Venus went to hunt,

and Diana went to

show her the sport.

But Venus

12

saw no fun

When Scortching Phæbus.1

[Page 313 of MS.]

WHEN scorching Phoebus he did mount,—

to-Iaur bonne tannce,2—

then Lady Venus went to hunt,

par melio shannce; 3

to whom diana 4 did resort,

with [a]ll the Ladyes 5 of hills & valleys,
of springs & ffloodes,

to shew where all the princely sport,
with hound imbrued, & harts pursued,
throughe groues & woodes.

This tender harted louers Queene,—
to-iour bonne tannce,—
such wandring sports had seldome seene,
par melio shance.

shee tooke noe pleasure in the same,

WHEN SCORTCHING PHOEBUS.

her ffaint & weary hart [to] cheirsh,

which was soe fyered, that shee descryed 2

to quench her thirst,

& cryed, "helpe Bacchus, or else I perish!"
who still did hold her, & plainly told her

he wold kisse her first.

Then Bacchus with a power divine,-
to-iour bone tance,—

himselfe turned to a butt of wine,-
par melio shance,—

and bade this Ladye drinke her ffill,
& take her pleasure in any measure,
& make noe waste;

& gaue her leaue to sucke the quill,
which was 5 spriteffull and delightffull
vnto her tast.6

Att last this butte did run a tilte

to-iour bonne tance.

quoth shee," one drop shall not be spilt,

par melio shance,

ffor itt doth pleasing tast soe well,

my

hart doth will me ffor to fill me

of this sweete Vine;

I wold that I might alwayes dwell

in this ffaire Arbor! heeres soe good harbor,
& pleasant wine.”

Shee drunke soe long, ere shee had done,-
to-iour bonne tance,—

her belly swelled like a tunn,

1 to.-P.

2 desyred.-P.

he'd.-P.

par melio shance.

• Turn'd himself.-P.
Which was so sp.-P.

6 taste.-P.

71

to quench her thirst.

He turned himself

into a butt of wine,

and bade her

suck the quill.

She did,

and drank

WHEN SCORTCHING PHOEBUS.

Att last shee ffell in peeces twaine;
& being assunder, appeard a wonder,
God pryapus!

yett ffaine shee wold haue drunke againe ;

& oft did visitt, & much solicite

God Diacchus.

His emptye caske wold yeeld noe more,—

to-iour bonne tannce,—

ffor shee had sucked itt ffull sore,

par

melio shance.

quoth she "god Bacchus, change thy shape;
ffor now thy rigour, & all thy vigour,

1 MS. the.-F. Quoth she, God.-P.
2 will.-P.

[page 314]

3 Thus of a Goddess made a punk.—P.