Or that for which I live; whom once again
I tender to thy hand: all my vexations
Were but my tryals of thy love, and thou
Haft ftrangely stood the teft. 7 Here, afore heaven,
I ratify this my rich gift: O Ferdinand,

Do not smile at me, that I boast her off;
For thou shalt find, fhe will outftrip all praise,
And make it halt behind her.

Fer. I believe it, Against an oracle.

Pro. Then as my gift, and thine own acquifition Worthily purchas'd, take my Daughter. But If thou doft break her virgin-knot, before All fanctimonious ceremonies may

With full and holy Rite be minifter'd,

No sweet afperfions fhall the heav'ns let fall
To make this contract grow: but barren hate,
Sour-ey'd difdain, and difcord fhall beftrew
The union of your bed with weeds fo loathly,
That you fhall hate it both therefore take heed,
As Hymen's lamps fhall light you.

Fer. As I hope

For quiet days, fair iffue, and long life,

With fuch love as 'tis now; the murkieft den,
The most opportune place, the ftrong'ft fuggeftion
Our worfer Genius can, fhall never melt
Mine honour into luft; to take away

The edge of that day's celebration,

When I fhall think or Phebus' fteeds are founder'd,

Or night kept chain'd below.
Pro. Fairly spoke.

Sit then, and talk with her, she is thine own.
What, Ariel; my induftrious fervant, Ariel-

Enter Ariel.

Ari. What would my potent master? here I am. Pro. Thou and thy meaner fellows your last service Did worthily perform; and I must use you

8

In fuch another trick; go, bring the rabble,
O'er whom I give thee power, here to this place:
Incite them to quick motion, for I must
Beftow upon the eyes of this young couple
Some vanity of mine art; it is my promife,
And they expect it from me.

Ari. Presently?

Pro. Ay, with a twink.

Ari. Before you can fay, Come, and go, And breathe twice; and cry, fo, so;

Each one, tripping on his toe,

Will be here with mop and mow.

Do you love me, mafter? no?

Pro. Dearly, my delicate Ariel; do not approach, 'Till thou dost hear me call.

Ari. Well, I conceive.

[Exit.

Pro. Look, thou be true; do not give dalliance Too much the rein; the strongest oaths are ftraw To th' fire i'th' blood: be more abftemious, Or elfe, good night, your vow!

Fer. 1 warrant you, Sir;

The white, cold, virgin-fnow upon my heart
Abates the ardour of my liver.

Pro. Well.

Now come, my Ariel; bring a corollary.
Rather than want a fpirit, appear; and pertly-

The Rabble.] The crew of meaner Spirits.

No

• No tongue; all eyes; be filent.

[To Ferdinand. [Soft Mufick.

III.

SCENE

A MAS QU E. Enter Iris.

Iris. Ceres, moft bounteous lady, thy rich leas Of wheat, rye, barley, fetches, oats, and peafe; Thy turfy mountains, where live nibling sheep, And flat meads thatch'd with stover, them to keep ; Thy banks with pionied, and tulip'd brims,

Which fpungy April at thy heft betrims,

To make cold nymphs chafte crowns; and thy broomgroves,

Whofe fhadow the difmiffed bachelor loves,
Being lafs-lorn; thy pole-clipt vineyard,
And thy fea-marge fteril, and rocky hard,
Where thou thyfelf do'ft air; the Queen o' th' sky,
Whose wat❜ry arch and meffenger am I,

Bids thee leave these; and with her Sov'reign Grace,
Here on this grafs-plot, in this very place,
To come and sport; her peacocks fly amain:
Approach, rich Ceres, her to entertain.

Enter Ceres.

Cer. Hail, many-colour'd meffenger, that ne'er
Do'st disobey the wife of Jupiter :

Who, with thy faffron wings, upon my flowers
Diffuseft honey drops, refrething fhowers;
And with each end of thy blue bow do'ft crown
My bofky acres, and my unfhrub'd down,

Rich fcarf to my proud earth; why hath thy Queen
Summon'd me hither, to this fhort grafs'd green?

Iris. A contract of true love to celebrate,
And fome donation freely to estate
On the blefs'd lovers.

Cer. Tell me, heav'nly bow,

If Venus or her fon, as thou do'st know,

Do now attend the Queen: fince they did plot
The means, that dufky Dis my daughter got,
Her and her blind boy's fcandal'd company
I have forfworn.

Iris. Of her fociety

Be not afraid; I met her deity

Cutting the clouds towards Paphos, and her fon
Dove-drawn with her; here thought they to have done
Some wanton charm upon this man and maid,
Whofe vows are, that no bed-right shall be paid
'Till Hymen's torch be lighted; but in vain.

Mars's hot minion is return'd again,

Her wafpifh-headed fon has broke his arrows,
Swears, he will shoot no more, but play with fparrows,
And be a boy right out.

Cer. High Queen of state,

Great Juno, comes; I know her by her gait.

[Juno defcends, and enters. Jun. How does my bounteous fifter? go with me To bless this twain, that they may profp'rous be, And honour'd in their iffue.

Jun. Honour, riches, marriage-bleffing,

Long continuance and increafing,
Hourly joys be ftill upon you!
Juno fings her bleffings on you:

Cer. Earth's increase, and foyfon-plenty,
Barns and garners never empty,

2 Earth's Increafe.] All the Editions, that I have ever feen, concur in placing this whole SonVOL. I.

Vines,

Vines, with cluflring bunches growing,
Plants, with goodly burden bowing,
Spring come to you, at the fartheft,
In the very end of harvest!
Scarcity and want shall shun you;
Ceres' bleffing fo is on you.

Fer. This is a moft majestic vifion, and
Harmonious charmingly may I be bold
To think these spirits?

Pro. Spirits, which by mine art

I have from their confines call'd to enact
My prefent fancies.

Fer. Let me live here ever;

So rare a wonder'd father, and a wife,
Make this place paradife.

Pro. Sweet; now filence:
Juno and Ceres whifper feriously;

There's fomething else to do; hush, and be mute, Or else our spell is marr'd.

Juno and Ceres whisper, and fend Iris on employment.

Iris. You nymphs, call'd Nayads, of the winding brooks,

With your fedg'd crowns, and ever-harmless looks,
Leave your crifp channels, and on this green land
Answer your fummons, Juno does command:
Come, temperate nymphs, and help to celebrate
A contract of true love; be not too late.

Enter certain Nymphs.

You fun-burn'd ficklemen, of Auguft weary,
Come hither from the furrow, and be merry;

ed with poetical Hiftory, and the diftinct Offices of thefe two Goddeffes, and who then feriously reads over our Author's Lines,

3

will agree with Me, that Cere's Name ought to have been placed where I have now prefix'd it.

THEOBALD.

· Make