Next came the aged _Ocean_, and his Dame, xviii Old _Tethys_, th’oldest two of all the rest, For all the rest of those two parents came, Which afterward both sea and land possest: Of all which _Nereus_ th’eldest, and the best, Did first proceed, then which none more vpright, Ne more sincere in word and deed profest; Most voide of guile, most free from fowle despight, Doing him selfe, and teaching others to doe right. Thereto he was expert in prophecies, xix And could the ledden of the Gods vnfold, Through which, when _Paris_ brought his famous prise The faire Tindarid lasse, he him fortold, That her all _Greece_ with many a champion bold Should fetch againe, and finally destroy Proud _Priams_ towne. So wise is _Nereus_ old, And so well skild; nathlesse he takes great ioy Oft-times amongst the wanton Nymphs to sport and toy. And after him the famous riuers came, xx Which doe the earth enrich and beautifie: The fertile Nile, which creatures new doth frame; Long Rhodanus, whose sourse springs from the skie; Faire Ister, flowing from the mountaines hie; Diuine Scamander, purpled yet with blood Of Greekes and Troians, which therein did die; Pactolus glistring with his golden flood, And Tygris fierce, whose streames of none may be withstood. Great Ganges, and immortall Euphrates, xxi Deepe Indus, and Mæander intricate, Slow Peneus, and tempestuous Phasides, Swift Rhene, and Alpheus still immaculate: Ooraxes,[206] feared for great _Cyrus_ fate; Tybris, renowmed for the Romaines fame, Rich Oranochy, though but knowen late; And that huge Riuer, which doth beare his name Of warlike Amazons, which doe possesse the same. Ioy on those warlike women, which so long xxii Can from all men so rich a kingdome hold; And shame on you, O men, which boast your strong And valiant hearts, in thoughts lesse hard and bold, Yet quaile in conquest of that land of gold. But this to you, O Britons, most pertaines, To whom the right hereof it selfe hath sold; The which for sparing litle cost or paines, Loose so immortall glory, and so endlesse gaines. Then was there heard a most celestiall sound, xxiii Of dainty musicke, which did next ensew Before the spouse: that was _Arion_ crownd; Who playing on his harpe, vnto him drew The eares and hearts of all that goodly crew, That euen yet the Dolphin, which him bore Through the Ægæan[207] seas from Pirates vew, Stood still by him astonisht at his lore, And all the raging seas for ioy forgot to rore.