Chapter VI: Part 6

DORILVS in sorrowes deepe,
Autumne waxing olde and chill,
As he sate his Flocks to keepe
Vnderneath an easie hill:
Chanc'd to cast his eye aside
On those fields, where he had scene,
Bright SIRENA Natures pride,
Sporting on the pleasant greene:
To whose walkes the Shepheards oft,
Came her god-like foote to finde, 10
And in places that were soft,
Kist the print there left behinde;
Where the path which she had troad,
Hath thereby more glory gayn'd,
Then in heau'n that milky rode,
Which with Nectar _Hebe_ stayn'd:
But bleake Winters boystrous blasts,
Now their fading pleasures chid,
And so fill'd them with his wastes,
That from sight her steps were hid. 20
Silly Shepheard sad the while,
For his sweet SIRENA gone,
All his pleasures in exile:
Layd on the colde earth alone.
Whilst his gamesome cut-tayld Curre,
With his mirthlesse Master playes,
Striuing him with sport to stirre,
As in his more youthfull dayes,
DORILVS his Dogge doth chide,
Layes his well-tun'd Bagpype by, 30
And his Sheep-hooke casts aside,
There (quoth he) together lye.
When a Letter forth he tooke,
Which to him SIRENA writ,
With a deadly down-cast looke,
And thus fell to reading it.
DORILVS my deare (quoth she)
Kinde Companion of my woe,
Though we thus diuided be,
Death cannot diuorce vs so: 40
Thou whose bosome hath beene still,
Th' onely Closet of my care,
And in all my good and ill,
Euer had thy equall share:
Might I winne thee from thy Fold,
Thou shouldst come to visite me,
But the Winter is so cold,
That I feare to hazard thee:
The wilde waters are waxt hie,
So they are both deafe and dumbe, 50
Lou'd they thee so well as I,
They would ebbe when thou shouldst come;
Then my coate with light should shine,
Purer then the Vestall fire:
Nothing here but should be thine,
That thy heart can well desire:
Where at large we will relate,
From what cause our friendship grewe,
And in that the varying Fate,
Since we first each other knewe: 60
Of my heauie passed plight,
As of many a future feare,
Which except the silent night,
None but onely thou shalt heare;
My sad hurt it shall releeue,
When my thoughts I shall disclose,
For thou canst not chuse but greeue,
When I shall recount my woes;
There is nothing to that friend,
To whose close vncranied brest, 70
We our secret thoughts may send,
And there safely let it rest:
And thy faithfull counsell may,
My distressed case assist,
Sad affliction else may sway
Me a woman as it list:
Hither I would haue thee haste,
Yet would gladly haue thee stay,
When those dangers I forecast,
That may meet thee by the way, 80
Doe as thou shalt thinke it best,
Let thy knowledge be thy guide,
Liue thou in my constant breast,
Whatsoeuer shall betide.
He her Letter hauing red,
Puts it in his Scrip againe,
Looking like a man halfe dead,
By her kindenesse strangely slaine;
And as one who inly knew,
Her distressed present state, 90
And to her had still been true,
Thus doth with himselfe debate.
I will not thy face admire,
Admirable though it bee,
Nor thine eyes whose subtile fire
So much wonder winne in me:
But my maruell shall be now,
(And of long it hath bene so)
Of all Woman kind that thou
Wert ordain'd to taste of woe; 100
To a Beauty so diuine,
Paradise in little done,
O that Fortune should assigne,
Ought but what thou well mightst shun,
But my counsailes such must bee,
(Though as yet I them conceale)
By their deadly wound in me,
They thy hurt must onely heale,
Could I giue what thou do'st craue
To that passe thy state is growne, 110
I thereby thy life may saue,
But am sure to loose mine owne,
To that ioy thou do'st conceiue,
Through my heart, the way doth lye,
Which in two for thee must claue
Least that thou shouldst goe awry.
Thus my death must be a toy,
Which my pensiue breast must couer;
Thy beloued to enioy,
Must be taught thee by thy Louer. 120
Hard the Choise I haue to chuse,
To my selfe if friend I be,
I must my SIRENA loose,
If not so, shee looseth me.
Thus whilst he doth cast about,
What therein were best to doe,
Nor could yet resolue the doubt,
Whether he should stay or goe:
In those Feilds not farre away,
There was many a frolike Swaine, 130
In fresh Russets day by day,
That kept Reuells on the Plaine.
Nimble TOM, sirnam'd the _Tup_,
For his Pipe without a Peere,
And could tickle _Trenchmore_ vp,
As t'would ioy your heart to heare.
RALPH as much renown'd for skill,
That the _Taber_ touch'd so well;
For his _Gittern_, little GILL,
That all other did excell. 140
ROCK and ROLLO euery way,
Who still led the Rusticke Ging,
And could troule a Roundelay,
That would make the Feilds to ring,
COLLIN on his _Shalme_ so cleare,
Many a high-pitcht Note that had,
And could make the Eechos nere
Shout as they were wexen mad.
Many a lusty Swaine beside,
That for nought but pleasure car'd, 150
Hauing DORILVS espy'd,
And with him knew how it far'd.
Thought from him they would remoue,
This strong melancholy fitt,
Or so, should it not behoue,
Quite to put him out of 's witt;
Hauing learnt a Song, which he
Sometime to Sirena sent,
Full of Iollity and glee,
When the Nimph liu'd neere to _Trent_ 160
They behinde him softly gott,
Lying on the earth along,
And when he suspected not,
Thus the Iouiall Shepheards song.

Neare to the Siluer _Trent_,
_Sirena_ dwelleth:
Shee to whom Nature lent
All that excelleth:
By which the _Muses_ late,
And the neate _Graces_, 170
Haue for their greater state
Taken their places:
Twisting an _Anadem_,
Wherewith to Crowne her,
As it belong'd to them
Most to renowne her.
Cho. _On thy Bancke,
In a Rancke,
Let the Swanes sing her,
And with their Musick, 180
Along let them bring her._

_Tagus_ and _Pactolus_
Are to thee Debter,
Nor for their gould to vs
Are they the better:
Henceforth of all the rest,
Be thou the Riuer,
Which as the daintiest,
Puts them downe euer,
For as my precious one, 190
O'r thee doth trauell,
She to Pearl Parragon
Turneth thy grauell.
Cho. _On thy Bancke,
In a Rancke,
Let thy Swanns sing her,
And with their Musicke,
Along let them bring her._

