Yet young, and when in skill of arms thou didst not so abound, Nor hadst the habit of discourse, that makes men so renown’d. In all which I was set by him, t’ instruct thee as my son, That thou might’st speak, when speech was fit, and do, when deeds were done, Not sit as dumb, for want of words, idle, for skill to move, I would not then be left by thee, dear son, begot in love, No, not if God would promise me, to raze the prints of time Carv’d in my bosom and my brows, and grace me with the prime Of manly youth, as when at first I left sweet Helle’s shore Deck’d with fair dames, and fled the grudge my angry father bore; Who was the fair Amyntor call’d, surnam’d Ormenides, And for a fair-hair’d harlot’s sake, that his affects could please, Contemn’d my mother, his true wife, who ceaseless urgéd me To use his harlot Clytia, and still would clasp my knee To do her will, that so my sire might turn his love to hate Of that lewd dame, converting it to comfort her estate. At last I was content to prove to do my mother good, And reconcile my father’s love; who straight suspicious stood, Pursuing me with many a curse, and to the Furies pray’d No dame might love, nor bring me seed. The Deities obey’d That govern hell; infernal Jove, and stern Persephone. Then durst I in no longer date with my stern father be. Yet did my friends, and near allies, inclose me with desires Not to depart; kill’d sheep, boars, beeves; roast them at solemn fires; And from my father’s tuns we drunk exceeding store of wine. Nine nights they guarded me by turns, their fires did ceaseless shine, One in the porch of his strong hall, and in the portal one, Before my chamber; but when day beneath the tenth night shone, I brake my chamber’s thick-fram’d doors, and through the hall’s guard pass’d, Unseen of any man or maid. Through Greece then, rich and vast, I fled to Phthia, nurse of sheep, and came to Peleus’ court; Who entertain’d me heartily, and in as gracious sort As any sire his only son, born when his strength is spent, And bless’d with great possessions to leave to his descent. He made me rich, and to my charge did much command commend. I dwelt in th’ utmost region rich Phthia doth extend, And govern’d the Dolopians, and made thee what thou art, O thou that like the Gods art fram’d. Since, dearest to my heart, I us’d thee so, thou lov’dst none else; nor anywhere wouldst eat, Till I had crown’d my knee with thee, and carv’d thee tend’rest meat, And giv’n thee wine so much, for love, that, in thy infancy (Which still discretion must protect, and a continual eye) My bosom lovingly sustain’d the wine thine could not bear. Then, now my strength needs thine as much, be mine to thee as dear, Much have I suffer’d for thy love, much labour’d, wishéd much, Thinking, since I must have no heir (the Gods’ decrees are such) I would adopt thyself my heir. To thee my heart did give What any sire could give his son. In thee I hop’d to live. O mitigate thy mighty spirits.