The Metamorphosis of Pigmalions Image

TheMetamorphoſis of Pigmalions Image.AndCertaine Satyres.At London, Printed for Edmond Matts, & are to be ſold at theſigne of the Hand and Plough in Fleetſtreete. 1598.

TOTHE WORLDS MIGHTIE MONARCH, GOODOPINION:

SoleRegent of Affection, perpetuall Ruler of Iudgement, moſt famousIuſtice of Cenſures, onely giuer of Honor, great procurer ofAduancement, the Worlds chiefe Ballance, the All of all, and All inall, by whom all things are y^tthat they are. I humbly offer thys my Poem.

Thouſoule of Pleaſure, Honors only ſubſtance,

GreatArbitrator, Vmpire of the Earth,

Whomfleſhly Epicures call Vertues eſſence,

Thoumoouing Orator, whoſe powrefull breath

Swaiesall mens iudgements. Great OPINION,

Vouchſafeto guild my imperfection.

Ifthou but daine to grace my bluſhing ſtile,

Andcrowne my Muſe with good opinion:

Ifthou vouchſafe with gracious eye to ſmile

Vponmy young new-borne Inuention,

Ileſing an Hymne in honor of thy name,

Andadd ſome Trophie to enlarge thy fame.

Butif thou wilt not with thy Deitie

Shade,and inmaſke the errors of my pen,

Protectan Orphane Poets infancie,

Iwill diſcloſe, that all the world ſhall ken

Howpartiall thou art in Honors giuing:

Crowningthe ſhade, the ſubſtance praiſe depriving.

W.K.

THEARGVMENT

ofthe Poem.

Pigmalionwhoſe chaſt mind all the beauties in Cyprus could not enſnare, yetat the length hauing carued in Iuorie an excellent pro-po^rtionof a beauteous woman, was ſo deeplie enamored on his owneworkmanſhip, that he would oftentimes lay the Image in bedde withhim, and fondlie vſe ſuch petitions and dalliance, as if it hadbeen a breathing creature. But in the end, finding his fond dotage,and yet perſeueringinhis ardent affection, made his deuout prayers to Venus,that ſhee would vouchſafe to enſpire life into his Loue, and thenioyne them both together in marriage. Wherevpon Venusgraciouſlycondiſcending to his earneſt ſute, the Mayde, (by the power of herDeitie) was metamorphoſed into a liuing Woman. And after, Pigmalion(beeing in Cyprus,) begat a ſonne of her, which was called Paphus,wherupon, that Iland Cyprus, in honor of Venus,was after, and is now, called by the inhabitants, Paphos.

Tohis Miſtres.

Mywanton Muſe laſciuiouſly doth ſing

Ofſportiue loue, of louely dallying.

Obeauteous Angell, daine thou to infuſe

Aſprightly wit, into my dulled Muſe.

Iinuocate none other Saint but thee,

Tograce the first bloomes of my Poeſie.

Thyfauours like Prometheanſacredfire,

Indead, and dull conceit can life inſpire.

Orlike that rare and rich Elixar ſtone,

Canturne to gold, leaden inuention:

Begracious then, and daine to ſhow in mee,

Themighty power of thy Deitie.

Andas thou read’st, (Faire) take compaſſion,

Forceme not enuie my Pigmalion.

Thenwhen thy kindnes grants me ſuch ſweet bliſſe,

I’legladly write thy metamorphoſis.

PIGMALION.

1.

Pigmalion,whoſe hie loue-hating minde

Diſdain’dto yeeld ſeruile affection,

Oramorous ſute to any woman-kinde,

Knowingtheir wants, and mens perfection.

YetLoue at length forc’d him to know his fate,

Andloue the ſhade, whoſe ſubſtance he did hate.

2.

Forhauing wrought in pureſt Iuorie,

Sofaire an Image of a Womans feature,

Thatneuer yet proudeſt mortalitie

Couldſhow ſo rare and beautious a creature.

(Vnleſſemy Miſtres all-excelling face,

Whichgiues to beautie, beauties onely grace.)

3.

Heewas amazed at the wondrous rareneſſe

Ofhis owne workmanſhips perfection.

Hethought that Nature nere produc’d ſuch fairenes

Inwhich all beauties haue their mantion.

Andthus admiring, was enamored

Onthat fayre Image himſelfe portraied.

4.

Andnaked as it ſtood before his eyes,

ImperiousLoue declares his Deitie.

Owhat alluring beauties he deſcries

Ineach part of his faire imagery!

Hernakednes, each beauteous ſhape containes.

