Yet well they seeme to him, that farre doth vew, xii Both faire and fruitfull, and the ground dispred[830] With grassie greene of delectable hew, And the tall trees with leaues apparelled, Are deckt with blossomes dyde in white and red, That mote the passengers thereto allure; But whosoeuer once hath fastened His foot thereon, may neuer it recure, But wandreth euer more vncertein and vnsure. As th’Isle of _Delos_ whylome men report xiii Amid th’_Aegæan_ sea long time did stray, Ne made for shipping any certaine port, Till that _Latona_ traueiling that way, Flying from _Iunoes_ wrath and hard assay, Of her faire twins was there deliuered, Which afterwards did rule the night and day; Thenceforth it firmely was established, And for _Apolloes_ honor[831] highly herried. They to him hearken, as beseemeth meete, xiv And passe on forward: so their way does ly, That one of those same Islands, which doe fleet In the wide sea, they needes must passen by, Which seemd so sweet and pleasant to the eye, That it would tempt a man to touchen there: Vpon the banck they sitting did espy A daintie damzell, dressing of her heare, By whom a litle skippet floting did appeare. She them espying, loud to them can[832] call, xv Bidding them nigher draw vnto the shore; For she had cause to busie them withall; And therewith loudly laught: But nathemore Would they once turne, but kept on as afore: Which when she saw, she left her lockes vndight, And running to her boat withouten ore From the departing land it launched light, And after them did driue with all her power and might. Whom ouertaking, she in merry sort xvi Them gan to bord, and purpose diuersly, Now faining dalliance and wanton sport, Now throwing forth lewd words immodestly; Till that the Palmer gan full bitterly Her to rebuke, for being loose and light: Which not abiding, but more scornefully Scoffing at him, that did her iustly wite, She turnd her bote about, and from them rowed quite. That was the wanton _Phœdria_, which late xvii Did ferry him ouer the _Idle lake_: Whom nought regarding, they kept on their gate, And all her vaine allurements did forsake, When them the wary Boateman thus bespake; Here now behoueth vs well to auyse, And of our safetie good heede to take; For here before a perlous passage lyes, Where many Mermayds haunt, making false melodies.