Our mournefull _Philomell_,
That rarest Tuner, 200
Henceforth in _Aperill_
Shall wake the sooner,
And to her shall complaine
From the thicke Couer,
Redoubling euery straine
Ouer and ouer:
For when my Loue too long
Her Chamber keepeth;
As though it suffered wrong,
The Morning weepeth. 210
Cho. _On thy Bancke,
In a Rancke,
Let thy Swanes sing her,
And with their Musick,
Along let them bring her._

Oft have I seene the Sunne
To doe her honour.
Fix himselfe at his noone,
To look vpon her,
And hath guilt euery Groue, 220
Euery Hill neare her,
With his flames from aboue,
Striuing to cheere her,
And when shee from his sight
Hath her selfe turned,
He as it had beene night,
In Cloudes hath mourned.
Cho. _On thy Bancke,
In a Rancke,
Let thy Swanns sing her, 230
And with their Musicke,
Along let them bring her._

The Verdant Meades are seene,
When she doth view them,
In fresh and gallant Greene,
Straight to renewe them,
And euery little Grasse
Broad it selfe spreadeth,
Proud that this bonny Lasse
Vpon it treadeth: 240
Nor flower is so sweete
In this large Cincture
But it upon her feete
Leaueth some Tincture.
Cho. _On thy Bancke,
In a Rancke,
Let thy Swanes sing her,
And with thy Musick,
Along let them bring her._

The Fishes in the Flood, 250
When she doth Angle,
For the Hooke striue a good
Them to intangle;
And leaping on the Land
From the cleare water,
Their Scales vpon the sand,
Lauishly scatter;
Therewith to paue the mould
Whereon she passes,
So her selfe to behold, 260
As in her glasses.
Cho. _On thy Bancke,
In a Ranke,
Let thy Swanns sing her,
And with their Musicke,
Along let them bring her._

When shee lookes out by night,
The Starres stand gazing,
Like Commets to our sight
Fearefully blazing, 270
As wondring at her eyes
With their much brightnesse,
Which to amaze the skies,
Dimming their lightnesse,
The raging Tempests are Calme,
When shee speaketh,
Such most delightsome balme
From her lips breaketh.
Cho. _On thy Banke,
In a Rancke_, &c. 280

In all our _Brittany_,
Ther's not a fayrer,
Nor can you fitt any:
Should you compare her.
Angels her eye-lids keepe
All harts surprizing,
Which looke whilst she doth sleepe
Like the Sunnes rising:
She alone of her kinde
Knoweth true measure 290
And her vnmatched mind
Is Heauens treasure:
Cho. _On thy Bancke,
In a Rancke
Let thy Swanes sing her,
And with their Musick,
Along let them bring her._

Fayre _Doue_ and _Darwine_ cleere
Boast yee your beauties,
To _Trent_ your Mistres here 300
Yet pay your duties,
My Loue was higher borne
Tow'rds the full Fountaines,
Yet she doth _Moorland_ scorne,
And the _Peake_ Mountaines;
Nor would she none should dreame,
Where she abideth,
Humble as is the streame,
Which by her slydeth,
Cho. _On thy Bancke, 310
In a Rancke,
Let thy Swannes sing her,
And with their Musicke,
Along let them bring her._

Yet my poore Rusticke _Muse_,
Nothing can moue her,
Nor the means I can vse,
Though her true Louer:
Many a long Winters night,
Haue I wak'd for her, 320
Yet this my piteous plight,
Nothing can stirre her.
All thy Sands siluer _Trent_
Downe to the _Humber_,
The sighes I haue spent
Neuer can number.
Cho. _On thy Banke
In a Ranke,
Let thy Swans sing her
And with their Musicke 330
Along let them bring her._

Taken with this suddaine Song,
Least for mirth when he doth look
His sad heart more deeply stong,
Then the former care he tooke.
At their laughter and amaz'd,
For a while he sat aghast
But a little hauing gaz'd,
Thus he them bespake at last.
Is this time for mirth (quoth he) 340
To a man with griefe opprest,
Sinfull wretches as you be,
May the sorrowes in my breast,
Light vpon you one by one,
And as now you mocke my woe,
When your mirth is turn'd to moane;
May your like then serue you so.
When one Swaine among the rest
Thus him merrily bespake,
Get thee vp thou arrant beast 350
Fits this season loue to make?
Take thy Sheephooke in thy hand,
Clap thy Curre and set him on,
For our fields 'tis time to stand,
Or they quickly will be gon.
Rougish Swinheards that repine
At our Flocks, like beastly Clownes,
Sweare that they will bring their Swine,
And will wroote vp all our Downes:
They their Holly whips haue brac'd, 360
And tough Hazell goades haue gott;
Soundly they your sides will baste,
If their courage faile them not.
Of their purpose if they speed,
Then your Bagpypes you may burne,
It is neither Droane nor Reed
Shepheard, that will serue your turne:
Angry OLCON sets them on,
And against vs part doth take
Euer since he was out-gone, 370
Offring Rymes with us to make.
Yet if so our Sheepe-hookes hold,
Dearely shall our Downes be bought,
For it neuer shall be told,
We our Sheep-walkes sold for naught.
And we here haue got vs Dogges,
Best of all the Westerne breed,
Which though Whelps shall lug their Hogges,
Till they make their eares to bleed:
Therefore Shepheard come away. 380
When as DORILVS arose,
Whistles Cut-tayle from his play,
And along with them he goes.

FINIS.

THE MVSES ELIZIVM

The Description of Elizium

A Paradice on earth is found,
Though farre from vulgar sight,
Which with those pleasures doth abound
That it _Elizium_ hight.

Where, in Delights that neuer fade,
The Muses lulled be,
And sit at pleasure in the shade
Of many a stately tree,

Which no rough Tempest makes to reele
Nor their straight bodies bowes, 10
Their lofty tops doe neuer feele
The weight of winters snowes;

In Groues that euermore are greene,
No falling leafe is there,
But _Philomel_ (of birds the Queene)
In Musicke spends the yeare.

The _Merle_ vpon her mertle Perch,
There to the _Mavis_ sings,
Who from the top of some curld Berch
Those notes redoubled rings; 20

There Daysyes damaske euery place
Nor once their beauties lose,
That when proud _Phoebus_ hides his face
Themselues they scorne to close.

The Pansy and the Violet here,
As seeming to descend,
Both from one Root, a very payre,
For sweetnesse yet contend,

And pointing to a Pinke to tell
Which beares it, it is loath, 30
To iudge it; but replyes for smell
That it excels them both.

Wherewith displeasde they hang their heads
So angry soone they grow
And from their odoriferous beds
Their sweets at it they throw.

