Part 16
_Lelipa._ Nay then my dainty Girles, I make no doubt But I my selfe as strangely found her out As either of you both; in Field and Towne, When like a Pedlar she went vp and downe: For she had got a pretty handsome Packe, Which she had fardled neatly at her backe: And opening it, she had the perfect cry, Come my faire Girles, let's see, what will you buy. 100 Here be fine night Maskes, plastred well within, To supple wrinckles, and to smooth the skin: Heer's Christall, Corall, Bugle, Iet, in Beads, Cornelian Bracelets for my dainty Maids: Then Periwigs and Searcloth-Gloues doth show, To make their hands as white as Swan or Snow: Then takes she forth a curious gilded boxe, Which was not opened but by double locks; Takes them aside, and doth a Paper spred, In which was painting both for white and red: 110 And next a piece of Silke, wherein there lyes For the decay'd, false Breasts, false Teeth, false Eyes And all the while shee's opening of her Packe, _Cupid_ with's wings bound close downe to his backe: Playing the Tumbler on a Table gets, And shewes the Ladies many pretty feats. I seeing behinde him that he had such things, For well I knew no boy but he had wings, I view'd his Mothers beauty, which to me Lesse then a Goddesse said, she could not be: 120 With that quoth I to her, this other day, As you doe now, so one that came this way, Shew'd me a neate piece, with the needle wrought, How _Mars_ and _Venus_ were together caught By polt-foot _Vulcan_ in an Iron net; It grieu'd me after that I chanc't to let, It to goe from me: whereat waxing red, Into her Hamper she hung downe her head, As she had stoup't some noueltie to seeke, But 'twas indeed to hide her blushing Cheeke: 130 When she her Trinkets trusseth vp anon, E'r we were 'ware, and instantly was gone.
_Florimel._ But hearke you Nimphes, amongst our idle prate, Tis current newes through the Elizian State, That _Venus_ and her Sonne were lately seene Here in _Elizium_, whence they oft haue beene Banisht by our Edict, and yet still merry, Were here in publique row'd o'r at the Ferry, Where as 'tis said, the Ferryman and she Had much discourse, she was so full of glee, 140 _Codrus_ much wondring at the blind Boyes Bow.
_Naijs._ And what it was, that easly you may know, _Codrus_ himselfe comes rowing here at hand.
_Lelipa._ _Codrus_ Come hither, let your Whirry stand, I hope vpon you, ye will take no state Because two Gods haue grac't your Boat of late; Good Ferry-man I pray thee let vs heare What talke ye had, aboard thee whilst they were.
_Codrus._ Why thus faire Nimphes. As I a Fare had lately past, 150 And thought that side to ply, I heard one as it were in haste; A Boate, a Boate, to cry, Which as I was aboute to bring, And came to view my Fraught, Thought I; what more then heauenly thing, Hath fortune hither brought. She seeing mine eyes still on her were, Soone, smilingly, quoth she; Sirra, looke to your Roother there, 160 Why lookst thou thus at me? And nimbly stept into my Boat, With her a little Lad Naked and blind, yet did I note, That Bow and Shafts he had, And two Wings to his Shoulders fixt, Which stood like little Sayles, With farre more various colours mixt, Then be your Peacocks Tayles; I seeing this little dapper Elfe, 170 Such Armes as these to beare, Quoth I thus softly to my selfe, What strange thing haue we here, I neuer saw the like thought I: Tis more then strange to me, To haue a child haue wings to fly, And yet want eyes to see; Sure this is some deuised toy, Or it transform'd hath bin, For such a thing, halfe Bird, halfe Boy, 180 I thinke was neuer seene; And in my Boat I turnd about, And wistly viewd the Lad, And cleerely saw his eyes were out, Though Bow and Shafts he had. As wistly she did me behold, How likst thou him, quoth she, Why well, quoth I; and better should, Had he but eyes to see. How sayst thou honest friend, quoth she, 190 Wilt thou a Prentice take, I thinke in time, though blind he be, A Ferry-man hee'll make; To guide my passage Boat quoth I, His fine hands were not made, He hath beene bred too wantonly To vndertake my trade; Why helpe him to a Master then, Quoth she, such Youths be scant, It cannot be but there be men 200 That such a Boy do want. Quoth I, when you your best haue done, No better way you'll finde, Then to a Harper binde your Sonne, Since most of them are blind. The louely Mother and the Boy, Laught heartily thereat, As at some nimble iest or toy, To heare my homely Chat. Quoth I, I pray you let me know, 210 Came he thus first to light, Or by some sicknesse, hurt, or blow, Depryued of his sight; Nay sure, quoth she, he thus was borne, Tis strange borne blind, quoth I, I feare you put this as a scorne On my simplicity; Quoth she, thus blind I did him beare, Quoth I, if't be no lye, Then he 's the first blind man Ile sweare, 220 Ere practisd Archery, A man, quoth she, nay there you misse, He 's still a Boy as now, Nor to be elder then he is, The Gods will him alow; To be no elder then he is, Then sure he is some sprite I straight replide, againe at this, The Goddesse laught out right; It is a mystery to me, 230 An Archer and yet blinde; Quoth I againe, how can it be, That he his marke should finde; The Gods, quoth she, whose will it was That he should want his sight, That he in something should surpasse, To recompence their spight, Gaue him this gift, though at his Game He still shot in the darke, That he should haue so certaine ayme, 240 As not to misse his marke. By this time we were come a shore, When me my Fare she payd, But not a word she vttered more, Nor had I her bewrayd, Of _Venus_ nor of _Cupid_ I Before did neuer heare, But that Fisher comming by Then, told me who they were.
