faynte, not knowing what to doe, but onely in a wearye body, to conteine
a minde distraught through troublesome thoughts, breathing out hollow
and deepe sighes, desiring helpe of the pittifull _Cretensian Ariadne_,
who for the destroying of hir monstrous brother the _Mynotaur_[A] gaue
vnto the deceitfull _Theseus_ a clew of thred, to conduct him foorth of
the intricate laborinth, that I also by some such meanes might be
deliuered out of this obscure wood.

[Sidenote A: Minotaurus a monster in Creete, born of Pasiphae which
being inclosed in the laborinth fed on mans flesh, whome Theseus
slew and got out of the laborinth by a clew of thred giuen by
Ariadne king Minoes daughter, after wife to Theseus, who did forsake
hir, and left hir in a disinhabited Ile, notwithstanding that she
had saued his life.]




[Decoration]

_Poliphilus being thus distempered in this daungerous and obscure wood,
at length getteth foorth, and being come to a faire Riuer, indeuoring
to rest himselfe and coole his heate, he heard a most delightful
harmonie, which made him forget to drinke, and followe after the
voice, which brought him to a woorse perplexitie._


Feare and desire of freedome thus occupying my sences, my vnderstanding
was blinded, neyther did I knowe whether it were better for mee eyther
to wishe for hated death, or in so dreadfull a place to hope for desired