_Hence sprang the fable of TIRESIAS, That he the pleasure of both sexes tried; For, in a dance, he man and woman was. By often change of place, from side to side, But, for the woman easily did slide, And smoothly swim with cunning hidden Art, He took more pleasure in a woman's part._ 84. _So to a fish VENUS herself did change, And swimming through the soft and yielding wave, With gentle motions did so smoothly range, As none might see where she the water drave; But this plain truth that falsèd fable gave, That she did dance with sliding easiness, Pliant and quick in wandering passages._ 85. _And merry BACCHUS practised dancing too, And to the Lydian numbers Rounds did make. The like he did in th' Eastern India do, And taught them all, when PHŒBUS did awake, And when at night he did his coach forsake, To honour heaven, and heaven's great rolling eye, With turning dances and with melody._ 86. _Thus they who first did found a Common weal, And they who first Religion did ordain, By dancing first the people's hearts did steal: Of whom we now a thousand tales do feign. Yet do we now their perfect rules retain, And use them still in such devices new; As in the world, long since, their withering grew._ 87. _For after Towns and Kingdoms founded were, Between great states arose well-ordered war, Wherein most perfect Measure doth appear: Whether their well set Ranks respected are, In quadrant forms or semicircular; Or else the March, when all the troops advance, Unto the drum in gallant order dance._ 88. _And after wars, when white-winged Victory Is with a glorious Triumph beautified; And every one doth Ιῶ! Ιῶ! cry, While all in gold the Conqueror doth ride; The solemn pomp, that fills the city wide, Observes such Rank and Measure everywhere, As if they altogether dancing were._ 89. _The like just order Mourners do observe, But with unlike affection and attire, When some great man, that nobly did deserve, And whom his friends impatiently desire, Is brought with honour to his latest fire. The dead corpse, too, in that sad dance is moved As if both dead and living dancing loved._ 90. _A diverse cause, but like solemnity, Unto the Temple leads the bashful bride, Which blusheth like the Indian ivory Which is with dip of Tyrian purple dyed: A golden troop doth pass on every side, Of flourishing young men and virgins gay, Which keep fair Measure all the flowery way._ 91.