_Florimel._ Well: against them then proceed 250 As before we haue decreed, That the Goddesse and her Child, Be for euer hence exild, Which _Lelipa_ you shall proclaime In our wise _Apollo's_ name.
_Lelipa._ To all th' Elizian Nimphish Nation, Thus we make our Proclamation, Against _Venus_ and her Sonne For the mischeefe they haue done, After the next last of May, 260 The fixt and peremtory day, If she or _Cupid_ shall be found Vpon our Elizian ground, Our Edict, meere Rogues shall make them, And as such, who ere shall take them, Them shall into prison put, _Cupids_ wings shall then be cut, His Bow broken, and his Arrowes Giuen to Boyes to shoot at Sparrowes, And this Vagabund be sent, 270 Hauing had due punishment To mount _Cytheron_, which first fed him: Where his wanton Mother bred him, And there out of her protection Dayly to receiue correction; Then her Pasport shall be made, And to _Cyprus_ Isle conuayd, And at _Paphos_ in her Shryne, Where she hath been held diuine, For her offences found contrite, 280 There to liue an Anchorite.
The eight Nimphall
MERTILLA, CLAIA, CLORIS.
_A Nimph is marryed to a Fay, Great preparations for the Day, All Rites of Nuptials they recite you To the Brydall and inuite you._
_Mertilla._ But will our _Tita_ wed this Fay?
_Claia._ Yea, and to morrow is the day.
_Mertilla._ But why should she bestow her selfe Vpon this dwarfish Fayry Elfe?
_Claia._ Why by her smalnesse you may finde, That she is of the Fayry kinde, And therefore apt to chuse her make Whence she did her begining take: Besides he 's deft and wondrous Ayrye, And of the noblest of the Fayry, 10 Chiefe of the Crickets of much fame, In Fayry a most ancient name. But to be briefe, 'tis cleerely done, The pretty wench is woo'd and wonne.
_Cloris._ If this be so, let vs prouide The Ornaments to fit our Bryde. For they knowing she doth come From vs in _Elizium_, Queene _Mab_ will looke she should be drest In those attyres we thinke our best, 20 Therefore some curious things lets giue her, E'r to her Spouse we her deliuer.
_Mertilla._ Ile haue a Iewell for her eare, (Which for my sake Ile haue her weare) 'T shall be a Dewdrop, and therein Of Cupids I will haue a twinne, Which strugling, with their wings shall break The Bubble, out of which shall leak, So sweet a liquor as shall moue Each thing that smels, to be in loue. 30
_Claia._ Beleeue me Gerle, this will be fine, And to this Pendant, then take mine; A Cup in fashion of a Fly, Of the Linxes piercing eye, Wherein there sticks a Sunny Ray Shot in through the cleerest day, Whose brightnesse _Venus_ selfe did moue, Therein to put her drinke of Loue, Which for more strength she did distill, The Limbeck was a _Phoenix_ quill, 40 At this Cups delicious brinke, A Fly approching but to drinke, Like Amber or some precious Gumme It transparant doth become.
