Thence forth vnto the Idoll they her brought, vi The which was framed all of siluer fine, So well as could with cunning hand be wrought, And clothed all in garments made of line, Hemd all about with fringe of siluer twine. Vppon her head she wore a Crowne of gold, To shew that she had powre in things diuine; And at her feete a Crocodile was rold, That with her wreathed[311] taile her middle did enfold. One foote was set vppon the Crocodile, vii And on the ground the other fast did stand, So meaning to suppresse both forged guile, And open force: and in her other hand She stretched forth a long white sclender wand. Such was the Goddesse; whom when _Britomart_ Had long beheld, her selfe vppon the land She did prostrate, and with right humble hart, Vnto her selfe her silent prayers did impart. To which the Idoll as it were inclining, viii Her wand did moue with amiable looke, By outward shew her inward sence desining. Who well perceiuing, how her wand she shooke, It as a token of good fortune tooke. By this the day with dampe was ouercast, And ioyous light the house of _Ioue_ forsooke: Which when she saw, her helmet she vnlaste, And by the altars side her selfe to slumber plaste. For other beds the Priests there vsed none, ix But on their mother Earths deare lap did lie, And bake their sides vppon the cold hard stone, T’enure them selues to sufferaunce thereby And proud rebellious flesh to mortify. For by the vow of their religion They tied were to stedfast chastity, And continence of life, that all forgon, They mote the better tend to their deuotion. Therefore they mote not taste of fleshly food, x Ne feed on ought, the which doth bloud containe, Ne drinke of wine, for wine they say is blood, Euen the bloud of Gyants, which were slaine, By thundring Ioue in the Phlegrean plaine. For which the earth (as they the story tell) Wroth with the Gods, which to perpetuall paine Had damn’d her sonnes, which gainst them did rebell, With inward griefe and malice did against them swell. And of their vitall bloud, the which was shed xi Into her pregnant bosome, forth she brought The fruitfull vine, whose liquor blouddy red Hauing the mindes of men with fury fraught, Mote in them stirre vp old rebellious thought, To make new warre against the Gods againe: Such is the powre of that same fruit, that nought The fell contagion may thereof restraine, Ne within reasons rule, her madding mood containe.