Upon his knees, "O goddesses behold A caitiff wretch bemoaning his mishap! If ever pity were hired without gold, Lament DAIPHANTUS, once in Fortune's lap! Lament DAIPHANTUS, whose good deeds now slumber! Lament a lover, whose woe no tongue can number! "My woes--" There did he stay, fell to the ground, Rightly divided into blood and tears, As if those words had given a mortal wound, So lay he foaming, with the weight of cares. Who this had seen, and seeing had not wept, Their hearts were, sure, from crosses ever kept! The Ladies all, who late from hunting came, Untimely came to view this Map of Sorrow. Surely all wept! and sooth it was no shame, For, from his grief, the world might truly borrow: As he lay speechless grovelling, all undressed; So they stood weeping, Silence was their best. ISMENIO with these Ladies bare a part, And much bemoaned him, though he knew not why; But kind compassion struck him to the heart, To see him mad. Much better see one die! Thus walks ISMENIO, and yet oft did pause, At length, a writing made him know the cause. He read, till words, like thunder, pierced his heart; He sighed, till Sorrow seemed itself to mourn; He wept till tears like ysacles [_icicles_] did part, He pitied so, that pity, hate did scorn. He read to sigh, and weep for pity's sake; The less he read, the less his heart did quake. At length resolved, he up the writing takes And to the Ladies travails as with child; The birth was Love, such love as discord makes, The midwife Patience; thus in words full mild, He writ with tears that which with blood was writ; The more he read, the more they pitied it. They look upon DAIPHANTUS, he not seeing: And wondered at him, but his sense was parted. They loved him much, though little was his being, And sought to cure him, though he was faint-hearted, ISMENIO thus, with speed resolves to ease him; By a sweet song, his sister should appease him! ISMENIO was resolved he would be eased, And was resolved of no means but by Music, Which is so heavenly that it hath released The danger oft, not to be cured by physic. Her tongue and hand thus married together, Could not but please him, who so loved either. But first before his madness were allayed, They offered incense at DIANA'S shrine, And much besought her, now to be apaid; Which was soon granted to these saints divine: Yet so, that mad DAIPHANTUS must agree Never to love, but live in chastity. Thus they adjured him, by the gods on high, Never henceforth to shoot with CUPID'S quiver! Nor love to feign: for there's no remedy, If once relapsed, then was he mad for ever! Tortured DAIPHANTUS, now a sign did make; And kind ISMENIO this did undertake.