_Cloris._ For Iewels for her eares she's sped, But for a dressing for her head I thinke for her I haue a Tyer, That all Fayryes shall admyre, The yellowes in the full-blowne Rose, Which in the top it doth inclose 50 Like drops of gold Oare shall be hung; Vpon her Tresses, and among Those scattered seeds (the eye to please) The wings of the Cantharides: With some o' th' Raine-bow that doth raile Those Moons in, in the Peacocks taile: Whose dainty colours being mixt With th' other beauties, and so fixt, Her louely Tresses shall appeare, As though vpon a flame they were. 60 And to be sure she shall be gay, We'll take those feathers from the Iay; About her eyes in Circlets set, To be our _Tita's_ Coronet.
_Mertilla._ Then dainty Girles I make no doubt, But we shall neatly send her out: But let's amongst our selues agree, Of what her wedding Gowne shall be.
_Claia._ Of Pansie, Pincke, and Primrose leaues, Most curiously laid on in Threaues: 70 And all embroydery to supply, Powthred with flowers of Rosemary: A trayle about the skirt shall runne, The Silkewormes finest, newly spunne; And euery Seame the Nimphs shall sew With th' smallest of the Spinners Clue: And hauing done their worke, againe These to the Church shall beare her Traine: Which for our _Tita_ we will make Of the cast slough of a Snake, 80 Which quiuering as the winde doth blow, The Sunne shall it like Tinsell shew.
_Cloris._ And being led to meet her mate, To make sure that she want no state, Moones from the Peacockes tayle wee'll shred, With feathers from the Pheasants head: Mix'd with the plume of (so high price,) The precious bird of Paradice. Which to make vp, our Nimphes shall ply Into a curious Canopy. 90 Borne o're her head (by our enquiry) By Elfes, the fittest of the Faery.
_Mertilla._ But all this while we haue forgot Her Buskins, neighbours, haue we not?
_Claia._ We had, for those I'le fit her now, They shall be of the Lady-Cow: The dainty shell vpon her backe Of Crimson strew'd with spots of blacke; Which as she holds a stately pace, Her Leg will wonderfully grace. 100
_Cloris._ But then for musicke of the best, This must be thought on for the Feast.
_Mertilla._ The Nightingale of birds most choyce, To doe her best shall straine her voyce; And to this bird to make a Set, The Mauis, Merle, and Robinet; The Larke, the Lennet, and the Thrush, That make a Quier of euery Bush. But for still musicke, we will keepe The Wren, and Titmouse, which to sleepe 110 Shall sing the Bride, when shee's alone The rest into their chambers gone. And like those vpon Ropes that walke On Gossimer, from staulke to staulke, The tripping Fayry tricks shall play The euening of the wedding day.
_Claia._ But for the Bride-bed, what were fit, That hath not beene talk'd of yet.
_Cloris._ Of leaues of Roses white and red, Shall be the Couering of her bed: 120 The Curtaines, Valence, Tester, all, Shall be the flower Imperiall, And for the Fringe, it all along With azure Harebels shall be hung: Of Lillies shall the Pillowes be, With downe stuft of the Butterflee.
_Mertilla._ Thus farre we handsomely haue gone, Now for our Prothalamion Or Marriage song of all the rest, A thing that much must grace our feast. 130 Let vs practise then to sing it, Ere we before th' assembly bring it: We in Dialogues must doe it, The my dainty Girles set to it.
Claia. _This day must _Tita_ marryed be, Come Nimphs this nuptiall let vs see._
Mertilla. _But is it certaine that ye say, Will she wed the Noble Faye?_
Cloris. _Sprinckle the dainty flowers with dewes, Such as the Gods at Banquets vse: 140 Let Hearbs and Weeds turne all to Roses, And make proud the posts with posies: Shute your sweets into the ayre, Charge the morning to be fayre._
Claia. } _For our _Tita_ is this day, Mertilla. } To be married to a Faye._
Claia. _By whom then shall our Bride be led To the Temple to be wed._
Mertilla. _Onely by your selfe and I, Who that roomth should else supply?_ 150
Cloris. _Come bright Girles, come altogether, And bring all your offrings hither, Ye most braue and Buxome Beuye, All your goodly graces Leuye, Come in Maiestie and state Our Brydall here to celebrate._
Mertilla. } _For our _Tita_ is this day, Claia. } Married to a noble Faye._
Claia. _Whose lot wilt be the way to strow On which to Church our Bride must goe?_ 160
Mertilla. _That I think as fit'st of all, To liuely _Lelipa_ will fall._
