Ari. Well I conceive. [Exit. Pro. Look, thou be true; do not give dalliance Too much the rein; the strongest oaths are straw To the fire i' the blood: be more abstemious, Or else, good night, your vow! Fer. I warrant you, sir; The white-cold virgin snow upon my heart Now come, my Ariel; bring a corollary, A masque. Enter Iris. [Soft music. Iris. Ceres, most bounteous lady, thy rich leas 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; thy pole-clipt vineyard; Bids thee leave these; and with her sovereign grace, To come and sport: her peacocks fly amain; Enter Ceres. Cer. Hail, many-colour'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 Rich scarf to my proud earth; Why hath thy queen And some donation freely to estate 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 Be not afraid; I met her deity Cutting the clouds towards Paphos; and her son Some wanton charm upon this man and maid, Her waspish-headed son has broke his arrows, Swears he will shoot no more, but play with sparows, 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 honour'd in their issue. SONG. Juno. Honour, riches, marriage-blessing, Juno sings her blessings on you. Cer. Earth's increase, and foizon plenty, Ari. Well I conceive. [Exit. Pro. Look, thou be true; do not give dalliance Too much the rein; the strongest oaths are straw To the fire i' the blood: be more abstemious, Or else, good night, your vow! Fer. I warrant you, sir; The white-cold virgin snow upon my heart Pro. Well. Now come, my Ariel; bring a corollary, A masque. Enter Iris. [Soft music. Iris. Ceres, most bounteous lady, thy rich leas Of wheat, rye, barley, vetches, oats, and pease; Thy turfy mountains, where live nibbling sheep, And flat meads thatch'd with stover, them to keep; Thy banks with peonied and lilied 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; thy pole-clipt vineyard; And thy sea-marge, steril, and rocky-hard, Bids thee leave these; and with her sovereign grace, To come and sport: her peacocks fly amain; Enter Ceres. Cer. Hail, many-colour'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 Rich scarf to my proud earth; Why hath thy queen And some donation freely to estate On the bless'd lovers. Cer. Tell me, heavenly bow, Do now attend the queen? since they did plot Cutting the clouds towards Paphos; and her son Her waspish-headed son has broke his arrows, Swears he will shoot no more, but play with sparows, 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 To bless this twain, that they may prosperous be, And honour'd in their issue. SONG. Juno. Honour, riches, marriage-blessing, Juno sings her blessings on you. Cer. Earth's increase, and foizon plenty, me, Barns, and garners never empty; Scarcity, and want, shall shun you; Fer. This is a most majestic vision, and Pro. Spirits, which by mine art I have from their confines call'd to enact My present fancies. Fer. Let me live here ever; So rare a wonder'd father, and a wife, Make this place paradise. [Juno and Ceres whisper, and send Iris on employ Pro. ment. Sweet now, silence; Juno and Ceres whisper seriously; There's something else to do: hush, and be mute, Iris. You nymphs, call'd Naiads, of the wand'ring brooks, With your sedg'd crowns, and ever-harmless looks, You sun-burn'd sicklemen, of August weary, Enter certain Reapers, properly habited: they join |