Thomas Lodge - Broadview Press Publisher's Blog

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[Scylla flees “towards Sicilia,” and her flight intrigues
the other characters—Venus, Thetis, the
nymphs, Glaucus and the poet—who pursue her
closely in order to see how she will deal with the
ravages of unrequited love. When they come upon
Scylla, they are just in time to see her attacked
by the servants of Ate: Fury, Rage, Despair,
Wanhope, 1 and Woe.]
These five at once the sorrowing nymph assail,
And captive lead her bound into the rocks,
Where, howling still, she strives for to prevail.
With no avail yet strives she, for her locks
Are changed with wonder into hideous sands,
And hard as flint become her snow-white hands.
The waters howl with fatal tunes about her,
The air doth scowl whenas she turns within them,
The winds and waves with puffs and billows
scout her;
Waves storm, air scowls, both wind and waves
begin them
To make the place this mournful nymph doth
weep in
A hapless haunt whereas no nymph may keep in.
The seaman, wand’ring by that famous isle,
Shuns all with fear despairing Scylla’s bow’r;
Nymphs, sea-gods, sirens, when they list to smile,
Forsake the haunt of Scylla in that stour. 2
“Ah, nymphs,” thought I, “if every coy one felt
The like mishaps their flinty hearts would melt.”
Thetis rejoiced to see her foe depressed; 3
Glaucus was glad since Scylla was enthralled;
1 Ate Greek goddess of mischief and discord; source of rash and
destructive deeds; Wanhope i.e., hopelessness.
2 stour perhaps “occasion” or “place”; used by Spenser and his imitators
to refer to a “time of turmoil and stress”; given the context,
“storm” is also a possibility.
3 depressed brought low, oppressed.
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The nymphs gan smile to boast their Glaucus’
rest;
Venus and Cupid, in their thrones installed,
At Thetis’ beck to Neptune’s bow’r repair,
Whereas they feast amidst his palace fair.
Of pure, immortal nectar is their drink,
And sweet ambrosia dainties do repast them;
The Tritons sing, Palemon 4 smiles to think
Upon the chance, and all the nymphs do haste
them
To trick up mossy garlands where they won 5
For lovely Venus and her conquering son.
From forth the fountains of his mother’s store,
Glaucus let fly a dainty crystal bain 6
That washed the nymphs with labour tired before;
Cupid he trips among this lovely train.
Alonely I apart did write this story
With many a sigh and heart full sad and sorry.
Glaucus, when all the goddesses took rest,
Mounted upon a dolphin full of glee,
Conveyed me friendly from this honoured feast,
And, by the way, such sonnets sung to me
That all the dolphins neighbouring of his glide
Danced with delight his reverent course beside.
At last he left me where at first he found me,
Willing me let the world and ladies know
4 Tritons mermen of Greek mythology; Palemon In Chaucer’s “The
Knight’s Tale,” the cousins Palemon and Arcite both fall in love with
the same woman, Emilia. Fighting against each other in a tournament
to decide which of them shall be her husband, the cousins are supported
by different gods: Palemon by Venus and Arcite by Mars, both
of whom promise their respective suppliants victory. Saturn manages
events so that although Arcite is declared the victor in the combat,
Palemon is the one who finally wins Emilia, since Arcite’s “victory”
is followed by his death.
5 trick up array, deck, display; won dwell.
6 bain water or other liquid placed in a suitable receptacle, in which
one may bathe.