Cloris. _Summon all the sweets that are, To this nuptiall to repayre; Till with their throngs themselues they smother, Strongly styfling one another; And at last they all consume, And vanish in one rich perfume._
Mertilla. } _For our _Tita_ is this day, Claia. } Married to a noble Faye._ 170
Mertilla. _By whom must _Tita_ married be, 'Tis fit we all to that should see?_
Claia. _The Priest he purposely doth come, Th' Arch Flamyne of Elizium._
Cloris. _With Tapers let the Temples shine, Sing to Himen, Hymnes diuine: Load the Altars till there rise Clouds from the burnt sacrifice; With your Sensors fling aloofe Their smels, till they ascend the Roofe._ 180
Mertilla. } _For our _Tita_ is this day, Claia. } Married to a noble Fay._
Mertilla. _But comming backe when she is wed, Who breakes the Cake aboue her head._
Claia. _That shall _Mertilla_, for shee's tallest, And our _Tita_ is the smallest._
Cloris. _Violins, strike vp aloud, Ply the Gitterne, scowre the Crowd, Let the nimble hand belabour The whistling Pipe, and drumbling Taber: 190 To the full the Bagpipe racke, Till the swelling leather cracke._
Mertilla. } _For our _Tita_ is this day, Claia. } Married to a noble Fay._
Claia. _But when to dyne she takes her seate What shall be our _Tita's_ meate?_
Mertilla. _The Gods this Feast, as to begin, Haue sent of their Ambrosia in._
Cloris. _Then serue we vp the strawes rich berry, The Respas, and Elizian Cherry: 200 The virgin honey from the flowers In Hibla, wrought in _Flora's_ bowers: Full Bowles of Nectar, and no Girle Carouse but in dissolued Pearle._
Mertilla. } _For our _Tita_ is this day, Claia. } Married to a noble Fay._
Claia. _But when night comes, and she must goe To Bed, deare Nimphes what must we doe?_
Mertilla. _In the Posset must be brought, And Poynts be from the Bridegroome caught._ 210
Cloris. _In Maskes, in Dances, and delight, And reare Banquets spend the night: Then about the Roome we ramble, Scatter Nuts, and for them scramble: Ouer Stooles, and Tables tumble, Neuer thinke of noyse nor rumble._
Mertilla. } _For our _Tita_ is this day, Claia. } Married to a noble Fay._
The ninth Nimphall
MVSES and NIMPHS.
_The Muses spend their lofty layes, Vpon _Apollo_ and his prayse; The Nimphs with Gems his Alter build, This Nimphall is with _Phoebus_ fild._
A Temple of exceeding state, The Nimphes and Muses rearing, Which they to _Phoebus_ dedicate, Elizium euer cheering: These Muses, and those Nimphes contend This Phane to _Phoebus_ offring, Which side the other should transcend, These praise, those prizes proffering, And at this long appointed day, Each one their largesse bringing, 10 Those nine faire Sisters led the way Thus to _Apollo_ singing.
The Muses. _Thou youthfull God that guid'st the howres, The Muses thus implore thee, By all those Names, due to thy powers, By which we still adore thee._ Sol_, _Tytan_, _Delius_, _Cynthius_, styles Much reuerence that have wonne thee, Deriu'd from Mountaines as from Iles Where worship first was done thee. 20 Rich _Delos_ brought thee forth diuine, Thy Mother thither driven, At _Delphos_ thy most sacred shrine, Thy Oracles were giuen. In thy swift course from East to West, They minutes misse to finde thee, That bear'st the morning on thy breast, And leau'st the night behinde thee. Vp to Olimpus top so steepe, Thy startling Coursers currying; 30 Thence downe to Neptunes vasty deepe, Thy flaming Charriot hurrying._ Eos_, _Ethon_, _Phlegon_, _Pirois_, proud, The horses Their lightning Maynes aduancing: drawing the Breathing forth fire on euery cloud Chariot of Vpon their Iourney prancing. the Sunne. Whose sparkling hoofes, with gold for speed Are shod, to scape all dangers, Where they upon Ambrosia feed, In their celestiall Mangers. 40 The Bright _Colatina_, that of hils mountaines Is Goddesse, and hath keeping first Her Nimphes, the cleere _Oreades_ wils saluting the T'attend thee from thy sleeping. Sunne at his Great _*Demogorgon_ feeles thy might, rising. His Mynes about him heating: * Supposed Who through his bosome dart'st thy light, the God of Within the Center sweating. earth. If thou but touch thy golden Lyre, Thou _Minos_ mou'st to heare thee: 50 One of the The Rockes feele in themselues a fire, Iudges of And rise vp to come neere thee. hell. 