre his crased shyppes,
I dyd him treasure gyue:
I dyd my selfe bequeath to hym,
styll with hym for to lyue.
I bancketted this Traytours men,
I vittayled them with store:
I shewed them suche pleasure, as
they neuer had before.
I dyd my loued countrey lothe,
my parentes I forsooke:
To go with hym vnto his land,
all paynes I vndertooke.
And he lykewyse dyd swere to mee,
by Goddes and heauens hye:
That he alwayes wolde be my man,
with me to lyue and dye.
Yet be my merytes dothe,
with falshed recompence:
Whiche loue and loyaltie he doth
dispytefullye dispence.
Amyd a Forest wylde and wyde,
for Beares or Wolues a pray
He leaueth me a sleepe, and he
falsely doth go his waye.
His trustlesse trueth, his treason tryed,
his fayth, his falshed founde:
And I a wofull wretche in care,
as any on the grounde.
To you ye Goddes, I do complayne,
to you this tale I tell:
Sithe y t he hath your names blasphemd
that he may hange in hell.
Reuenge my cause, sithe none but you
my whole estate do knowe:
That you be Goddes, and wyll reuenge
to Theseus do showe.
And you also that here of mee,
that be of Iudgement pure:
Beware to fisshe in Fancies floud,
or els to drowne be sure.
Beware, be wyse, example take,
by Ariadnes payne:
Whiche helpyng hym who helples was
she helples doth remayne.
This sayd: the Goddes did her translate
into the starrye skye:
And gaue her place amonge the starres,
where she shall neuer die.
FINIS.
Th. Vn.

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