X Help, therefore, O thou sacred imp of Jove, To whom those rolls, laid up in heaven above, To which no wit of man can comen near; And all their sundry kinds, and all their hid abodes. XI First came great Neptune, with his three-forked mace, Under his diadem imperial: And by his side his Queen with coronal, Fair Amphitrite, most divinely fair, Whose ivory shoulders weren covered all, As with a robe, with her own silver hair, And decked with pearls which the Indian seas for her prepare. XII These marched far afore the other crew: Which of them sprung by lineal descent: First the Sea-gods, which to themselves do claim The power to rule the billows, and the waves to tame. XVII But what do I their names seek to rehearse, Which all the world have with their issue filled? How can they all in this so narrow verse Contained be, and in small compass hild? Let them record them that are better skilled, And know the moniments of passed age: Only what needeth shall be here fulfilled, T'express some part of their great equipage Which from great Neptune do derive their parentage. XVIII Next came the aged Ocean, and his dame XIX Thereto he was expert in prophecies, And could the ledden of the Gods unfold; Through which, when Paris brought his famous prize, The fair Tyndarid lass, he him foretold That her all Greece with many a champion bold Should fetch again, and finally destroy Proud Priam's town. So wise is Nereus old, And so well skilled; nathless he takes great joy Ofttimes amongst the wanton Nymphs to sport and toy. XX And after him the famous rivers came, The fertile Nile, which creatures new doth frame; And Tigris fierce, whose streams of none may be withstood; ΧΧΙ Great Ganges, and immortal Euphrates, Tibris, renowned for the Romans' fame, And that huge river, which doth bear his name XXII Joy on those warlike women, which so long And shame on you, O men! which boast your strong Yet quail in conquest of that land of gold. But this to you, O Britons! most pertains, To whom the right hereof itself hath sold, The which, for sparing little cost or pains, Lose so immortal glory, and so endless gains. XXIII Then was there heard a most celestial sound Of dainty music, which did next ensue Before the spouse: that was Arion crowned, Who playing on his harp, unto him drew The ears and hearts of all that goodly crew, That even yet the dolphin, which him bore Through the Ægean seas from pirates' view, Stood still by him astonished at his lore, And all the raging seas for joy forgot to roar. XXIV So went he playing on the watery plain; Soon after whom the lovely Bridegroom came, The noble Thames, with all his goodly train: But him before there went, as best became, His ancient parents, namely th' ancient Thame. But much more aged was his wife than he, The Ouse, whom men do Isis rightly name; Full weak and crooked creature seemed she, And almost blind through eld, that scarce her way could see. XLV Then came the Bride, the lovely Medua came, And uncouth fashion, yet her well became, That seemed like silver, sprinkled here and there To hide the metal, which yet everywhere It was no mortal work, that seemed and yet was not. XLVI Her goodly locks adown her back did flow XLVII On her two pretty handmaids did attend, Both clad in colours like, and like array, The Don and eke the Frith, both which prepared her way. XLVIII And after these the Sea-Nymphs marched all, All which the Ocean's daughter to him bare, |