The winter here a Summer is,
No waste is made by time,
Nor doth the Autumne euer misse
The blossomes of the Prime. 40

The flower that Iuly forth doth bring
In Aprill here is seene,
The Primrose that puts on the Spring
In Iuly decks each Greene.

The sweets for soueraignty contend
And so abundant be,
That to the very Earth they lend
And Barke of euery Tree:

Rills rising out of euery Banck,
In wild Meanders strayne, 50
And playing many a wanton pranck
Vpon the speckled plaine,

In Gambols and lascivious Gyres
Their time they still bestow
Nor to their Fountaines none retyres,
Nor on their course will goe.

Those Brooks with Lillies brauely deckt,
So proud and wanton made,
That they their courses quite neglect:
And seeme as though they stayde, 60

Faire _Flora_ in her state to viewe
Which through those Lillies looks,
Or as those Lillies leand to shew
Their beauties to the brooks.

That _Phoebus_in his lofty race,
Oft layes aside his beames
And comes to coole his glowing face
In these delicious streames;

Oft spreading Vines clime vp the Cleeues,
Whose ripned clusters there, 70
Their liquid purple drop, which driues
A Vintage through the yeere.

Those Cleeues whose craggy sides are clad
With Trees of sundry sutes,
Which make continuall summer glad,
Euen bending with their fruits,

Some ripening, ready some to fall,
Some blossom'd, some to bloome,
Like gorgeous hangings on the wall
Of some rich princely Roome: 80

_Pomegranates_, _Lymons_, _Cytrons_, so
Their laded branches bow,
Their leaues in number that outgoe
Nor roomth will them alow.

There in perpetuall Summers shade,
_Apolloes_ Prophets sit,
Among the flowres that neuer fade,
But flowrish like their wit;

To whom the Nimphes vpon their Lyres,
Tune many a curious lay, 90
And with their most melodious Quires
Make short the longest day.

The _thrice three Virgins_ heavenly Cleere,
Their trembling Timbrels sound,
Whilst the three comely Graces there
Dance many a dainty Round,

Decay nor Age there nothing knowes,
There is continuall Youth,
As Time on plant or creatures growes,
So still their strength renewth. 100

The Poets Paradice this is,
To which but few can come;
The Muses onely bower of blisse
Their Deare _Elizium_.

Here happy soules, (their blessed bowers,
Free from the rude resort
Of beastly people) spend the houres,
In harmelesse mirth and sport,

Then on to the _Elizian_ plaines
_Apollo_ doth invite you 110
Where he prouides with pastorall straines,
In Nimphals to delight you.

The first Nimphall

RODOPE and DORIDA.

_This Nimphall of delights doth treat,
Choice beauties, and proportions neat,
Of curious shapes, and dainty features
Describd in two most perfect creatures._

When _Phoebus_ with a face of mirth,
Had flong abroad his beames,
To blanch the bosome of the earth,
And glaze the gliding streames.
Within a goodly Mertle groue,
Vpon that hallowed day
The Nimphes to the bright Queene of loue
Their vowes were vsde to pay.
Faire _Rodope_ and _Dorida_
Met in those sacred shades, 10
Then whom the Sunne in all his way,
Nere saw two daintier Maids.
And through the thickets thrild his fires,
Supposing to haue seene
The soueraigne _Goddesse of desires_,
Or _Ioves Emperious Queene_:
Both of so wondrous beauties were,
In shape both so excell,
That to be paraleld elsewhere,
No iudging eye could tell. 20
And their affections so surpasse,
As well it might be deemd,
That th' one of them the other was,
And but themselues they seem'd.
And whilst the Nimphes that neare this place,
Disposed were to play
At Barly-breake and Prison-base,
Doe passe the time away:
This peerlesse payre together set,
The other at their sport, 30
None neare their free discourse to let,
Each other thus they court,

_Dorida._ My sweet, my soueraigne _Rodope_,
My deare delight, my loue,
That Locke of hayre thou sentst to me,
I to this Bracelet woue;
Which brighter euery day doth grow
The longer it is worne,
As its delicious fellowes doe,
Thy Temples that adorne. 40

_Rodope._ Nay had I thine my _Dorida_,
I would them so bestow,
As that the winde vpon my way,
Might backward make them flow,
So should it in its greatst excesse
Turne to becalmed ayre,
And quite forget all boistrousnesse
To play with euery hayre.

_Dorida._ To me like thine had nature giuen,
A Brow, so Archt, so cleere, 50
A Front, wherein so much of heauen
Doth to each eye appeare,
The world should see, I would strike dead
The Milky Way that's now,
And say that Nectar _Hebe_ shed
Fell all vpon my Brow.

_Rodope._ O had I eyes like _Doridaes_,
I would inchant the day
And make the Sunne to stand at gaze,
Till he forget his way: 60
And cause his Sister _Queene of Streames_,
When so I list by night;
By her much blushing at my Beames
T' eclipse her borrowed light.

_Dorida._ Had I a Cheeke like _Rodopes_,
In midst of which doth stand,
A Groue of Roses, such as these,
In such a snowy land:
I would then make the Lilly which we now
So much for whitenesse name, 70
As drooping downe the head to bow,
And die for very shame.

_Rodope._ Had I a bosome like to thine,
When I it pleas'd to show,
T' what part o' th' Skie I would incline
I would make th' Etheriall bowe,
My swannish breast brancht all with blew,
In brauery like the spring:
In Winter to the generall view
Full Summer forth should bring. 80

_Dorida._ Had I a body like my deare,
Were I so straight so tall,
O, if so broad my shoulders were,
Had I a waste so small;
I would challenge the proud Queene of loue
To yeeld to me for shape,
And I should feare that _Mars_ or _Iove_
Would venter for my rape.

_Rodope._ Had I a hand like thee my Gerle,
(This hand O let me kisse) 90
These Ivory Arrowes pyl'd with pearle,
Had I a hand like this;
I would not doubt at all to make,
Each finger of my hand
To taske swift _Mercury_ to take
With his inchanting wand.

_Dorida._ Had I a Theigh like Rodopes;
Which twas my chance to viewe,
When lying on yon banck at ease,
The wind thy skirt vp blew, 100
I would say it were a columne wrought
To some intent Diuine,
And for our chaste _Diana_ sought,
A pillar for her shryne.

_Rodope._ Had I a Leg but like to thine
That were so neat, so cleane,
A swelling Calfe, a Small so fine,
An Ankle, round and leane,
I would tell nature she doth misse
Her old skill; and maintaine, 110
She shewd her master peece in this,
Not to be done againe.

