Heraclea, is the name of diuers faire cities, one in the confines of Europe, another in Italie & in Pontus by the riuer Licus, also in Narbon by Rodanus, also in Caria, Crete & Lydia, whereof the Lodestone taketh his name.
Hesperides, were the 3. daughters of Atlas, Ægle, Aretusa and Hesperetusa, who had an orchard of goldẽ apples, kept by a dragon whõ Hercules slew & tooke away the apples.
A sepulcher built by Artemisia in the honor of hir husbande Mausolus king of Cania.
And by what industrie in hir starrie forehead pampynulated with threds of gold aptly disposed, she had infixed the fairest part of the heauens, or the splendycant Heraclea.
Afterward letting fall mine eies towards hir prety feete, I beheld them inclosed in red leather cut vpon white, fastened vpon the instep with buttons of gold in loopes of blew silke. And from thence I returned vpward my wanton regard to hir straight necke compassed about with a carkenet of orient pearle, striuing but not able to match with the whitenes of the sweet skin. From thence descending down to hir shining breast and delitious bosome, from whence grew two round apples, such as Hercules neuer stole out of the garden of Hesperides. Neither did euer Pomona behold the like to these two standing vnmooueable in hir roseall breast, more white than hils of snowe in the going downe of the sunne. Betwixt the which there passed downe a delicious vallie, wherein was the
[v] delicate sepulcher of my wounded hart exceeding the famous Mausolea.
I then being content with a wounded hart full well vnderstanding that mine eies had drawen it dying into all these elegant parts. Yet neuertheles I could not so bridle and suppresse my amorous inflamed sighes, or so closely couer them, but that they would needs expresse my inward desire.
By means whereof she was changed from contagious loue, and striking with hir stolen regards (enuying the same) she turned it vpon me, so as I perceiued an incensing fire pruriently diffusing it selfe through my inward parts and hollow veines: and during the contemplate beholding of hir most rare and excellent beautie, a mellifluous delight and sweete solace constrained me thereunto. Thus disordinately beaten with the importune spur of vnsatiable desire, I found my selfe to be set vpon with the mother of loue, inuironed round about with hir flamigerous sonne, and inuaded with so faire a shape, that I was with these and others so excellent circumstances brought into such an agonie of minde and sicknes of bodie, and in such sort infeebled, that the least haire of hir head was a band forcible ynough to hold me fast, and euery rowled tramell a chaine and shackle to fetter me, being fed with the sweetnes of hir beautie, and hooked with the pleasant baits of hir amorous delights, that I was not able with whatsoeuer cunning deuise to resist the inuading heates and prouoking desires still comming vpon me, that I determined rather to die than longer to endure the same, or in this solitarie place to offer hir any dishonor.
Then againe I was determined with humble requests and submissiue intreaties to say thus:
Alas most delighted Polia, at this present to die by thee is a thing that I desire, and my death if it were effected by these thy small, slender and faire hands, the ende thereof should be more tolerable, sweete and glorious vnto me, bicause my hart is compassed about with such tormenting flames, still more and more cruelly increasing, and burning the same without pitie or intermission, so as by meanes thereof I am bereft of all rest.
And heerewithall intending to put in execution another
determinate purpose, behold my hart was tormented with more sharpe flames, that me thought I was all of a light fire. Ah wo is me what wert thou aduised to do Poliphilus? Remember the violence done to Deianira and the chaste Roman lady. Consider what followed them for a reward, and diuers others.