MUIOPOTMOS:

OR THE

FATE OF THE BUTTERFLIE.

BY ED. SP.

DEDICATED TO THE MOST FAIRE AND VERTUOUS LADIE,

THE LADIE CAREY.

1590.

ΤΟ

THE RIGHT WORTHY AND VERTUOUS LADIE,

THE LA: CAREY.

MOST brave and bountifull La: for so excellent favours as I have received at your sweet handes, to offer these fewe leaves as in recompence, should be as to offer flowers to the gods for their divine benefites. Therefore I have determined to give my selfe wholy to you, as quite abandoned from my selfe, and absolutely vowed to your services: which in all right is ever held for full recompence of debt or damage, to have the person yeelded. My person I wot wel how little worth it is. But the faithfull minde and humble zeale which I bear unto your La: may perhaps be more of price, as may please you to account and use the poore service therof; which taketh glory to advance your excellent partes and noble vertues, and to spend it selfe in honouring you; not so much for your great bounty to my self, which yet may not be unminded; nor for name or kindreds sake by you vouchsafed; being also regardable; as for that honorable name, which yee have by your brave deserts purchast to your selfe, and spred in the mouths of all men: with which I have also presumed to grace my verses; and, under your Name, to commend to the world this small Poême. The which beseeching your La: to take in worth, and of all things therin according to your wonted graciousnes to make a milde construction, I humbly pray for your happines.

Your La: ever humbly;

E. S.

MUIOPOTMOS:

OR THE

FATE OF THE BUTTERFLIE.

I SING of deadly dolorous debate,

Stir'd up through wrathfull Nemesis despight,
Betwixt two mightie ones of great estate,
Drawne into armes, and proofe of mortall fight,
Through prowd ambition and hart-swelling hate,
Whilst neither could the others greater might
And sdeignfull scorne endure; that from small iarre
Their wraths at length broke into open warre.

The roote whereof and tragicall effect,

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Vouchsafe, O thou the mournfulst Muse of nyne, 10
That wont'st the tragick stage for to direct,
In funerall complaints and wailefull tyne,
Reveale to me, and all the meanes detect,
Through which sad Clarion did at last decline
To lowest wretchednes: And is there then
Such rancour in the harts of mightie men?

Of all the race of silver-winged Flies
Which doo possesse the empire of the aire,
Betwixt the centred earth, and azure skies,
Was none more favourable, nor more faire,

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Whilst Heaven did favour his felicities,
Then Clarion, the eldest sonne and heire
Of Muscaroll, and in his fathers sight
Of all alive did seeme the fairest wight.

yeares,

With fruitfull hope his aged breast he fed
Of future good, which his young toward
Full of brave courage and bold hardyhed
Above th' ensample of his equall Peares,
Did largely promise, and to him fore-red,
(Whilst oft his heart did melt in tender teares,)
That he in time would sure prove such an one,
As should be worthie of his fathers throne.

The fresh young Flie, in whom the kindly fire
Of lustfull yongth began to kindle fast,
Did much disdaine to subiect his desire
To loathsome sloth, or houres in ease to wast;
But ioy'd to range abroad in fresh attire,
Through the wide compas of the ayrie coast;
And, with unwearied wings, each part t'inquire
Of the wide rule of his renowmed sire.

For he so swift and nimble was of flight,

That from this lower tract he dar'd to stie

Up to the clowdes, and thence with pineons light
To mount aloft unto the cristall skie,

To view the workmanship of heavens hight:
Whence down descending he along would flie
Upon the streaming rivers, sport to finde;
And oft would dare to tempt the troublous winde.

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So on a summers day, when season milde
With gentle calme the world had quieted,

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And high in heaven Hyperion's fierie childe
Ascending did his beames abroad dispred,

Whiles all the heavens on lower creatures smilde;
Young Clarion, with vauntfull lustiehed,

After his guize did cast abroad to fare ;
And thereto gan his furnitures prepare.

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His breast-plate first, that was of substance pure,
Before his noble heart he firmely bound,

That mought his life from yron death assure,
And ward his gentle corps from cruell wound:
For it by arte was framed, to endure

The bit of balefull steele and bitter stownd,
No lesse then that which Vulcane made to shield
Achilles life from fate of Troyan field.

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And then about his shoulders broad he threw

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An hairie hide of some wild beast, whom hee

In salvage forrest by adventure slew,

And reft the spoyle his ornament to bee;

Which, spredding all his backe with dreadfull view,
Made all, that him so horrible did see,

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