Part 14

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._

Nimphes. _Then _Polyhymnia_ most delicious Mayd, In Rhetoricks Flowers that art arayd, In Tropes and Figures, richly drest, The Fyled Phrase that louest best, 460 That art all Elocution, and The first that gau'st to vnderstand The force of wordes in order plac'd And with a sweet deliuery grac'd._

Chorus. _Sweet Muse perswade our _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. _Lofty _Vrania_ then we call to thee, To whom the Heauens for euer opened be, 470 Thou th' Asterismes by name dost call, And shewst when they doe rise and fall Each Planets force, and dost diuine His working, seated in his Signe, And how the starry Frame still roules Betwixt the fixed stedfast Poles._

Chorus. Vrania _aske 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._ 480

The fourth Nimphall

CLORIS and MERTILLA.

_Chaste _Cloris_ doth disclose the shames Of the Felician frantique Dames,_ Mertilla _striues t' apease her woe, To golden wishes then they goe._

_Mertilla._ Why how now _Cloris_, what, thy head Bound with forsaken Willow? Is the cold ground become thy bed? The grasse become thy Pillow? O let not those life-lightning eyes In this sad vayle be shrowded, Which into mourning puts the Skyes, To see them ouer-clowded.

_Cloris._ O my _Mertilla_ doe not praise These Lampes so dimly burning, 10 Such sad and sullen lights as these Were onely made for mourning: Their obiects are the barren Rocks With aged Mosse o'r shaded; Now whilst the Spring layes forth her Locks With blossomes brauely braded.

_Mertilla._ O _Cloris_, Can there be a Spring, O my deare Nimph, there may not, Wanting thine eyes it forth to bring, Without which Nature cannot: 20 Say what it is that troubleth thee Encreast by thy concealing, Speake; sorrowes many times we see Are lesned by reuealing.

_Cloris._ Being of late too vainely bent And but at too much leisure; Not with our Groves and Downes content, But surfetting in pleasure; Felicia's Fields I would goe see, Where fame to me reported, 30 The choyce Nimphes of the world to be From meaner beauties sorted; Hoping that I from them might draw Some graces to delight me, But there such monstrous shapes I saw, That to this houre affright me. Throw the thick Hayre, that thatch'd their Browes, Their eyes vpon me stared, Like to those raging frantique Froes For _Bacchus_ Feasts prepared: 40 Their Bodies, although straight by kinde, Yet they so monstrous make them, That for huge Bags blowne vp with wind, You very well may take them. Their Bowels in their Elbowes are, Whereon depend their Panches, And their deformed Armes by farre Made larger than their Hanches: For their behauiour and their grace, Which likewise should haue priz'd them, 50 Their manners were as beastly base As th' rags that so disguisd them; All Anticks, all so impudent, So fashon'd out of fashion, As blacke _Cocytus_ vp had sent Her Fry into this nation, Whose monstrousnesse doth so perplex, Of Reason and depriues me, That for their sakes I loath my sex, Which to this sadnesse driues me. 60

_Mertilla._ O my deare _Cloris_ be not sad, Nor with these Furies danted, But let these female fooles be mad, With Hellish pride inchanted; Let not thy noble thoughts descend So low as their affections; Whom neither counsell can amend, Nor yet the Gods corrections: Such mad folks ne'r let vs bemoane, But rather scorne their folly, 70 And since we two are here alone, To banish melancholly, Leaue we this lowly creeping vayne Not worthy admiration, And in a braue and lofty strayne, Lets exercise our passion, With wishes of each others good, From our abundant treasures, And in this iocund sprightly mood: Thus alter we our measures. 80

_Mertilla._ O I could wish this place were strewd with Roses, And that this Banck were thickly thrumd with Grasse As soft as Sleaue, or Sarcenet euer was, Whereon my _Cloris_ her sweet selfe reposes.

_Cloris._ O that these Dewes Rosewater were for thee, These Mists Perfumes that hang vpon these thicks, And that the Winds were all Aromaticks, Which, if my wish could make them, they should bee.

_Mertilla._ O that my Bottle one whole Diamond were, So fild with Nectar that a Flye might sup, 90 And at one draught that thou mightst drinke it vp, Yet a Carouse not good enough I feare.

_Cloris._ That all the Pearle, the Seas, or Indias haue Were well dissolu'd, and thereof made a Lake, Thou there in bathing, and I by to take Pleasure to see thee cleerer than the Waue.

_Mertilla._ O that the Hornes of all the Heards we see, Were of fine gold, or else that euery horne Were like to that one of the Vnicorne, And of all these, not one but were thy Fee. 100

_Cloris._ O that their Hooues were Iuory, or some thing, Then the pur'st Iuory farre more Christalline, Fild with the food wherewith the Gods doe dine, To keepe thy Youth in a continuall Spring.

