# The Complete Poems of Richard Barnfield/The Affectionate Shepheard/Hellens Rape

HELLENS RAPE,
OR
A Light Lanthorne for Light Ladies.
Written in English Hexameters.
Louely a Lasse, so loued a Lasse, and (alas) such a louing Lasse, for a while (but a while) was none such a sweet bonny Lasse As Helen, Mænelaus louing, lou'd, louelie a loue-lasse, Till spightfull Fortune from a loue-lasse made her a loue-lesse Wife. From a wise woman to a witles wanton abandond, When her mate (vnawares) made warres in Peloponessus, Adultrous Paris (then a Boy) kept sheepe as a shepheard On Ida Mountaine, vnknowne to the King for a Keeper Of sheep, on Ida Mountaine, as a Boy, as a shepheard: Yet such sheep he kept, and was so seemelie a shepheard, Seemlie a Boy, so seemlie a youth, so seemlie a Younker, That on Ida was not such a Boy, such a youth, such a Younker. Sonne now reconcil'd to the Father, fained a letter Sent him by Iupiter (the greatest God in Olympus) For to repaire with speede to the brauest Græcian Hauen, And to redeeme againe Hesyone latelie reuolted From Troy by Ayax, whom she had newly betrothed. Well, so well be told his tale to his Aunt Amaryllis ​That Amaryllis, (his Aunt,) obtained aid of his aged Syre, that he sent him a ship, and made him Capten of Argus. Great store went to Greece with lust-bewitched Alexis, Telamour, and Tydias: with these he sliceth the salt seas, The salt seas slicing, at length he comes to the firme land, Firme land, an auntient Iland cald old Lacedæmon. Argus (eyefull Earle) when first the ken of a Castle He had spide bespake: (to the Mate, to the men, the Mates-men) Lo behold of Greece (quoth he) the great Cytadella, (Ycleaped Menela) so tearmd of Deliaes Husband: Happie Helen, Womens most woonder, beautifull Helen. Oh would God (quoth he) with a flattring Tongue he repeated: Oh would God (quoth he) that I might deserue to be husband To such a happie huswife, to such a beautifull Helen. This he spake to intice the minde of a lecherous young man: But what spurres need now, for an vntam'd Titt to be trotting: Or to add old Oile to the flame, new flaxe to the fier: Paris heard him hard, and gaue good eare to his barkening: And then his loue to a lust, his lust was turnd to a fier, Pire was turnd to a flame, and flame was turnd to a burning Brand: and mothers Dreame was then most truelie resolued. Well so far th' are come, that now th' are come to the Castle, Castle all of stone, yet euery stone was a Castle: Euerie foote had a Port, and euerie Port had a fountaine, Euerie fountaine a spring, and euerie spring had a spurting Streame: so strong without, within, so stately a building, Neuer afore was seene: If neuer afore Polyphœbe Was seene, was to be seene, if nere to be seene was Olympus. Plowers were framd of flints. Walls, Rubies, Rafters of Argent: Pauements of Chrisolite, Windows contriu'd of a Christall: Vessels were of gold, with gold was each thing adorned: Golden Webs more worth than a wealthy Souldan of Egypt, And her selfe more worth than a wealthy Souldan of Egypt: ​And her selfe more worth than all the wealth shee possessed; Selfe? indeede such a selfe, as Thundring Ioue in Olympus, Though he were father could finde in his hart to be husband. Embassage ended, to the Queene of faire Lacedæmon; (Happie King of a Queene so faire, of a Country so famous) Embassage ended, a Banquet braue was appointed: Sweet Repast for a Prince, fine Iunkets fit for a Kings sonne. Biskets and Carrawayes, Comfets, Tart, Plate, Ielly, Ginge-bread, Lymons and Medlars: and Dishes moe by a thousand. First they fell to the feast, and after fall to a Dauncing, And from a Dance to a Trance, from a Trance they fell to a falling Either in others armes, and either in armes of another. Pastime ouer-past, and Banquet duely prepared, Deuoutly pared: Each one hies home to his owne home, Saue Lord and Ladie; Young Lad, but yet such an old Lad, In such a Ladies lappe, at such a slipperie by-blow, That in a world so wide, could not be found such a wilie Lad: in an Age so old, could not be found such an old lad: Old lad, and bold lad, such a Boy, such a lustie Iuuentus. Well to their worke they goe, and both they iumble in one Bed: Worke so well they like, that they still like to be working: For Aurora mounts before he leaues to be mounting: And Astrea fades before she faints to be falling: (Helen a light Huswife, now a lightsome starre in Olympus.)
FINIS.