Down slid into the ocean flood apart, The Bear, that in the Irish seas had dipt
His grisly feet, with speed from thence he whipt;
For Thetis, hasting from the Virgin's bed Pursued the Bear, that ere she came was fled. 35
And Phaeton now reaching to his race With glistering beams, gold streaming where they bent,
Was prest to enter in his resting place. Erythius that in the cart first went,
Had even now attained his journey's stent: 40 And fast declining hid away his head, While Titan couched him in his purple bed.
And next, within the entry of this lake, Sat fell Revenge, gnashing her teeth for ire, Devising means how she may vengeance take, Never in rest till she have her desire: But frets within so far forth34 with the fire Of wreaking flames, that now determines she To die by death, or 'venged by death to be. 245
When fell Revenge, with bloody foul pretence Had shewed herself, as next in order set, With trembling limbs we softly parted thence, Till in our eyes another sight we met: When fro my heart a sigh forthwith I fet,35 250 Rueing, alas, upon the woful plight Of Misery, that next appeared in sight.
And, next in order, sad Old Age we found, His beard all hoar, his eyes hollow and blind, With drooping cheer still poring on the ground, As on the place where nature him assigned To rest, when that the Sisters had untwined His vital thread, and ended with their knife 300 The fleeting course of fast declining life.
There heard we him with broken and hollow plaint
Rue with himself his end approaching fast, And all for naught his wretched mind torment With sweet remembrance of his pleasures past, And fresh delights of lusty youth forwaste; 306 Recounting which, how would he sob and shriek And to be young again of Jove beseek.
Went on three feet, and sometimes crept on fower, 41
With old lame bones that rattled by his side, His scalp all pilde,42 and he with eld forlore: His withered fist still knocking at Death's door, Fumbling and drivelling as he draws his breath,
For brief, the shape and messenger of Death.
And fast by him pale Malady was placed, Sore sick in bed, her colour all forgone, Bereft of stomach, savour, and of taste,
Ne could she brook no meat, but broth alone: Her breath corrupt, her keepers every one Abhorring her, her sickness past recure, 43 Detesting physick, and all physick's cure.
Great was her force, whom stone wall could not stay,
Her tearing nails scratching at all she saw; With gaping jaws that by no means ymay Be satisfied from hunger of her maw, But eats herself as she that hath no law: Gnawing, alas, her carcass all in vain, Where you may count each sinew, bone, and vein.
On her while we thus firmly fixed our eyes, 365 That bled for ruth of such a dreary sight, Lo, suddenly, she shrieked in so huge wise As made hell gates to shiver with the might. Wherewith, a dart we saw, how it did light Right on her breast, and therewithal pale Death Enthrilling" it, to reave45 her of her breath. 371
Cities he sacked, and realms (that whilom flowered
In honour, glory, and rule above the best) He overwhelmed, and all their fame devoured, Consumed, destroyed, wasted, and never ceased, Till he their wealth, their name, and all op- pressed:
His face forehewed" with wounds, and by his side
There hung his targe with gashes deep and wide.
Yet saw I more, the fight at Trasimene, And Treby field, and eke when Hannibal And worthy Scipio last in arms were seen Before Carthago gate, to try for all The world's empire, to whom it should befall. There saw I Pompey and Caesar clad in arms Their hosts allied, and all their civil harms:18.
With conquerors' hands forbathed in their own blood,
And Caesar weeping over Pompey's head. Yet saw I Scilla and Marius where they stood, Their great cruelty, and the deep bloodshed Of friends: Cyrus I saw and his host dead, And how the queen with great despight hath
His head in blood of them she overcom
46 Straightway. 47 Cut in front. 48 B:
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