Yee Nymphes which in the waters empire have, Since Thyrsis musick oft doth yeeld you praise, Graunt to the thing which we for Thyrsis crave. Let one time (but long first) close up their daies, One grave their bodies seaze :

And like two rivers sweete,

When they though divers do together meete: One streame both streames containe,

O Himen long their coupled joyes maintaine. Pan, father Pan, the god of silly sheepe, Whose care is cause that they in number growe, Have much more care of them that them do keepe, Since from these good the others good doth flowe, And make their issue showe

In number like the hearde

Of yonglings, which thy selfe with love hast rearde.
Or like the drops of raine.

O Himen long their coupled joyes maintaine.
Vertue (if not a God) yet Gods chiefe parte,
Be thou the knot of this their open vowe,
That still he be her head, she be his harte,
He leane to her, she unto him do bow :
Each other still allow :

Like Oke and Mistletoe.

Her strength from him, his praise from her do growe.

In which most lovely traine,

O Himen long their coupled joyes maintaine. But thou foule Cupid syre to lawlesse lust, Be thou farre hence with thy empoyson'd darte, Which though of glittring golde, shall heere take rust Where simple love, which chastnesse doth imparte, divers] diverse. silly] simple.

Avoydes thy hurtfull arte,
Not needing charming skill,

Such mindes with sweet affections for to fill,
Which being pure and plaine,

O Himen long their coupled joyes maintaine.

All churlish wordes, shrewd answeres, crabbed lookes,

All privatenes, selfe-seeking, inward spite,

All waywardnes, which nothing kindly brookes, All strife for toyes, and clayming masters right: Be hence aye put to flight,

All sturring husbands hate

Gainst neighbors good for womanish debate
Be fled as things most vaine,

O Himen long their coupled joyes maintaine.

All peacock pride, and fruites of peacocks pride

Longing to be with losse of substance gay

With retchlesnes what may thy house betide,
So that you may on hyer slippers stay

For ever hence awaye :

Yet let not sluttery,

The sinke of filth, be counted huswifery:

But keeping holesome meane,

O Himen long their coupled joyes maintaine.

But above all away vile jealousie,

The evill of evils just cause to be unjust, (How can he love suspecting treacherie?

How can she love where love cannot win trust ?) Goe snake hide thee in dust,

retchlesnes] recklessness.

Ne dare once shew thy face,

Where open hartes do holde so constant place, That they thy sting restraine,

O Himen long their coupled joyes maintaine. The earth is deckt with flowers, the heav'ns displaid, Muses graunt guiftes, Nymphes long and joyned life, Pan store of babes, vertue their thoughts well staid, Cupids lust gone, and gone is bitter strife, Happy man, happy wife.

No pride shall them oppresse,

Nor yet shall yeeld to loathsome sluttishnes,
And jealousie is slaine :

For Himen will their coupled joyes maintaine.

FULKE GREVILLE, LORD BROOKE

1554-1628

CHORUS OF PRIESTS

Он wearisome Condition of Humanity!
Borne vnder one Law, to another bound:
Vainely begot, and yet forbidden vanity,
Created sicke, commanded to be sound:
What meaneth Nature by these diuerse Lawes ?
Passion and Reason, selfe-diuision cause:
Is it the marke, or Maiesty of Power,
To make offences that it may forgiue ?
Nature herselfe, doth her owne selfe defloure,
To hate those errors she her-selfe doth giue.
For how should man thinke that, he may not doe
If Nature did not faile, and punish too?
Tyrant to others, to her selfe vniust,
Onely commands things difficult and hard.

Forbids vs all things, which it knowes is lust,
Makes easie paines, vnpossible reward.

If Nature did not take delight in blood,

She would haue made more easie waies to good,
We that are bound by vowes, and by Promotion,
With pompe of holy Sacrifice and rites,

To teach beleefe in good and still deuotion,
To preach of Heauens wonders, and delights:
Yet when each of vs, in his owne heart lookes,
He finds the God there, farre vnlike his Bookes.

JUSTICE AND MERCY

Solyman. If Mercie be so large, where's Iustice place? Camana. Where Loue despaires, and where Gods promise ends.

For Mercie is the highest reach of wit,
A safety vnto them that saue with it :
Borne out of God, and vnto humane eyes,
Like God, not seene, till fleshly passion dies.
Solyman. God may forgiue, whose being, and
whose harmes

Are farre remou'd from reach of fleshly armes :
But if God Equalls, or Successors had;
Euen God, of safe reuenges would be glad.
While he is yet aliue, he may be slaine;

But from the dead no flesh comes backe againe.
Solyman. While he remaines aliue, I liue in feare.
Camana. Though he were dead, that doubt still
liuing were.

Solyman. None hath the power to end what he begunne.

Camana. The same occasion followes euery Sonne.

is lust (line 1) should probably read we lust. deuotion] instil devotion.

still

Solyman. Their Greatnesse, or their Worth is not so much.

Camana. And shall the best be slaine, for being such?

Solyman. Thy Mother, or thy Brother are amisse :
I am betray'd, and one of them it is.

Camana. My Mother, if shee erres erres vertuously:
And let her erre, ere Mustapha should die.
Kings, for their safetie, must not blame mistrust ;
Nor, for surmises, sacrifice the iust.

Solyman. Well: deare Camana! keepe this secretly.
I will be well aduis'd before he die.

MYRA

I WITH Whose colors Myra dresst her head,
I, that ware posies of her owne hand making,
I, that mine owne name in the chimnies read
By Myra finely wrought ere I was waking:

Must I looke on? in hope time comming may
With change bring backe my turne againe to
play.

I, that on Sunday at the Church-stile found,
A Garland sweet, with true-loue knots in flowers,
Which I to weare about mine arme was bound,
That each of vs might know that all was ours:
Must I lead now an idle life in wishes?

And follow Cupid for his loaues, and fishes ?
I, that did weare the ring her Mother left,
I, for whose loue she gloried to be blamed,
I, with whose eyes her eyes committed theft,
I, who did make her blush when I was named;

chimnies] cheminées, chimney pieces of tapestry work.