VIRGIDEMIAE: BOOK 1: SATIRE 2 by JOSEPH HALL

Whilome the sisters nine were Vestall maides,
And held their Temple in the secret shades
Of fayre @3Pernassus@1 that two-headed hill,
Whose auncient fame the Southern world did fill.
And in the steed of their eternall flame,
Was the coole streame, that tooke his endles name
From out the fertile hoofe of winged steed:
There did they sit and do their holy deed,
That pleas'd both heauen and earth: till that of late,
Whom should I fault? or the most righteous Fate?
Or heauen, or men, or fiends, or ought beside,
That euer made that foule mischance betide?
Some of the sisters in securer shades
Defloured were:
And euer since disdaining @3sacred shame,@1
Done ought that might their heauenly stock defame.
Now is @3Pernassus@1 turned to the stewes:
And on Bay-stockes the wanton Myrtle growes.
@3Cytheron@1 hill's become a Brothel-bed,
And @3Pyrene@1 sweet, turnd to a poysoned head
Of cole-blacke puddle: whose infectuous staine
Corrupteth all the lowly fruitfull plaine.
Their modest stole, to garish looser weed,
Deck't with loue-fauors: their late whordoms meed,
And where they wont sip of the simple floud,
Now tosse they bowles of @3Bacchus@1 boyling blood.
I maruel'd much with doubtfull iealousie,
Whence came such Litturs of new Poetry?
Meethought I fear'd, least the hors-hoofed well
His natiue banks did proudly ouer-swell
In some late discontent thence to ensue
Such wondrous rablements of Rimsters new.
But since, I saw it painted on @3Fames@1 wings,
@3The Muses to be woxen Wantonnings.@1
Each bush, each banke, and each base Apple-squire,
Can serue to sate their beastly lewd desire.
Ye bastard Poets see your Pedegree,
From common Trulls, and loathsome Brothelry.

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