till forward, regarding on eyther side the tender
leaues and thick grasse, which rested vnstirred, without the beholding
of any motion.

At length my ignorant sleepes, brought me into a thick wood, whereinto
being a pritty way entred, I could not tell how to get out of it.
Wherevpon, a soddaine feare inuaded my hart, and diffused it selfe into
euery ioynt, so that my couler began to waxe pale, and the rather by
reason that I was alone, and vnarmed, and could not finde any track or
path, eyther to direct me forward, or lead me back againe. But a darke
wood of thicke bushes, sharpe thornes, tall ashes haled of the Viper,
towgh Elmes beloued of the fruitfull vines, harde Ebony, strong Okes,
soft Beeche, and browne Hasils, who intertaining one anothers branches,
with a naturall goodwill opposed themselues, to resist the entrance of
the gratious sunne shine, with the greene couerture of their innumerable
leaues. And in this sort I found my selfe in a fresh shadowe, a coole
ayre, and a solytarie thicket.

VVherevpon my reason perswaded me to beleeue, that this vast wood, was
onely a receptacle for sauage and hurtfull beasts, as the tusked
Bore, the furious and bloudthirstie Beare, the hissing serpent, and
inuading VVoolfe, against which I was vnprouided to make resistance, but
rayther as a praye sent amongst them, miserablie to haue my flesh and
bones rent and gnawne in peeces.

And thus forecasting the woorst that might follow, I was resolued not to
abide there, but to seeke to get out, that I might the better eschew
such suspected occurrents, and taking my selfe to my feete, I wandred
now this way, now that way, sometime to the right hand, sometime to the
left: nowe forwarde, then backe againe, not knowing how to goe among the
thicke bowghes and tearing thornes, bearing vpon my face: rending my
clothes, and houlding me sometimes hanging in them, whereby my hast in
getting foorth was much hyndered. In this vnaccustomed labour: and
without any helpe but onely the keeping of the sunne still vpon one
side, to direct mee streight forwarde: I grewe extreamely hoate and
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 in