XXXVI

They all beholding worldly wights in place,
  Leave off their worke, unmindfull of their smart,
  To gaze on them; who forth by them doe pace,
  Till they be come unto the furthest part;
  Where was a Cave ywrought by wondrous art, 320
  Deepe, darke, uneasie, dolefull, comfortlesse,
  In which sad Aesculapius[*] farre apart
  Emprisond was in chaines remedilesse,
For that Hippolytus rent corse he did redresse.

XXXVII

Hippolytus a jolly huntsman was 325
  That wont in charett chace the foming Bore: 
  He all his Peeres in beauty did surpas,
  But Ladies love as losse of time forbore: 
  His wanton stepdame loved him the more,
  But when she saw her offred sweets refused, 330
  Her love she turnd to hate, and him before
  His father fierce of treason false accused,
And with her gealous termes his open eares abused.

XXXVIII

Who all in rage his Sea-god syre besought,
  Some cursed vengeaunce on his sonne to cast, 335
  From surging gulf two monsters straight were brought,
  With dread whereof his chasing steedes aghast,
  Both charet swift and huntsman overcast. 
  His goodly corps on ragged cliffs yrent,
  Was quite dismembred, and his members chast 340
  Scattered on every mountaine, as he went,
That of Hippolytus was left no moniment.

XXXIX

His cruell step-dame seeing what was donne,
  Her wicked dayes with wretched knife did end,
  In death avowing th’ innocence of her sonne, 345
  Which hearing, his rash Syre began to rend
  His haire, and hastie tongue that did offend. 
  Tho gathering up the relicks of his smart,
  By Dianes meanes, who was Hippolyts frend,
  Them brought to Aesculape, that by his art 350
Did heale them all againe, and joyned every part.

XL

Such wondrous science in mans wit to raine
  When Jove avizd, that could the dead revive,
  And fates expired[*] could renew againe,
  Of endlesse life he might him not deprive, 355
  But unto hell did thrust him downe alive,
  With flashing thunderbolt ywounded sore: 
  Where long remaining, he did alwaies strive
  Himselfe with salves to health for to restore,
And slake the heavenly fire, that raged evermore. 360

XLI

There auncient Night arriving, did alight
  From her nigh wearie waine, and in her armes
  To Aesculapius brought the wounded knight: 
  Whom having softly disarayd of armes,
  Tho gan to him discover all his harmes, 365
  Beseeching him with prayer, and with praise,
  If either salves, or oyles, or herbes, or charmes
  A fordonne wight from dore of death mote raise,
He would at her request prolong her nephews daies.