_Dorida._ Had I that Foot hid in those shoos,
(Proportion'd to my height)
Short Heele, thin Instep, euen Toes,
A Sole so wondrous straight,
The Forresters and Nimphes at this
Amazed all should stand,
And kneeling downe, should meekely kisse
The Print left in the sand. 120

By this the Nimphes came from their sport,
All pleased wondrous well,
And to these Maydens make report
What lately them befell:
One said the dainty _Lelipa_
Did all the rest out-goe,
Another would a wager lay
She would outstrip a Roe;
Sayes one, how like you _Florimel_
There is your dainty face: 130
A fourth replide, she lik't that well,
Yet better lik't her grace,
She's counted, I confesse, quoth she,
To be our onely Pearle,
Yet haue I heard her oft to be
A melancholy Gerle.
Another said she quite mistoke,
That onely was her art,
When melancholly had her looke
Then mirth was in her heart; 140
And hath she then that pretty trick
Another doth reply,
I thought no Nimph could haue bin sick
Of that disease but I;
I know you can dissemble well
Quoth one to giue you due,
But here be some (who Ile not tell)
Can do't as well as you,
Who thus replies, I know that too,
We haue it from our Mother, 150
Yet there be some this thing can doe
More cunningly then other:
If Maydens but dissemble can
Their sorrow and ther ioy,
Their pore dissimulation than,
Is but a very toy.

The second Nimphall

LALVS, CLEON, and LIROPE.

_The Muse new Courtship doth deuise,
By Natures strange Varieties,
Whose Rarieties she here relates,
And giues you Pastorall Delicates._

_Lalus_ a Iolly youthfull Lad,
With _Cleon_, no lesse crown'd
With vertues; both their beings had
On the Elizian ground.
Both hauing parts so excellent,
That it a question was,
Which should be the most eminent,
Or did in ought surpasse:
This _Cleon_ was a Mountaineer,
And of the wilder kinde, 10
And from his birth had many a yeere
Bin nurst vp by a Hinde.
And as the sequell well did show,
It very well might be;
For neuer Hart, nor Hare, nor Roe,
Were halfe so swift as he.
But _Lalus_ in the Vale was bred,
Amongst the Sheepe and Neate,
And by these Nimphes there choicly fed,
With Hony, Milke, and Wheate; 20
Of Stature goodly, faire of speech,
And of behauiour mylde,
Like those there in the Valley rich,
That bred him of a chyld.
Of Falconry they had the skill,
Their Halkes to feed and flye,
No better Hunters ere clome Hill,
Nor hollowed to a Cry:
In Dingles deepe, and Mountains hore,
Oft with the bearded Speare 30
They combated the tusky Boare,
And slew the angry Beare.
In Musicke they were wondrous quaint,
Fine Aers they could deuise;
They very curiously could Paint,
And neatly Poetize;
That wagers many time were laid
On Questions that arose,
Which song the witty _Lalus_ made,
Which _Cleon_ should compose. 40
The stately Steed they manag'd well,
Of Fence the art they knew,
For Dansing they did all excell
The Gerles that to them drew;
To throw the Sledge, to pitch the Barre,
To wrestle and to Run,
They all the Youth exceld so farre,
That still the Prize they wonne.
These sprightly Gallants lou'd a Lasse,
Cald _Lirope the bright_, 50
In the whole world there scarcely was
So delicate a Wight,
There was no Beauty so diuine
That euer Nimph did grace,
But it beyond it selfe did shine
In her more heuenly face:
What forme she pleasd each thing would take
That ere she did behold,
Of Pebbles she could Diamonds make,
Grosse Iron turne to Gold: 60
Such power there with her presence came
Sterne Tempests she alayd,
The cruell Tiger she could tame,
She raging Torrents staid,
She chid, she cherisht, she gaue life,
Againe she made to dye,
She raisd a warre, apeasd a Strife,
With turning of her eye.
Some said a God did her beget,
But much deceiu'd were they, 70
Her Father was a _Riuelet_,
Her Mother was a _Fay_.
Her Lineaments so fine that were,
She from the Fayrie tooke,
Her Beauties and Complection cleere,
By nature from the Brooke.
These Ryualls wayting for the houre
(The weather calme and faire)
When as she vs'd to leaue her Bower
To take the pleasant ayre 80
Acosting her; their complement
To her their Goddesse done;
By gifts they tempt her to consent,
When _Lalus_ thus begun.

_Lalus._ Sweet _Lirope_ I haue a Lambe
Newly wayned from the Damme,
_* Without Of the right kinde, it is *notted,
hornes._ Naturally with purple spotted,
Into laughter it will put you,
To see how prettily 'twill But you; 90
When on sporting it is set,
It will beate you a Corvet,
And at euery nimble bound
Turne it selfe aboue the ground;
When tis hungry it will bleate,
From your hand to haue its meate,
And when it hath fully fed,
It will fetch Iumpes aboue your head,
As innocently to expresse
Its silly sheepish thankfullnesse, 100
When you bid it, it will play,
Be it either night or day,
This _Lirope_ I haue for thee,
So thou alone wilt liue with me.

_Cleon._ From him O turne thine eare away,
And heare me my lou'd _Lirope_,
I haue a Kid as white as milke,
His skin as soft as _Naples_ silke,
His hornes in length are wondrous euen,
And curiously by nature writhen; 110
It is of th' Arcadian kinde,
Ther's not the like twixt either _Inde_;
If you walke, 'twill walke you by,
If you sit downe, it downe will lye,
It with gesture will you wooe,
And counterfeit those things you doe;
Ore each Hillock it will vault,
And nimbly doe the Summer-sault,
Upon the hinder Legs 'twill goe,
And follow you a furlong so, 120
And if by chance a Tune you roate,
'Twill foote it finely to your note,
Seeke the worlde and you may misse
To finde out such a thing as this;
This my loue I haue for thee
So thou'lt leaue him and goe with me.

_Lirope._ Beleeue me Youths your gifts are rare,
And you offer wondrous faire;
_Lalus_ for Lambe, _Cleon_ for Kyd,
'Tis hard to iudge which most doth bid, 130
And haue you two such things in store,
And I n'er knew of them before?
Well yet I dare a Wager lay
That _Brag_ my little Dog shall play,
As dainty tricks when I shall bid,
As _Lalus_ Lambe, or _Cleons_ Kid.
But t' may fall out that I may neede them
Till when yee may doe well to feed them;
Your Goate and Mutton pretty be
But Youths these are noe bayts for me, 140
Alasse good men, in vaine ye wooe,
'Tis not your Lambe nor Kid will doe.

