The Oracle of Themis. 75 



Thither they went her favour to intreat, 

 Whose fame throughout that coast abroad was 



blowne, 



By her advice some way or meane to finde, 

 How to renew the race of humane kind. 



"Prostrate they fell upon the sacred ground, 

 Kissing the stones, and shedding many a 



teare ; 



And lowly bent their aged bodies downe 

 Unto the earth, with sad and heavy cheere ; 

 Praying the Saint with soft and dolefull sound 

 That she vouchsafe their humble suite to heare. 

 The Goddesse heard, and bad them goe and 



take 



Their mothers bones, and throw behind their 

 backe." 



After being long perplexed as to the 

 meaning of "this Oracle obscure, and 

 darke of sense," and wondering 



"How with so great a sinne they might dis- 

 pense 

 Their Parents bones to cast and throw about," 



they leave the Temple and wander forth. 



" And now beholding better every place, 

 Each Hill and Dale, each River, Rock, and 



Tree; 



And muzing thereupon a little space, 

 They thought the earth their mother well 



might be, 



And that the stones that lay before their face, 

 To be her bones did nothing disagree : 



Wherefore to prove if it were false or true 

 The scattered stones behind their backs they 

 threw. 



