1When scorned

Medea1

saw Creusa led

2A bride to her ungrateful spouse’s bed,

3She vowed revenge, hid underneath a smile

4Which did the

royal virgin2

so beguile

5That

she3

received of

her4

the robe and crown

6And, overjoyed, put on the

Napthian gown5

;

7But, putting holy incense in the fire,

8The palace soon became her funeral pyre.

9Then fierce Medea with

her dragons6

flew,

10

Killing her children in their father’s view.7

11O, horrid! She (even she) that gave them birth

12Stabbed those sweet boys, then flung them to the earth.

13Her mad impiety did rise thus far

14To dare the gods to do as much by her.

15Poor

Ariadne8

did not so when she

16Fair Phaedra in false Jason’s arms did see;

17When she forsaken was on Naxos’s shore,

18The pity of the gods she did implore.

19Then

Liber Pater9

took her for his spouse;

20With nine

refulgent10

orbs he crowned her brows.

21So, though afflictions doth thy soul surround,

22Yet trust in God thy patience will be

crowned11

.

23Then let this

flaming fabric12

warn all those

24That injure others not to trust their foes:

25But O, my enemies within me be;

26Then from

my self13

, dear God, deliver me.