_Lalus._ I haue two Sparrowes white as Snow,
Whose pretty eyes like sparkes doe show;
In her Bosome _Venus_ hatcht them
Where her little _Cupid_ watcht them,
Till they too fledge their Nests forsooke
Themselues and to the Fields betooke,
Where by chance a Fowler caught them
Of whom I full dearely bought them; 150
_* The redde They'll fetch you Conserue from the *Hip,
fruit of the And lay it softly on your Lip,
smooth Through their nibling bills they'll Chirup
Bramble._ And fluttering feed you with the Sirup,
And if thence you put them by
They to your white necke will flye,
And if you expulse them there
They'll hang vpon your braded Hayre;
You so long shall see them prattle
Till at length they'll fall to battle, 160
And when they haue fought their fill,
You will smile to see them bill
These birds my _Lirope's_ shall be
So thou'lt leaue him and goe with me.

_Cleon._ His Sparrowes are not worth a rush
I'le finde as good in euery bush,
Of Doues I haue a dainty paire
Which when you please to take the Air,
About your head shall gently houer
You Cleere browe from the Sunne to couer, 170
And with their nimble wings shall fan you,
That neither Cold nor Heate shall tan you,
And like Vmbrellas with their feathers
Sheeld you in all sorts of weathers:
They be most dainty Coloured things,
They haue Damask backs and Chequerd wings,
Their neckes more Various Cullours showe
Then there be mixed in the Bowe;
_Venus_ saw the lesser Doue
And therewith was farre in Loue, 180
Offering for't her goulden Ball
For her Sonne to play withall;
These my _Liropes_ shall be
So shee'll leaue him and goe with me.

_Lirope._ Then for Sparrowes, and for Doues
I am fitted twixt my Loues,
But _Lalus_ I take no delight
In Sparowes, for they'll scratch and bite
And though ioynd, they are euer wooing
Alwayes billing, if not doeing, 190
Twixt _Venus_ breasts if they haue lyen
I much feare they'll infect myne;
_Cleon_ your Doues are very dainty,
Tame Pidgeons else you know are plenty,
These may winne some of your Marrowes
I am not caught with Doues, nor Sparrowes,
I thanke ye kindly for your Coste,
Yet your labour is but loste.

_Lalus._ With full-leau'd Lillies I will stick
Thy braded hayre all o'r so thick, 200
That from it a Light shall throw
Like the Sunnes vpon the Snow.
Thy Mantle shall be Violet Leaues,
With the fin'st the Silkeworme weaues
As finely wouen; whose rich smell
The Ayre about thee so shall swell
That it shall haue no power to mooue.
A Ruffe of Pinkes thy Robe aboue
About thy necke so neatly set
That Art it cannot counterfet, 210
Which still shall looke so Fresh and new,
As if vpon their Roots they grew:
And for thy head Ile haue a Tyer
Of netting, made of Strawbery wyer,
And in each knot that doth compose
A Mesh, shall stick a halfe blowne Rose,
Red, damaske, white, in order set
About the sides, shall run a Fret
Of Primroses, the Tyer throughout
With Thrift and Dayses frindgd about; 220
All this faire Nimph Ile doe for thee,
So thou'lt leaue him and goe with me.

_Cleon._ These be but weeds and Trash he brings,
Ile giue thee solid, costly things,
His will wither and be gone
Before thou well canst put them on;
With Currall I will haue thee Crown'd,
Whose Branches intricatly wound
Shall girt thy Temples euery way;
And on the top of euery Spray 230
Shall stick a Pearle orient and great,
Which so the wandring Birds shall cheat,
That some shall stoope to looke for Cheries,
As other for tralucent Berries.
And wondering, caught e'r they be ware
In the curld Tramels of thy hayre:
And for thy necke a Christall Chaine
Whose lincks shapt like to drops of Raine,
Vpon thy panting Breast depending,
Shall seeme as they were still descending, 240
And as thy breath doth come and goe,
So seeming still to ebbe and flow:
With Amber Bracelets cut like Bees,
Whose strange transparency who sees,
With Silke small as the Spiders Twist
Doubled so oft about thy Wrist,
Would surely thinke aliue they were,
From Lillies gathering hony there.
Thy Buskins Ivory, caru'd like Shels
Of Scallope, which as little Bels 250
Made hollow, with the Ayre shall Chime,
And to thy steps shall keepe the time:
Leaue _Lalus_, _Lirope_ for me
And these shall thy rich dowry be.

_Lirope._ _Lalus_ for Flowers. _Cleon_ for Iemmes,
For Garlands and for Diadems,
I shall be sped, why this is braue,
What Nimph can choicer Presents haue,
With dressing, brading, frowncing, flowring,
All your Iewels on me powring, 260
In this brauery being drest,
To the ground I shall be prest,
That I doubt the Nimphes will feare me,
Nor will venture to come neare me;
Neuer Lady of the May,
To this houre was halfe so gay;
All in flowers, all so sweet,
From the Crowne, beneath the Feet,
Amber, Currall, Ivory, Pearle,
If this cannot win a Gerle, 270
Ther's nothing can, and this ye wooe me,
Giue me your hands and trust ye to me,
(Yet to tell ye I am loth)
That I'le haue neither of you both;

_Lalus._ When thou shalt please to stem the flood,
(As thou art of the watry brood)
I'le haue twelve Swannes more white than Snow,
Yokd for the purpose two and two,
To drawe thy Barge wrought of fine Reed
So well that it nought else shall need, 280
The Traces by which they shall hayle
Thy Barge; shall be the winding trayle
Of woodbynd; whose braue Tasseld Flowers
(The Sweetnesse of the Woodnimphs Bowres)
Shall be the Trappings to adorne,
The Swannes, by which thy Barge is borne,
Of flowred Flags I'le rob the banke
Of water-Cans and King-cups ranck
To be the Couering of thy Boate,
And on the Streame as thou do'st Floate, 290
The _Naiades_ that haunt the deepe,
Themselues about thy Barge shall keepe,
Recording most delightfull Layes,
By Sea Gods written in thy prayse.
And in what place thou hapst to land,
There the gentle Siluery sand,
Shall soften, curled with the Aier
As sensible of thy repayre:
This my deare loue I'le doe for thee,
So Thou'lt leaue him and goe with me: 300

_Cleon._ Tush Nimphe his Swannes will prove but Geese,
His Barge drinke water like a Fleece;
A Boat is base, I'le thee prouide,
A Chariot, wherein _Ioue_ may ride;
In which when brauely thou art borne,
Thou shalt looke like the gloryous morne
Vshering the Sunne, and such a one
As to this day was neuer none,
Of the Rarest Indian Gummes,
More pretious then your Balsamummes 310
Which I by Art haue made so hard,
That they with Tooles may well be Caru'd
To make a Coach of: which shall be
Materyalls of this one for thee,
And of thy Chariot each small peece
Shall inlayd be with Amber Greece,
And guilded with the Yellow ore
Produc'd from _Tagus_ wealthy shore;
In which along the pleasant Lawne,
With twelue white Stags thou shalt be drawne, 320
Whose brancht palmes of a stately height,
With seuerall nosegayes shall be dight;
And as thou ryd'st, thy Coach about,
For thy strong guard shall runne a Rout,
Of Estriges; whose Curled plumes,
Sen'sd with thy Chariots rich perfumes,
The scent into the Aier shall throw;
Whose naked Thyes shall grace the show;
Whilst the Woodnimphs and those bred
Vpon the mountayns, o'r thy head 330
Shall beare a Canopy of flowers,
Tinseld with drops of Aprill showers,
Which shall make more glorious showes
Then spangles, or your siluer Oas;
This bright nimph I'le doe for thee
So thou'lt leaue him and goe with me.

