Jerome, Ovid maketh a great discourse in his Metamorphoses, in which he declareth how that the people of king Aeacus, being altogether discomfited through the great plague & death, was restored again by the means of the Antes, which were changed into men, of which transformation, he speaketh after this manner, as it is translated into English mitre.
1Hard by us as it happed that time,
there was an Oaken tree,
With spreaded arms as bare of boughs,
as lightly one shall see.
This tree (as all the rest of Oaks,)
was sacred unto Jove,
And sprouted of an Acorn which,
was fet from Dodon grove.
⟨image 8⟩Here marked we how the pretty Antes,
the gatherers up of grain.
One following other all along,
in order of a train.
Great burdens in their little mouths.
did painfully sustain.
And nimbly up the rugged bark,
their beaten path maintain.
As wondering at the swarm I stood,
I said, O father dear,
As many people give thou me,
as Antes are creeping here.
And by and by afterwards, following on his purpose, he cometh to the transformation of them, and said as followeth.
Me thought I saw the self same Oak,2
with all his boughs and twigs,
And all the Pismires creeping still,
upon his taunts and sprigs.
Which trembling with a sudden braid,
these harvest folk of threw.
And shed them on the ground about,
who on the sudden grew.
In bigness more and more,
⟨image 9⟩& from the earth them selves did lift,
And stood upright against the tree,
and there withal did shift.
Their neygernes, and coal black hue,
and number of their feet:
And clad their limbs with shape of man,
away my sleep did fleet.
And by and by afterwards, Ovid him self expoundeth and declareth the cause wherefore that transformation was feigned, as I even now declared, and therefore he bringeth in Aecus speaking after this manner.
3And I (my vows to Jove performed,)
my City did divide:
Among my new inhabitants,
and gave them land beside.
Which by decease of such as were,
late owners of the same,
Lay wast, and in remembrance of,
the race whereof they came.
The name of Emetes I them gave,
their persons you have seen:
Their disposition is the same,
that erst in them hath been.
⟨image 9⟩They are a sparing kind of folk.
on labour wholly set:
A gatherer, and a hoarder up,
of such as they do get.
These fellows being like in years,
and courage of the mind,
Shall go awarfare when as soon,
as that the eastern wind.
Ierome, Ouid maketh a great discourse in his Metamorphoses, in whiche he declareth howe that the people of king Aeacus, being altogether discomfited thorowe the great plague & death, was restored againe by the meanes of the Antes, whiche were chaunged into men, of whiche transformatiō, he speaketh after this maner, as it is translated into Englishe miter.
1Hard by vs as it hapt that tyme,
there was an Oken tree,
With spreaded armes as bare of boughs,
as lightly one shall see.
This tree (as al the rest of Okes,)
was sacred vnto Ioue,
And sprouted of an Acorne which,
was fet from Dodon groue.
⟨image 8⟩Here markt we how the pretie Antes,
the gatherers vp of grayne.
One folowing other al along,
in order of a trayne.
Great burthens in their litle mouthes.
did painefully susteyne.
And nimbly vp the rugged barke,
their beaten path mayntayne.
As wondring at the swarme I stoode,
I sayde, O father deare,
As many people geue thou me,
as Antes are creeping here.
And by and by afterwardes, following on his purpose, he commeth to the transformation of them, and said as foloweth.
Me thought I sawe the selfe same Oke,2
with al his boughes and twiges,
And al the Pismires creeping still,
vpon his taunts and spriges.
Which trembling with a sodayne brayde,
these harnest folke of threwe.
And shed them on the ground about,
who on the sodayne grewe.
In bignes more and more,
⟨image 9⟩& from the earth them selues did lift,
And stoode vpright against the tree,
and ther withal did shift.
Their neygernes, and cole blacke hue,
and number of their feete:
And clad their lymmes with shape of man,
away my sleepe did fleete.
And by and by afterwardes, Ouid him selfe expoundeth and declareth the cause wherfore that transformation was fayned, as I euen nowe declared, and therefore he bringeth in Aecus speaking after this maner.
3And I (my vowes to Ioue perfourmd,)
my Citie did deuide:
Among my newe inhabiters,
and gaue them land beside.
Which by decease of such as were,
late owners of the same,
Lay wast, and in remembrance of,
the race whereof they came.
The name of Emetes I them gaue,
their persons you haue seene:
Their disposition is the same,
that earst in them hath beene.
⟨image 9⟩They are a sparing kinde of folke.
on labour wholy set:
A gatherer, and a horder vp,
of such as they do get.
These fellowes being like in yeeres,
and courrage of the minde,
Shal goe awarfare when assoone,
as that the esterne winde.
- 1Ovid. meta. lib. 7Ouid. meta. lib. 7
- 2Ovid meta. lib. 7Ouid meta. lib. 7
- 3Ovid meta. lib. 7.Ouid meta. lib. 7.
