Thy banks with pioned and twilled brims,'
Which spongy April at thy hest betrims,
To make cold nymphs chaste crowns; and thy
broom groves,

Whose shadow the dismissed bachelor loves,
Being lass-lorn; 3 thy pole-clipt vineyard; +
And thy sea-marge, steril, and rocky-hard,
Where thou thyself dost air: the queen o' the sky,
Whose watery arch, and messenger, am I,
Bids thee leave these; and with her sovereign grace,
Here on this grass-plot, in this very place,

To come and sport: her peacocks fly amain;
Approach, rich Ceres, her to entertain.

Enter CERES.

5

Cer. Hail, many-color'd messenger, that ne'er
Dost disobey the wife of Jupiter;

Who, with thy saffron wings, upon my flowers
Diffusest honey-drops, refreshing showers;
And with each end of thy blue bow dost crown
My bosky 6 acres, and my unshrubb'd down,
Rich scarf to my proud earth; why hath thy queen
Summon'd me hither, to this short-grass'd green ?
Iris. A contract of true love to celebrate;

It is conjectured that by pioned and twilled brims Shakspeare meant banks fringed with pionies and thicklymatted grass, resembling the stuff called twilled cloth, in which the cords appear closely twisted together.

2 Command.

3 Forsaken of his mistress.

The pole embraced by the vines.

5 With vigor.

• Woody.

And some donation freely to estate1
On the bless'd lovers.

Cer.

Tell me, heavenly bow,

If Venus, or her son, as thou dost know,

Do now attend the queen? Since they did plot
The means, that dusky Dis my daughter got,
Her and her blind boy's scandal'd company

Be not afraid I met her deity

Cutting the clouds towards Paphos; and her son Dove-drawn with her: here thought they to have done

Some wanton charm upon this man and maid,
Whose vows are, that no bed-rite shall be paid
Till Hymen's torch be lighted: but in vain;
Mars's hot minion is return'd again:

Her waspish-headed son has broke his arrows,
Swears he will shoot no more, but play with spar-

rows,

And be a boy right out.

Cer.

Highest queen of state,

Great Juno comes; I know her by her gait.

Enter JUNO.

Juno. How does my bounteous sister? Go with

me,

To bless this twain, that they may prosperous be, And honor'd in their issue.

SONG.

June. Honor, riches, marriage-blessing,
Long continuance, and increasing;
Hourly joys be still upon you!

Juno sings her blessings on you.

Cer. Earth's increase, and foison plenty;
Barns and garners never empty;

Vines, with clustering bunches growing;
Plants, with goodly burden bowing;
Spring come to you, at the farthest,
In the very end of harvest'

Scarcity and want shall shun you;
Ceres' blessing so is on you.

Fer. This is a most majestic vision, and
Harmonious charmingly. May I be bold
To think these spirits?

Sɔ rare a wonder'd 2 father, and a wife,

Make this place Paradise.

[Juno and Ceres whisper, and send Iris on employment.

Pro.

Sweet now, silence:

Juno and Ceres whisper seriously;

There's something else to do: hush, and be mute, Or else our spell is marr❜d.

Iris. You nymphs, call'd Naiads, of the wandering brooks,

With

your sedged crowns, and ever-harmless looks.

Abundance.

2 Able to produce such wonders