_Lirope._ Vie and reuie, like Chapmen profer'd,
Would't be receaued what you haue offer'd;
Ye greater honour cannot doe me,
If not building Altars to me: 340
Both by Water and by Land,
Bardge and Chariot at command;
Swans vpon the Streame to rawe me,
Stags vpon the Land to drawe me,
In all this Pompe should I be seene,
What a pore thing were a Queene:
All delights in such excesse,
As but yee, who can expresse:
Thus mounted should the Nimphes me see,
All the troope would follow me, 350
Thinking by this state that I
Would asume a Deitie.
There be some in loue haue bin,
And I may commit that sinne,
And if e'r I be in loue,
With one of you I feare twill proue,
But with which I cannot tell,
So my gallant Youths farewell.

The third Nimphall

DORON. NAIJS. CLORIS. CLAIA.
DORILVS. CLOE. MERTILLA.
FLORIMEL.

With Nimphes and Forresters.

_Poetick Raptures, sacred fires,
With which _Apollo_ his inspires,
This Nimphall gives you; and withall
Obserues the Muses Festivall._

Amongst th' Elizians many mirthfull Feasts,
At which the Muses are the certaine guests,
Th' obserue one Day with most Emperiall state,
To wise _Apollo_ which they dedicate,
The Poets God; and to his Alters bring
Th' enamel'd Brauery of the beauteous spring,
And strew their Bowers with euery precious sweet,
Which still wax fresh, most trod on with their feet;
With most choice flowers each Nimph doth brade her hayre,
And not the mean'st but bauldrick wise doth weare 10
Some goodly Garland, and the most renown'd
With curious Roseat Anadems are crown'd.
These being come into the place where they
Yearely obserue the Orgies to that day,
The Muses from their Heliconian spring
Their brimfull Mazers to the feasting bring:
When with deepe Draughts out of those plenteous Bowles,
The iocond Youth haue swild their thirsty soules,
They fall enraged with a sacred heat,
And when their braines doe once begin to sweat 20
They into braue and Stately numbers breake,
And not a word that any one doth speake
But tis Prophetick, and so strangely farre
In their high fury they transported are,
As there's not one, on any thing can straine,
But by another answred is againe
In the same Rapture, which all sit to heare;
When as two Youths that soundly liquord were,
_Dorilus_ and _Doron_, two as noble swayns
As euer kept on the Elizian playns, 30
First by their signes attention hauing woonne,
Thus they the Reuels frolikly begunne.

Doron. _Come _Dorilus_, let vs be brave,
In lofty numbers let vs raue,
With Rymes I will inrich thee._

Dorilus. _Content say I, then bid the base,
Our wits shall runne the Wildgoosechase,
Spurre vp, or I will swich thee._

Doron. _The Sunne out of the East doth peepe,
And now the day begins to creepe, 40
Vpon the world at leasure._

Dorilus. _The Ayre enamor'd of the Greaues,
The West winde stroaks the velvit leaues
And kisses them at pleasure._

Doron. _The spinners webs twixt spray and spray,
The top of euery bush make gay,
By filmy coards there dangling._

Dorilus. _For now the last dayes euening dew
Euen to the full it selfe doth shew,
Each bough with Pearle bespangling._ 50

Doron. _O Boy how thy abundant vaine
Euen like a Flood breaks from thy braine,
Nor can thy Muse be gaged._

Dorilus. _Why nature forth did neuer bring
A man that like to me can sing,
If once I be enraged._

Doron. _Why _Dorilus_ I in my skill
Can make the swiftest Streame stand still,
Nay beare back to his springing._

Dorilus. _And I into a Trance most deepe 60
Can cast the Birds that they shall sleepe
When fain'st they would be singing._

Doron. _Why _Dorilus_ thou mak'st me mad,
And now my wits begin to gad,
But sure I know not whither._

Dorilus. _O _Doron_ let me hug thee then,
There neuer was two madder men,
Then let vs on together._

Doron. Hermes _the winged Horse bestrid,
And thorow thick and thin he rid, 70
And floundred throw the Fountaine._

Dorilus. _He spurd the Tit vntill he bled,
So that at last he ran his head
Against the forked Mountaine,_

Doron. _How sayst thou, but pyde _Iris_ got
Into great _Iunos_ Chariot,
I spake with one that saw her._

Dorilus. _And there the pert and sawcy Elfe,
Behau'd her as twere _Iuno's_ selfe,
And made the Peacocks draw her._ 80

Doron. _Ile borrow _Phoebus_ fiery Iades,
With which about the world he trades,
And put them in my Plow._

Dorilus. _O thou most perfect frantique man,
Yet let thy rage be what it can,
Ile be as mad as thou._

Doron. _Ile to great _Iove_, hap good, hap ill,
Though he with Thunder threat to kill,
And beg of him a boone._

Dorilus. _To swerue vp one of _Cynthias_ beames, 90
And there to bath thee in the streames.
Discouerd in the Moone._

Doron. _Come frolick Youth and follow me,
My frantique boy, and Ile show thee
The Countrey of the Fayries._

Dorilus. _The fleshy Mandrake where't doth grow
In noonshade of the Mistletow,
And where the Phoenix Aryes._

Doron. _Nay more, the Swallowes winter bed,
The Caverns where the Winds are bred, 100
Since thus thou talkst of showing._

Dorilus. _And to those Indraughts Ile thee bring,
That wondrous and eternall spring
Whence th' Ocean hath its flowing._

Doron. _We'll downe to the darke house of sleepe,
Where snoring _Morpheus_ doth keepe,
And wake the drowsy Groome._

Dorilus. _Downe shall the Dores and Windowes goe,
The Stooles vpon the Floare we'll throw,
And roare about the Roome._ 110

The Muses here commanded them to stay,
Commending much the caridge of their Lay
As greatly pleasd at this their madding Bout,
To heare how brauely they had borne it out
From first to the last, of which they were right glad,
By this they found that _Helicon_ still had
That vertue it did anciently retaine
When _Orpheus Lynus_ and th' Ascrean Swaine
Tooke lusty Rowses, which hath made their Rimes,
To last so long to all succeeding times. 120
And now amongst this beauteous Beauie here,
Two wanton Nimphes, though dainty ones they were,
_Naijs_ and _Cloe_ in their female fits
Longing to show the sharpnesse of their wits,
Of the _nine Sisters_ speciall leaue doe craue
That the next Bout they two might freely haue,
Who hauing got the suffrages of all,
Thus to their Rimeing instantly they fall.

