Hypnerotomachia: The Strife of Loue in a Dreame
aforesaide Cupul: where was placed a _L_yons head, with his haire
standing vp round about his face, and holding a Ring in his iawes, vnto
the whiche were fastened certaine chaines Orichalke or Copper, that held
a large goodly vessel, with a great braine or lyp, and furrowed of the
aforesaide shyning substance, and hangyng two Cubites aboue the water,
the bowle of the vessel which was of Christal onely except, the rest as
the ribbes thereof and lippings, was of Asure blew, with bubbles of gold
and shining sprinkled here and there.
Not farre of, there was a cleft in the earth, the which continually did
cast foorth burning matter, and taking of this, and filling the bottome
of the vessel, they did put certaine ginnes and sweet woods which made
an inestimable suffumigation, as of the sweetest past, afterwardes
closing the same, and putting downe the couer, both partes being holow,
and the lipping and ribbing perforated and pearced through the
transparent, Christal cleare and bright, they rendered a pleasant and
diuers coulered light, by the which through the smal holes the bathes
were lightened, and the heate stil incarcerated and interdicted.
The wal equally interposite betwixt Columne, and Columne was of most
blacke stone, of an extreame hardnes and shining, incloystered about and
bordered with a conuenient border of Diasper redde as Coral, adorned
with a Lyneament and worke of double Gurgules or Verticules. In the
middle part of which table, betwixt the Collumnes, there sate an elegant
Nymph naked, as if she had been staying and attending of the stone
Gallatitis, of colour like Iuorie, the lower partes of euerie of the
said borders, circulating iustly with the bases of the Collumnes.
Oh how exsquitely were the same Images cut, that oftentimes my eyes
would wander from the real and liuely shapes, to looke vpon those feyned
representations.
The paued ground vnder the water being of a diuers emblemature of hard
stone, checkered where you might see marueilous graphics through the
diuersitie of the colours. For the cleare water and not sulphurous, but
sweete and temperatelye hotte, not like a Hotte-house or Stew, but
naturally cleansing it selfe beyond all credet, there was no meanes to
hinder the obiect from the sight of the eye. For diuers fishes in the
sides of the seates, and in the bottom by a museacall cutting expressed,
which did so imitate nature as if they had beene swimming aliue. As
barbles, lampreys, and many others, the curiousnes of whose woorke I
more regarded, then their names and natures.
The black stone of the walles was ingrauen with a leafe worke, as if it
had beene an illaqueated composition of leaues and flowers, and the
little shelles of cytheriaces, so beautifull to the eye, as was possible
to be deuised.
Vpon the doore, the interstice whereof was of stone called Gallactites,
I beheld a Dolphin swimming in the calme waues, and carrying vpon his
back a young man, playing vpon an harpe: And on the contrarie side vpon
the colde Fountaine, there was an other dolphin swimming, and
_Posidonius_ riding vpon him with a sharpe elle speare in his hand.
These histories were perfected within the compasse of one selfe same
stone, and set out in a most blacke ground. Then deseruedly I did
commend, both the archytect and the statuarie. On the other side, the
pleasant dignitie of the fayre and beautiful sporting nimphes did
highlye content mee, so as I could not compare to thinke whether the
excesse of my passed sorrow, or present solace should be greatest. And
there was so sweete a smell as Arabia neuer yeelded the like.
Vppon the seates of stone, in steed of an Apodyterie, they did
impouerish theyr apparrell, richely inuoluped, in the casting of it off,
from their celestiall bodyes. Theyr fayre tresses bound vp in nettings
of gould, wouen after a most curious sort. And without any respect at
all, they gaue mee leaue to looke vpon theyr fayre and delicate
personages, theyr honestie and honour reserued. Flesh vndoubtedly like
the pure Roses and white Snowe. Ah woe is me, I found my heart to rise
and open it selfe, and altogether to be adicted to a voluptuous delight.
Wherevpon I at that present thought my selfe most happie, onely in the
behoulding of such delights, because I was not able to resist the
burning flames which did set vpon mee in the fornace of my heart. And
therefore sometime for a refuge and succour I durst not looke so
narrowly vppon theyr inticing beauties, heaped vp in their heauenly
bodyes. And they perceiuing the same did smile at my bashful behauiour,
making great sport at me: And thereat I was glad, and contented that I
might any way occasion their pastime. But I was greatly ashamed, in that
I was an vnfit companion for such a company, but that they intreated mee
to enter in with them where I stood like a Crowe among white Doues,
which made me partly ashamed to behould, and ouerlooke such choyse
obiects.
Then _Offressia_ a very pleasant disposed piece, said vnto mee. Tel me
young man what is your name? And I reuerently aunswered them,
_Poliphilus_: it will please me well saith she, if the effect of your
conditions be aunswerable to your name. And without deceit, said the
rest. And how is your dearest loue called? Whereat I making some pause,
aunswered, _Polia_: then she replyed. A ha I thought that your name
should signifie that you were a great louer, but now I perceiue that you
are a louer of _Polia_: and presently shee added more, saying: if shee
were heere present, what would you doo? I aunswered. That which were
agreeable with hir honour, and fit for your companies. Tel me
_Poliphilus_ doest thou loue hir wel indeed? Then I setting a deepe
sigh, aunswered: beyond all the delights and cheefest substance of the
greatest and most pretious treasure in the whole world, and this opinion
hath made an euerlasting impression in my still tormented heart. And
she: where haue you lost or abandoned so loued a iewel? I know not,
neyther where I am my selfe I know. Then she smyling aunswered. If any
should finde hir out for you, what rewarde would you giue. But content
thy selfe, be of good comfort, and frame thy selfe to delights, for thou
shalt finde thy _Polia_ againe. And with these and such like pleasaunt
and gratious questions, these fayre young Virgins, sporting and solacing
themselues, we washt and bathed together.