'Tis thou that Physicke didst deuise Hearbs by their natures calling: Of which some opening at thy Rise, And closing at thy falling. Fayre _Hyacinth_ thy most lou'd Lad, That with the sledge thou sluest; Hath in a flower the life he had, Whose root thou still renewest, 60 Thy _Daphne_ thy beloued Tree, That scornes thy Fathers Thunder, And thy deare _Clitia_ yet we see, A Nimph lou'd Not time from thee can sunder; of _Apollo_, From thy bright Bow that Arrow flew and by him (Snatcht from thy golden Quiver) changed into Which that fell Serpent _Python_ slew, a flower. Renowning thee for euer. The _Actian_ and the _Pythian_ Games Playes or Deuised were to praise thee, 70 Games in With all th' _Apolinary_ names honor of That th' Ancients thought could raise thee. _Apollo_. A Shryne vpon this Mountaine hie, To thee we'll haue erected, Which thou the God of Poesie Must care to haue protected: With thy loud _Cinthus_ that shall share, With all his shady Bowers, Nor _Licia's Cragus_ shall compare With this, for thee, of ours._ 80
Thus hauing sung, the Nimphish Crue Thrust in amongst them thronging, Desiring they might haue the due That was to them belonging. Quoth they, ye Muses as diuine, Are in his glories graced, But it is we must build the Shryne Wherein they must be placed; Which of those precious Gemmes we'll make That Nature can affoord vs, 90 Which from that plenty we will take, Wherewith we here have stor'd vs: O glorious _Phoebus_ most diuine, Thine Altars then we hallow. And with those stones we build a Shryne To thee our wise _Apollo_.
The Nimphes. _No Gem, from Rocke, Seas, running streames, (Their numbers let vs muster) But hath from thy most powerfull beames The Vertue and the Lustre; 100 The Diamond, the King of Gemmes, The first is to be placed, That glory is of Diadems, Them gracing, by them graced: In whom thy power the most is seene, The raging fire refelling: The Emerauld then, most deepely greene, For beauty most excelling, Resisting poyson often prou'd By those about that beare it. 110 The cheerfull Ruby then, much lou'd, That doth reuiue the spirit, Whose kinde to large extensure growne The colour so enflamed, Is that admired mighty stone The Carbunckle that's named, Which from it such a flaming light And radiency eiecteth, That in the very dark'st of night The eye to it directeth. 120 The yellow Iacynth, strengthening Sense, Of which who hath the keeping, No Thunder hurts nor Pestilence, And much prouoketh sleeping: The Chrisolite, that doth resist Thirst, proued, neuer failing, The purple colored Amatist, 'Gainst strength of wine prevailing; The verdant gay greene Smaragdus, Most soueraine ouer passion: 130 The Sardonix approu'd by vs To master Incantation. Then that celestiall colored stone The Saphyre, heauenly wholly, Which worne, there wearinesse is none, And cureth melancholly: The Lazulus, whose pleasant blew With golden vaines is graced; The Iaspis, of so various hew, Amongst our other placed; 140 The Onix from the Ancients brought, Of wondrous Estimation, Shall in amongst the rest be wrought Our sacred Shryne to fashion; The Topas, we'll stick here and there, And sea-greene colored Berill, And Turkesse, which who haps to beare Is often kept from perill, To Selenite, of _Cynthia's_ light, So nam'd, with her still ranging, 150 Which as she wanes or waxeth bright Its colours so are changing. With Opalls, more then any one, We'll deck thine Altar fuller, For that of euery precious stone, It doth retaine some colour; With bunches of Pearle Paragon Thine Altars vnderpropping, Whose base is the Cornelian, Strong bleeding often stopping: 160 With th' Agot, very oft that is Cut strangely in the Quarry, As Nature ment to show in this, How she her selfe can varry: With worlds of Gems from Mines and Seas Elizium well might store vs: But we content our selues with these That readiest lye before vs: And thus O _Phoebus_ most diuine Thine Altars still we hallow, 170 And to thy Godhead reare this Shryne Our onely wise _Apollo_._
The tenth Nimphall
NAIIS, CLAIA, CORBILVS, SATYRE.
_A Satyre on Elizium lights, Whose vgly shape the Nimphes affrights, Yet when they heare his iust complaint, They make him an Elizian Saint._
_Corbilus._
What; breathles Nimphs? bright Virgins let me know What suddaine cause constraines ye to this haste? What haue ye seene that should affright ye so? What might it be from which ye flye so fast? I see your faces full of pallid feare, As though some perill followed on your flight; Take breath a while, and quickly let me heare Into what danger ye haue lately light.