Naijs. _Amongst you all let us see
Who ist opposes mee, 130
Come on the proudest she
To answere my dittye._

Cloe. _Why _Naijs_, that am I,
Who dares thy pride defie.
And that we soone shall try
Though thou be witty._

Naijs. Cloe _I scorne my Rime
Should obserue feet or time,
Now I fall, then I clime,
Where i'st I dare not._ 140

Cloe. _Giue thy Invention wing,
And let her flert and fling,
Till downe the Rocks she ding,
For that I care not._

Naijs. _This presence delights me,
My freedome inuites me,
The Season excytes me,
In Rime to be merry._

Cloe. _And I beyond measure,
Am rauisht with pleasure, 150
To answer each Ceasure,
Untill thou beist weary._

Naijs. _Behold the Rosye Dawne,
Rises in Tinsild Lawne,
And smiling seemes to fawne,
Vpon the mountaines._

Cloe. _Awaked from her Dreames,
Shooting foorth goulden Beames
Dansing vpon the Streames
Courting the Fountaines._ 160

Naijs. _These more then sweet Showrets,
Intice vp these Flowrets,
To trim vp our Bowrets,
Perfuming our Coats._

Cloe. _Whilst the Birds billing
Each one with his Dilling
The thickets still filling
With Amorous Noets._

Naijs. _The Bees vp in hony rould,
More then their thighes can hould, 170
Lapt in their liquid gould,
Their Treasure vs Bringing._

Cloe. _To these Rillets purling
Vpon the stones Curling,
And oft about wherling,
Dance tow'ard their springing._

Naijs. _The Wood-Nimphes sit singing,
Each Groue with notes ringing
Whilst fresh Ver is flinging
Her Bounties abroad._ 180

Cloe. _So much as the Turtle,
Upon the low Mertle,
To the meads fertle,
Her cares doth unload._

Naijs. _Nay 'tis a world to see,
In euery bush and Tree,
The Birds with mirth and glee,
Woo'd as they woe._

Cloe. _The Robin and the Wren,
Every Cocke with his Hen, 190
Why should not we and men,
Doe as they doe._

Naijs. _The Faires are hopping,
The small Flowers cropping,
And with dew dropping,
Skip thorow the Greaues._

Cloe. _At Barly-breake they play
Merrily all the day,
At night themselues they lay
Vpon the soft leaues._ 200

Naijs. _The gentle winds sally,
Vpon every Valley,
And many times dally
And wantonly sport._

Cloe. _About the fields tracing,
Each other in chasing,
And often imbracing,
In amorous sort._

Naijs. _And Eccho oft doth tell
Wondrous things from her Cell, 210
As her what chance befell,
Learning to prattle._

Cloe. _And now she sits and mocks
The Shepherds and their flocks,
And the Heards from the Rocks
Keeping their Cattle._

When to these Maids the Muses silence cry,
For 'twas the opinion of the Company,
That were not these two taken of, that they
Would in their Conflict wholly spend the day. 220
When as the Turne to _Florimel_ next came,
A Nimph for Beauty of especiall name,
Yet was she not so Iolly as the rest:
And though she were by her companions prest,
Yet she by no intreaty would be wrought
To sing, as by th' Elizian Lawes she ought:
When two bright Nimphes that her companions were,
And of all other onely held her deare,
Mild _Claris_ and _Mertilla_, with faire speech
Their most beloued _Florimel_ beseech, 230
T'obserue the Muses, and the more to wooe her,
They take their turnes, and thus they sing vnto her.

Cloris. _Sing, _Florimel_, O sing, and wee
Our whole wealth will giue to thee,
We'll rob the brim of euery Fountaine,
Strip the sweets from euery Mountaine,
We will sweepe the curled valleys,
Brush the bancks that mound our allyes,
We will muster natures dainties
When she wallowes in her plentyes, 240
The lushyous smell of euery flower
New washt by an Aprill shower,
The Mistresse of her store we'll make thee
That she for her selfe shall take thee;
Can there be a dainty thing,
That's not thine if thou wilt sing._

Mertilla. _When the dew in May distilleth,
And the Earths rich bosome filleth,
And with Pearle embrouds each Meadow,
We will make them like a widow, 250
And in all their Beauties dresse thee,
And of all their spoiles possesse thee,
With all the bounties Zephyre brings,
Breathing on the yearely springs,
The gaudy bloomes of euery Tree
In their most beauty when they be,
What is here that may delight thee,
Or to pleasure may excite thee,
Can there be a dainty thing
That's not thine if thou wilt sing._ 260

But _Florimel_ still sullenly replyes
I will not sing at all, let that suffice:
When as a Nimph one of the merry ging
Seeing she no way could be wonne to sing;
Come, come, quoth she, ye vtterly vndoe her
With your intreaties, and your reuerence to her;
For praise nor prayers, she careth not a pin;
They that our froward _Florimel_ would winne,
Must worke another way, let me come to her,
Either Ile make her sing, or Ile vndoe her. 270

Claia. Florimel _I thus coniure thee,
Since their gifts cannot alure thee;
By stampt Garlick, that doth stink
Worse then common Sewer, or Sink,
By Henbane, Dogsbane, Woolfsbane, sweet
As any Clownes or Carriers feet,
By stinging Nettles, pricking Teasels
Raysing blisters like the measels,
By the rough Burbreeding docks,
Rancker then the oldest Fox, 280
By filthy Hemblock, poysning more
Then any vlcer or old sore,
By the Cockle in the corne,
That smels farre worse then doth burnt horne,
By Hempe in water that hath layne,
By whose stench the Fish are slayne,
By Toadflax which your Nose may tast,
If you haue a minde to cast,
May all filthy stinking Weeds
That e'r bore leafe, or e'r had seeds,_ 290
Florimel _be giuen to thee,
If thou'lt not sing as well as wee._

At which the Nimphs to open laughter fell,
Amongst the rest the beauteous _Florimel_,
(Pleasd with the spell from _Claia_ that came,
A mirthfull Gerle and giuen to sport and game)
As gamesome growes as any of them all,
And to this ditty instantly doth fall.