Allbeautie in her nakednes remaines.

5.

Hethought he ſaw the blood run through the vaine

Andleape, and ſwell with all alluring meanes:

Thenfeares he is deceiu’d, and then againe,

Hethinks he ſee’th the brightnes of the beames

Whichſhoote from out the fairenes of her eye:

Atwhich he ſtands as in an extaſie.

6.

HerAmber-coloured, her ſhining haire,

Makeshim proteſt, the Sunne hath ſpread her head

Withgolden beames, to make her farre more faire.

Butwhē her cheeks his amorous thoughts haue fed,

Thenhe exclaimes, ſuch redde and ſo pure white,

Didneuer bleſſe the eye of mortall ſight.

7.

Thenview’s her lips, no lips did ſeeme ſo faire

Inhis conceit, through which he thinks doth flie

Soſweet a breath, that doth perfume the ayre.

Thennext her dimpled chin he doth diſcry,

Andviews, and wonders, and yet view’s her ſtill.

Loueseyes in viewing neuer haue their fill.

8.

Herbreaſts, like poliſht Iuory appeare,

Whoſemodeſt mount, doe bleſſe admiring eye,

Andmakes him wiſh for ſuch a Pillowbeare.

Thusfond Pigmalionſtriueth to diſcry

Eachbeauteous part, not letting ouer-ſlip

Oneparcell of his curious workmanſhip.

9.

Vntillhis eye diſcended ſo farre downe

Thatit deſcried Loues pauillion:

WhereCupiddoth enioy his onely crowne,

AndVenushathher chiefeſt mantion:

Therewould he winke, & winking looke againe,

Botheies & thoughts would gladly there remaine.

10.

Whoeuer ſaw the ſubtile Citty-dame

Inſacred church, whē her pure thoughts ſhold pray,

Peirethrough her fingers, ſo to hide her ſhame,

Whenthat her eye her mind would faine bewray.

Sowould he view, and winke, and view againe,

Achaſter thought could not his eyes retaine.

11.

Hewondred that ſhe bluſht not when his eye

Salutedthoſe ſame parts of ſecrecie:

Conceitingnot it was imagerie

Thatkindly yeelded that large libertie.

Othat my Miſtres were an Image too,

ThatI might blameles her perfections view.

12.

Butwhen the faire proportion of her thigh

Beganappeare. O Ouidwould he cry,

Didere Corinnaſhow ſuch Iuorie

Whenſhe appear’d in Venusliuorie?

Andthus enamour’d, dotes on his owne Art

Whichhe did work, to work his pleaſing ſmart.

13.

Andfondly doting, oft he kiſt her lip.

Oftwould he dally with her Iuory breaſts.

Nowanton loue-trick would he ouer-ſlip,

Butſtill obſeru’d all amorous beheaſts.

Wherebyhe thought he might procure the loue

Ofhis dull Image, which no plaints coulde moue.

14.

Lookehow the peeuiſh Papiſts crouch, and kneele

Toſome dum Idoll with their offering,

Asif a ſenceles carued ſtone could feele

Theardor of his bootles chattering,

Sofond he was, and earneſt in his ſute

Tohis remorſles Image, dum and mute.

15.

Heoft doth wiſh his ſoule might part in ſunder

Sothat one halfe in her had reſidence:

Ofthe exclaimes, ô beauties onely wonder,

Sweetmodell of delight, faire excellence,

Begracious vnto him that formed thee,

Compaſſionatehis true-loues ardencie.

16.

Shewith her ſilence, ſeemes to graunt his ſute.

Thenhe all iocund like a wanton louer,

Withamorous embracements doth ſalute

Herſlender waſt, preſuming to diſcouer

Thevale of Loue, where Cupiddoth delight

Toſport, and dally all the ſable night.

17.

Hiseyes, her eyes, kindly encountered,

Hisbreaſt, her breaſt, oft ioyned cloſe vnto,

Hisarmes embracements oft ſhe ſuffered,

Hands,armes, eyes, tongue, lips, and all parts did woe.

Histhigh, with hers, his knee playd with her knee,

Ahappy conſort when all parts agree.

18.

Butwhen he ſaw poore ſoule he was deceaued,

(Yetſcarce he could beleeue his ſence had failed)

Yetwhen he found all hope from him bereaued,

Andſaw how fondly all his thoughts had erred,

Thendid he like to poore Ixionſeeme,

Thatclipt a cloud in ſteede of heauens Queene.

19.