At the opposite interstice of the beautifull fountaine without, of the
faire sleeping Nymph before mentioned, within the Bathe there was
another of statues of fine mettal, and of a curious workemanship,
glistering of a golden colour, that one might see himselfe therein.
Which were fastened in a Marble, cut into a squadrature, and euacuated
for the Images to stand in their proportions, with two halfe Collumnes
that is Hemiciles, one of either side, with a Trabet, a smal Zophor, and
a Coronice, all cut in one sollid Marble, and this peece of worke was
nothing inferior to any of the rest, which before I had seene, but with
a rare art, and marueilous inuention, both deuised and performed. In the
voyd and plaine euacuated quadret, there stood two Nimphes, little lesse
then if they had been liuely creatures, apparelled, so as you might see
somewhat aboue their knees, vppon one of theyr legges, as if the winde
had blowne it vp, as they were doing theyr office, and their armes bare,
from the elbow to the shoulder except. And vpon that arme, wherewith
they sustained the Boye, the habite that was lifted vp was reiect. The
feete of the Infant stood one in one of the handes of the Nymphes, and
the other, in the others hand. All their three countenances smiling: and
with their other handes, they held vp the Boyes shirt, aboue his nauil.
The Infant holding his little Instrument in both his hands, and
continued pissing into the hotte water, fresh coole water. In this
delicious place of pleasure, I was verie iocund and full of content, but
the same was much apalled, in that I thought my selfe a contemptible
bodie, among such beauties, and dewe coniealed into Snowe, and as it
were a Negro or tawnye Moore amongst them.
One of them called _Achoe_, verie affably and with a pleasant
countenance said vnto mee, _Poliphile_ take that Christal vessel and
bring mee some of that fresh water. I without staie intending to do so,
and thinking nothing, but to do her seruice in any sort that she would
commaund me, went to the place. And I had no sooner set my foote vpon
the steppe, to receiue the water, as it fell, but the pissing Boye lift
vp his pricke, and cast sodeinlye so colde water vppon my face, that I
had lyke at that instant to haue fallen backward. Whereat they so
laughed, and it made such a sounde in the roundnes and closenes of the
bathe, that I also beganne (when I was come to my selfe) to laugh that I
was almost dead. Afterward, I founde out the concauitie, and perceiued
that any heauy weight, being put vpon the moueable stepping, that it
would rise vp like the Keye and Iacke of a Virginall, and lift vp the
Boyes pricke, and finding out the deuise and curious workemanship
thereof, I was greatly contented. Vpon the Zophor was
written in _Atthic_ letters this title
+GELOIASTOS+.
After our great laughter and bathing, and all hauing washed with a
thousand sweete, amorous, and pleasant wordes, maydenly sportes, and
pastimes, wee went out of the water, and leapt vp vppon the accustomed
seates, tripping on their toes, where they did annoynt themselues with
sweete Odours, Diasdasmatic, and with a Myristic liquor, or water of
Nutmegges. And they offered a boxe vnto mee also, and I annoynted my
selfe therewithall, and I founde great pleasure therein, for besides the
excellent smel and sweete sauour, it was verie good to comfort my bodie,
legges, and armes, that had been so wearied in my daungerous flight.
Afterward when we had made ourselues redy, which was somwhat long after
the manner of other women, by reason of so many gewgawes and gimmerie
whatchets, they did open their vesselles of daintie confections, and
refreshed themselues, and I amongst them, and with precious drinke. When
they had eaten sufficiently, they returned againe to their looking
Glasses, with a scrupulous examination, about their bodies, and the
attire of their heades, and dressing of their yealow curling haires
depending, and hemicirculately instrophiated about their diuine faces.
And when they had made an ende, they sayde vnto mee.
_Poliphilus_, wee are now going vnto our gratious and most excellent
Souereigne the Queene _Eutherillida_, where you shal finde and conceiue
greater delight, but the water is still in your face, whereat they
beganne to renew their laughter, without all measure at mee, glauncing
and turning their eyes one to an other, with a louely regarde. At last
they set foorth, and as they went rounde togither, they beganne to sing
verses in a Phrygial tune, of a pleasaunt metamorphosing of one, who
with an oyntment thought to haue transfourmed himselfe into a Byrd, and
by mistakyng of the Boxe, was turned into a rude Asse.
Concludyng, that manye tooke Oyntmentes to one purpose, and founde the
effecte to contrarie their expectations.
Whereat I beganne to be in a doubt, that they had sung that by mee,
because that they still smiled as they turned towardes mee. But seeing
that I perceiued no alteration in my selfe, but wel I was contented to
let them laugh on. Vpon a sodaine I founde my selfe so lasciuiously
bent, and in such a prurient lust, that which way so euer I turned, I
could not forbeare, and they as they sung laughed the more, knowing what
had happened vnto mee. And it did so increase in mee more and more, that
I knew not wherewithal I might bridle and restraine my selfe from