But since saies she, thou as a King didst reigne, and art a Trophey too of _Dians_ power: Thus much the Goddesse of the floods doth deign to change thy shape, into a vertick flower. Then thrice three words, thrice striking charmed wood The ground did crannie, and there out of hand, appeared greene Poplar, younger then before, which bow'd the head & dyan did adore. The palefac'd Mirrha sat like guiltie spright, fore the infernall iudge, yet did not see Diana great, for dull are mortalls sight, (and all inuisible is chastitie) But heard a voice as she was vanishing, saying defild maide, doost wonder at this thing? O Mirrha ere my crescents beautie change, thou shalt be turn'd into a shape as strange. With this the verdant new sprung Poplar plant (moou'd with the winde) seemd to bow down the head as cheering Mirrha, who did comfort want being amaz'd at what Diana saide, Hauing recouer'd sence, she flies the place, For feare of Phebaes comming to the chace: to Saba land she hies, where all affraide, my muse shall sing the downfall of the Maide. Then first hung downe Poplar his heauie braine, for Mirrha's losse, whose loue brought him that and for he once in woods a King did raigne, a crowne hee still wear's, richly wrought with blew and yellow eke, as figures both of loue, Which Venus dropt downe him from aboue. Bacchus doth loue him, for in feasts of wine, he weares a poplar Garland mixt with vine. The leaden God of sleepe, on his iuice feede, the vertues of him, sundry doe declare: His suddain taste a heauinesse doth breede, and drownes in rest, sences opprest with care, In places farre remote, he loues to growe, and eke by rivers that runne thicke and slowe, where drowsilie this woodish demie God, with euerie gale of winde his head doth nod. Now to proceede after a small repose, that the accursed seede gan swell her wombe, wh[=e] her drie brain, no more teares could expose she weayting for a sad and heauie dombe. For often men offending, still doe feare, Though Ioue be farre off, yet his iudgements nere downe would she sit, and so vnfolde her moane that Eccho sight hirs and forgot her owne. Distressed twixt the teadiousnesse of life, and trembling feare of death, she thus began: For when we cease to be the crimes are rife, which youth committed, and before vs then. For aged memorie doth clasp't containe, Those shapes of sin, which hot blood held as vain. O cursed Fates quoth she, that brought to passe this prodegie twixt me and Cyniras.