Ioft haue ſmil’d to ſee the foolery

Ofſome ſweet Youths, who ſeriouſly proteſt

ThatLoue reſpects not actuall Luxury,

Butonely ioy’s to dally, ſport, and ieſt:

Loueis a child, contented with a toy,

Abuſk-point, or ſome fauour ſtill’s the boy.

20.

Markemy Pigmalion,whoſe affections ardor

Maybe a mirror to poſteritie.

Yetviewing, touching, kiſſing, (common fauour,)

Couldneuer ſatiat his loues a^rdencie:

Andtherefore Ladies, thinke that they nere loue you,

Whodoe not vnto more then kiſſing moue you.

21.

Formy Pigmalionkiſt, viewd, and imbraced,

Andyet exclaimes, why were theſe women made

Oſacred Gods, and with ſuch beauties graced?

Hauethey not power as well to coole, and ſhade,

Asfor to heate mens harts? or is there none

Orare they all like mine? relentleſſe ſtone.

22.

Withthat he takes her in his louing armes,

Anddowne within a Downe-bed ſoftly layd her.

Thenon his knees he all his ſences charmes,

Toinuocate ſweet Venusforto raiſe her

Towiſhed life, and to infuſe ſome breath,

Tothat which dead, yet gaue a life to death.

23

Thouſacred Queene of ſportiue dallying,

(Thushe begins,) Loues onely Empereſſe,

Whoſekingdome reſts in wanton reuelling,

Letme beſeech thee ſhow thy powerfulneſſe

Inchanging ſtone to fleſh, make her relent,

Andkindly yeeld to thy ſweet blandiſhment.

24

Ogracious Gods, take compaſſion.

Inſtillinto her ſome celeſtiall fire,

Thatſhe may equalize affection,

Andhaue a mutuall loue, and loues deſire.

Thouknow’ſt the force of loue, then pitty me,

Compaſſionatemy true loues ardencie.

25.

Thushauing ſaid, he riſeth from the floore,

Asif his ſoule diuined him good fortune,

Hopinghis prayers to pitty moou’d ſome power.

Forall his thoughts did all good luck importune.

Andtherefore ſtraight he ſtrips him naked quite,

Thatin the bedde he might haue more delight.

26

Thenthus, Sweet ſheetes he ſayes, which nowe doe couer,

TheIdol of my ſoule, the faireſt one

Thateuer lou’d, or had an amorous louer.

Earthsonely modell of perfection,

Sweethappy ſheetes, daine for to take me in,

ThatI my hopes and longing thoughts may win.

27

Withthat his nimble limbs doe kiſſe the ſheetes,

Andnow he bowes him for to lay him downe,

Andnow each part, with her faire parts doe meet,

Nowdoth he hope for to enioy loues crowne:

Nowdoe they dally, kiſſe, embrace together,

LikeLeda’sTwinsat ſight of faireſt weather.

28

Yetall’s conceit. But ſhadow of that bliſſe

Whichnow my Muſe ſtriues ſweetly to diſplay

Inthis my wondrous metamorphoſis.

Daineto beleeue me, now I ſadly ſay.

Theſtonie ſubſtance of his Image feature,

Wasſtraight transform’d into a liuing creature.

29

Forwhen his hands her faire form’d limbs had felt,

Andthat his armes her naked waſt imbraced,

Eachpart like Waxe before the ſunne did melt,

Andnow, oh now, he finds how he is graced

Byhis owne worke. Tut, women will relent

Whenas they finde ſuch mouing blandiſhment.

30.

Doebut conceiue a Mothers paſſing gladnes,

(Afterthat death her onely ſonne hath ſeazed

Andouerwhelm’d her ſoule with endleſſe ſadnes)

Whenthat ſhe ſees him gin for to be raiſed

Fromout his deadly ſwoune to life againe:

Suchioy Pigmalionfeeles in euery vaine.

31.

Andyet he feares he doth but dreaming find

Sorich content, and ſuch celeſtiall bliſſe.

Yetwhen he proues & finds her wondrous kind,

Yeeldingſoft touch for touch, ſweet kiſſe, for kiſſe,

He’swell aſſur’d no faire imagery

Couldyeeld ſuch pleaſing, loues felicity.

32.

Owonder not to heare me thus relate,

Andſay to fleſh tranſformed was a ſtone.

HadI my Loue in ſuch a wiſhed ſtate

Aswas afforded to Pigmalion,

Thoughflinty hard, of her you ſoone ſhould ſee

Asſtrange a transformation wrought by mee.

33.

