Hypnerotomachia | Page 6

adorned. In which by reason of the milde and gentle ayre,
there was a still quyet whisht: Inso much that my attentiue eares did
heare no noyse, neither did any framed speech peirce into them, but
with the gratious beames of the sunne, the sliding time passed.
In which place with a fearefull admiration, looking about me, I sayd
thus to my selfe. Heere appeareth no humaine creature to my sight, nor
syluã beast, flying bird, countrey house, field tent, or shepheards cote:
neyther vpon the gras could I perceiue feeding eyther flock of sheep, or
heard of cattell, or rustike herdman with Oten pipe making pastorall
melodie, but onely taking the benefit of the place, and quietnesse of the
plaine, which assured mee to be without feare, I directed my course still
forward, regarding on eyther side the tender leaues and thick grasse,
which rested vnstirred, without the beholding of any motion.
At length my ignorant sleepes, brought me into a thick wood,
whereinto being a pritty way entred, I could not tell how to get out of it.
Wherevpon, a soddaine feare inuaded my hart, and diffused it selfe into
euery ioynt, so that my couler began to waxe pale, and the rather by
reason that I was alone, and vnarmed, and could not finde any track or
path, eyther to direct me forward, or lead me back againe. But a darke

wood of thicke bushes, sharpe thornes, tall ashes haled of the Viper,
towgh Elmes beloued of the fruitfull vines, harde Ebony, strong Okes,
soft Beeche, and browne Hasils, who intertaining one anothers
branches, with a naturall goodwill opposed themselues, to resist the
entrance of the gratious sunne shine, with the greene couerture of their
innumerable leaues. And in this sort I found my selfe in a fresh
shadowe, a coole ayre, and a solytarie thicket.
VVherevpon my reason perswaded me to beleeue, that this vast wood,
was onely a receptacle for sauage and hurtfull beasts, as the tusked
Bore, the furious and bloudthirstie Beare, the hissing serpent, and
inuading VVoolfe, against which I was vnprouided to make resistance,
but rayther as a praye sent amongst them, miserablie to haue my flesh
and bones rent and gnawne in peeces.
And thus forecasting the woorst that might follow, I was resolued not
to abide there, but to seeke to get out, that I might the better eschew
such suspected occurrents, and taking my selfe to my feete, I wandred
now this way, now that way, sometime to the right hand, sometime to
the left: nowe forwarde, then backe againe, not knowing how to goe
among the thicke bowghes and tearing thornes, bearing vpon my face:
rending my clothes, and houlding me sometimes hanging in them,
whereby my hast in getting foorth was much hyndered. In this
vnaccustomed labour: and without any helpe but onely the keeping of
the sunne still vpon one side, to direct mee streight forwarde: I grewe
extreamely hoate and faynte, not knowing what to doe, but onely in a
wearye body, to conteine a minde distraught through troublesome
thoughts, breathing out hollow and deepe sighes, desiring helpe of the
pittifull _Cretensian Ariadne_, who for the destroying of hir monstrous
brother the _Mynotaur_[A] gaue vnto the deceitfull _Theseus_ a clew
of thred, to conduct him foorth of the intricate laborinth, that I also by
some such meanes might be deliuered out of this obscure wood.
[Sidenote A: Minotaurus a monster in Creete, born of Pasiphae which
being inclosed in the laborinth fed on mans flesh, whome Theseus slew
and got out of the laborinth by a clew of thred giuen by Ariadne king
Minoes daughter, after wife to Theseus, who did forsake hir, and left

hir in a disinhabited Ile, notwithstanding that she had saued his life.]
[Decoration]
_Poliphilus being thus distempered in this daungerous and obscure
wood, at length getteth foorth, and being come to a faire Riuer,
indeuoring to rest himselfe and coole his heate, he heard a most
delightful harmonie, which made him forget to drinke, and followe
after the voice, which brought him to a woorse perplexitie._
Feare and desire of freedome thus occupying my sences, my
vnderstanding was blinded, neyther did I knowe whether it were better
for mee eyther to wishe for hated death, or in so dreadfull a place to
hope for desired life. Thus euery way discontent, I did indeuour, with
all force and diligence to get foorth, wherin the more I did striue the
more I found my selfe intangled, and so infeebled with wearinesse, that
on euery side I feared, when some cruell beast should come and
deuoure me, or els vnawares to tumble downe into some deepe pit or
hollow place.
Wherefore more trembling then in mustulent _Autume_ be the yealow
coulored leaue, hauing left their