_Mertilla._ O that the sweets of all the Flowers that grow, The labouring ayre would gather into one, In Gardens, Fields, nor Meadowes leauing none, And all their Sweetnesse vpon thee would throw.

_Cloris._ Nay that those sweet harmonious straines we heare, Amongst the liuely Birds melodious Layes, 110 As they recording sit vpon the Sprayes, Were houering still for Musick at thine eare.

_Mertilla._ O that thy name were caru'd on euery Tree, That as these plants still great, and greater grow, Thy name deare Nimph might be enlarged so, That euery Groue and Coppis might speake thee.

_Cloris._ Nay would thy name vpon their Rynds were set, And by the Nimphes so oft and lowdly spoken, As that the Ecchoes to that language broken Thy happy name might hourely counterfet. 120

_Mertilla._ O let the Spring still put sterne winter by, And in rich Damaske let her Reuell still, As it should doe if I might haue my will, That thou mightst still walke on her Tapistry; And thus since Fate no longer time alowes Vnder this broad and shady Sicamore, Where now we sit, as we haue oft before; Those yet vnborne shall offer vp their Vowes.

The fift Nimphall

CLAIA, LELIPA, CLARINAX a Hermit.

_Of Garlands, Anadems, and Wreathes, This Nimphall nought but sweetnesse breathes, Presents you with delicious Posies, And with powerfull Simples closes._

_Claia._ See where old _Clarinax_ is set, His sundry Simples sorting, From whose experience we may get What worthy is reporting. Then _Lelipa_ let vs draw neere, Whilst he his weedes is weathering, I see some powerfull Simples there That he hath late bin gathering. Hail gentle Hermit, _Iove_ thee speed, And haue thee in his keeping, 10 And euer helpe thee at thy need, Be thou awake or sleeping.

_Clarinax._ Ye payre of most Celestiall lights, O Beauties three times burnisht, Who could expect such heauenly wights With Angels features furnisht; What God doth guide you to this place, To blesse my homely Bower? It cannot be but this high grace Proceeds from some high power; 20 The houres like hand-maids still attend, Disposed at your pleasure, Ordayned to noe other end But to awaite your leasure; The Deawes drawne vp into the Aer, And by your breathes perfumed, In little Clouds doe houer there As loath to be consumed: The Aer moues not but as you please, So much sweet Nimphes it owes you, 30 The winds doe cast them to their ease, And amorously inclose you.

_Lelipa._ Be not too lauish of thy praise, Thou good Elizian Hermit, Lest some to heare such words as these, Perhaps may flattery tearme it; But of your Simples something say, Which may discourse affoord vs, We know your knowledge lyes that way, With subiects you haue stor'd vs. 40

_Claia._ We know for Physick yours you get, Which thus you heere are sorting, And vpon garlands we are set, With Wreathes and Posyes sporting:

_Lelipa._ The Chaplet and the Anadem, The curled Tresses crowning, We looser Nimphes delight in them, Not in your Wreathes renowning.

_Clarinax._ The Garland long agoe was worne, As Time pleased to bestow it, 50 The Lawrell onely to adorne The Conquerer and the Poet. The Palme his due, who vncontrould, On danger looking grauely, When Fate had done the worst it could, Who bore his Fortunes brauely. Most worthy of the Oken Wreath The Ancients him esteemed, Who in a Battle had from death Some man of worth redeemed. 60 About his temples Grasse they tye, Himselfe that so behaued In some strong Seedge by th' Enemy, A City that hath saued. A Wreath of Vervaine Herhauts weare, Amongst our Garlands named, Being sent that dreadfull newes to beare, Offensiue warre proclaimed. The Signe of Peace who first displayes, The Oliue Wreath possesses: 70 The Louer with the Myrtle Sprayes Adornes his crisped Tresses. In Loue the sad forsaken wight The Willow Garland weareth: The Funerall man befitting night, The balefull Cipresse beareth. To _Pan_ we dedicate the Pine, Whose Slips the Shepherd graceth: Againe the Ivie and the Vine On his, swolne _Bacchus_ placeth. 80

_Claia._ The Boughes and Sprayes, of which you tell, By you are rightly named, But we with those of pretious smell And colours are enflamed; The noble Ancients to excite Men to doe things worth crowning, Not vnperformed left a Rite, To heighten their renowning: But they that those rewards deuis'd, And those braue wights that wore them 90 By these base times, though poorely priz'd, Yet Hermit we adore them. The store of euery fruitfull Field We Nimphes at will possessing, From that variety they yeeld Get flowers for euery dressing: Of which a Garland Ile compose, Then busily attend me. These flowers I for that purpose chose, But where I misse amend me. 100

_Clarinax._ Well _Claia_ on with your intent, Lets see how you will weaue it, Which done, here for a monument I hope with me, you'll leaue it.