Salmacis and Hermaphroditus

Salmacis and Hermaphroditus 1602 Quarto

Signature C

Salmacis and Hermaphroditus

235

For as he walk'd vpon the flowry earth,
To which his owne hands whilome gaue a birth,
To see how streight he held it and how iust
He rold this massy pondrous heape of dust,
He laid him downe by a coole riuer side,

240

Whose pleasant water did so gently slide
With such soft whispering: for the brook was deepe,
That it had lul'd him in a heauenly sleepe.
When first he laid him downe, there was none neere him:
(For he did call before, but none could heare him)

245

But a faire Nymph was bathing when he wak'd,
(Here sigh'd great Ioue, and after brought forth) nak'd,
He seeing lou'd, the Nymph yet here did rest,
Where iust Astræa might make Ioue be blest,
If she would passe her faithfull word so farre,

250

As that great Ioue should make the mayd a starre.
Astræa yeelded: at which Ioue was pleas'd,
And all his longing hopes and feares were eas'd.
Ioue tooke his leaue, and parted from her sight,
Whose thoughts were ful of louers sweet delight,

255

And she ascended to her throne aboue,
To heare the griefes of the great Queene of loue
But she was satisfide, and would no more
Rayle at her husband as she did before:
But forth she tript apace, because she stroue,

260

With her swift feet to ouertake great Ioue;
She skipt so nimbly as she went to looke him,
That at the palace doore she ouertooke him,
Which way was plaine and broad as they went out,
And now they could see no tumultuous rout.

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