Florimel. _How in my thoughts should I contriue
The Image I am framing, 300
Which is so farre superlatiue,
As tis beyond all naming;
I would _Ioue_ of my counsell make,
And haue his judgement in it,
But that I doubt he would mistake
How rightly to begin it,
It must be builded in the Ayre,
And tis my thoughts must doo it,
And onely they must be the stayre
From earth to mount me to it, 310
For of my Sex I frame my Lay,
Each houre, our selues forsaking,
How should I then finde out the way
To this my vndertaking,
When our weake Fancies working still,
Yet changing every minnit,
Will shew that it requires some skill,
Such difficulty's in it.
We would things, yet we know not what,
And let our will be granted, 320
Yet instantly we finde in that
Something vnthought of wanted:
Our ioyes and hopes such shadowes are,
As with our motions varry,
Which when we oft haue fetcht from farre,
With us they neuer tarry:
Some worldly crosse doth still attend,
What long we haue in spinning,
And e'r we fully get the end
We lose of our beginning. 330
Our pollicies so peevish are,
That with themselues they wrangle,
And many times become the snare
That soonest vs intangle;
For that the Loue we beare our Friends
Though nere so strongly grounded,
Hath in it certaine oblique ends
If to the bottome sounded:
Our owne well wishing making it,
A pardonable Treason; 340
For that is deriud from witt,
And vnderpropt with reason.
For our Deare selues beloued sake
(Euen in the depth of passion)
Our Center though our selues we make,
Yet is not that our station;
For whilst our Browes ambitious be
And youth at hand awayts vs,
It is a pretty thing to see
How finely Beautie cheats vs, 350
And whilst with tyme we tryfling stand
To practise Antique graces
Age with a pale and withered hand
Drawes Furowes in our faces._

When they which so desirous were before
To hear her sing; desirous are far more
To haue her cease; and call to haue her stayd
For she to much alredy had bewray'd.
And as the _thrice three Sisters_ thus had grac'd
Their Celebration, and themselues had plac'd 360
Vpon a Violet banck, in order all
Where they at will might view the Festifall
The Nimphs and all the lusty youth that were
At this braue Nimphall, by them honored there,
To Gratifie the heauenly Gerles againe
Lastly prepare in state to entertaine
Those sacred Sisters, fairely and confer,
On each of them, their prayse particular
And thus the Nimphes to the nine Muses sung.
When as the Youth and Forresters among 370
That well prepared for this businesse were,
Become the _Chorus_, and thus sung they there.

Nimphes. Clio _then first of those Celestiall nine
That daily offer to the sacred shryne,
Of wise _Apollo_; Queene of Stories,
Thou that vindicat'st the glories
Of passed ages, and renewst
Their acts which euery day thou viewst,
And from a lethargy dost keepe
Old nodding time, else prone to sleepe._ 380

Chorus. Clio _O craue of _Phoebus_ to inspire
Vs, for his Altars with his holiest fire,
And let his glorious euer-shining Rayes
Giue life and growth to our Elizian Bayes._

Nimphes. Melpomine _thou melancholly Maid
Next, to wise _Phoebus_ we inuoke thy ayd,
In Buskins that dost stride the Stage,
And in thy deepe distracted rage,
In blood-shed that dost take delight,
Thy obiect the most fearfull sight, 390
That louest the sighes, the shreekes, and sounds
Of horrors, that arise from wounds._

Chorus. _Sad Muse, O craue of _Phoebus_ to inspire
Vs for his Altars, with his holiest fire,
And let his glorious euer-shining Rayes
Giue life and growth to our Elizian Bayes._

Nimphes. _Comick _Thalia_ then we come to thee,
Thou mirthfull Mayden, onely that in glee
And loues deceits, thy pleasure tak'st,
Of which thy varying Scene that mak'st 400
And in thy nimble Sock do'st stirre
Loude laughter through the Theater,
That with the Peasant mak'st the sport,
As well as with the better sort._

Chorus. Thalia _craue of _Phoebus_ to inspire
Vs for his Alters with his holyest fier;
And let his glorious euer-shining Rayes
Giue life, and growth to our Elizian Bayes._

Nimphes. Euterpe _next to thee we will proceed,
That first sound'st out the Musick on the Reed, 410
With breath and fingers giu'ng life,
To the shrill Cornet and the Fyfe.
Teaching euery stop and kaye,
To those vpon the Pipe that playe,
Those which Wind-Instruments we call
Or soft, or lowd, or greate, or small,_

Chorus. Euterpe _aske of _Phebus_ to inspire,
Vs for his Alters with his holyest fire
And let his glorious euer-shining Rayes
Giue life and growth to our Elizian Bayes._ 420

Nimphes. Terpsichore _that of the Lute and Lyre,
And Instruments that sound with Cords and wyere,
That art the Mistres, to commaund
The touch of the most Curious hand,
When euery Quauer doth Imbrace
His like in a true Diapase,
And euery string his sound doth fill
Toucht with the Finger or the Quill._

Chorus. Terpsichore, _craue _Phebus_ to inspire
Vs for his Alters with his holyest fier 430
And let his glorious euer-shining Rayes
Giue life and growth to our Elizian Bayes._

Nimphes. _Then _Erato_ wise muse on thee we call,
In Lynes to vs that do'st demonstrate all,
Which neatly, with thy staffe and Bowe,
Do'st measure, and proportion showe;
Motion and Gesture that dost teach
That euery height and depth canst reach,
And do'st demonstrate by thy Art
What nature else would not Impart._ 440

Chorus. _Deare _Erato_ craue _Phebus_ to inspire
Vs for his Alters with his holyest fire,
And let his glorious euer-shining Rayes,
Giue life and growth to our Elizian Bayes._

Nimphes. _To thee then braue _Caliope_ we come
Thou that maintain'st, the Trumpet, and the Drum;
The neighing Steed that louest to heare,
Clashing of Armes doth please thine eare,
In lofty Lines that do'st rehearse
Things worthy of a thundring verse, 450
And at no tyme are heard to straine,
On ought that suits a Common vayne._

Chorus. Caliope_, craue _Phebus_ to inspire,
Vs for his Alters with his holyest fier,
And let his glorious euer-shining Rayes,
Giue life and growth to our Elizian Bayes._