Andnow me thinks ſome wanton itching eare

Withluſtfull thoughts, and ill attention,

Liſt’sto my Muſe, expecting for to heare

Theamorous diſcription of that action

WhichVenusſeekes,and euer doth require,

Whenfitnes graunts a place to pleaſe deſire.

34.

Lethim conceit but what himſelfe would doe

Whenthat he had obtayned ſuch a fauour,

Ofher to whom his thoughts were bound vnto,

Ifſhe, in recompence of his loues labour,

Woulddaine to let one payre of ſheets containe

Thewilling bodies of thoſe louing twaine.

35.

Couldhe, oh could he, when that each to eyther

Didyeeld kind kiſſing and more kind embracing,

Couldhe when that they felt; and clip’t together

Andmight enioy the life of dallying,

Couldhe abſtaine midſt ſuch a wanton ſporting

Fromdoing that, which is not fit reporting?

36.

Whatwould he doe when that her ſofteſt ſkin

Salutedhis with a delightfull kiſſe?

Whenall things fit for loues ſweet pleaſuring

Inuitedhim to reape a Louers bliſſe?

Whathe would doe, the ſelfe ſame action

Wasnot neglected by Pigmalion.

37.

Forwhen he found that life had tooke his ſeate

Withinthe breaſt of his kind beauteous loue,

Whenthat he found that warmth, and wiſhed heate

Whichmight a Saint and coldeſt ſpirit moue,

Thēarms, eyes, hands, tong, lips, & wanton thigh,

Werewilling agents in Loues luxurie.

38.

Whoknowes not what enſues? O pardon me

Yeegaping eares that ſwallow vp my lines

Expectno more. Peace idle Poeſie,

Benot obſceane though wanton in thy rimes.

Andchaſter thoughts, pardon if I doe trip,

Orif ſome looſe lines from my pen doe ſlip,

39.

Letthis ſuffice, that that ſame happy night

Sogracious were the Gods of marriage

Mid’ſtall there pleaſing and long wiſh’d delight

Paphuswasgot: of whom in after age

CyruswasPaphoscall’d,and euermore

ThoſeIlandars do Venusnameadore.

FINIS.

SATYRES

TheAuthour in prayſe of his

precedentPoem.

NowRufus,by old Glebronsfearefullmace

Hathnot my Muſe deſeru’d a worthy place?

Comecome Luxurio,crowne my head with Bayes,

Whichlike a Paphian, wantonly diſplayes

TheSalaminian titillations,

Whichtickle vp our leud Priapians.

Isnot my pen compleate? are not my lines

Rightin the ſwaggering humor of theſe times?

Oſing Peanato my learned Muſe.

Iobis dicite.Wilt thou refuſe?

Doenot I put my Miſtres in before?

Andpitiouſly her gracious ayde implore?

Doenot I flatter, call her wondrous faire?

Vertuous,diuine moſt debonaire?

Hathnot my Goddeſſe in the vaunt-gard place,

Theleading of my lines theyr plumes to grace?

Andthen enſues my ſtanzaes, like odd bands

Ofvoluntaries, and mercenarians:

Whichlike Soldados of our warlike age,

Marchrich bedight in warlike equipage:

Glitteringin dawbed lac’d accouſtrements,

Andpleaſing ſutes of loues habiliments.

Yetpuffie as Dutch hoſe they are within,

Faint,and white liuer’d, as our gallants bin:

Patch’dlike a beggars cloake, and run as ſweet

Asdoth a tumbrell in the paued ſtreet.

Andin the end, (the end of loue I wot)

Pigmalionhath a iolly boy begot.

SoLabeodid complaine his loue was ſtone,

Obdurate,flinty, ſo relentleſſe none:

YetLynceusknowes,that in the end of this,

Hewrought as ſtrange a metamorphoſis.

Endsnot my Poem then ſurpaſſing ill?

Come,come, Auguſtus,crowne my laureat quill.

Nowby the whyps of Epigramatists,

Ilenot be laſht for my diſſembling ſhifts.

Andtherefore I vſe Popelings diſcipline,

Layope my faults to Mastigophoroseyne:

Cenſuremy ſelfe, fore others me deride

Andſcoffe at mee, as if I had deni’d

Orthought my Poem good, when that I ſee

Mylines are froth, my ſtanzaes ſapleſſe be.

Thushauing rail’d againſt my ſelfe a while,

Ileſnarle at thoſe, which doe the world beguile

Withmaſked ſhowes. Ye changing Proteansliſt,

Andtremble at a barking Satyriſt.