VENUS

IT is no common cause, ye will conceive, My lovely Graces , makes your goddess leave Her state in heaven , to night, to visit earth. Love late is fled away, my eldest birth, CUPID, whom I did joy to call my son; And, whom long absent, VENUS is undone. Spy, if you can, his footsteps on this green; For here (as I am told) he late hath been. With Alluding to the loves , in the Queen's Masque before. diverse of his brothers, lending light From their best flames, to guild a glorious night; Which I not grudge at, being done for her, Whose honours, to mine own, I still prefer. But he, not yet returning, I'am in fear, Some gentle grace , or innocent beauty here, Be taken with him: or he hath surprised A second PSYCHE, and lives here disguised. Find ye no tract of his strayed feet? WHat feat, what honour is it, that you boast, My little straggler? I had given you lost, With all your games , here. I Love, and know his virtues, and do boast Mine own renown, when I renown him most. My CUPID'S absence I forgive, and praise, That me to such a present grace could raise. His champion shall, hereafter, be my care; But speak his bride, and what her virtues are. ANd for this gift, will I to heaven return, And vow, for ever, that my lamp shall burn With pure and chasest fire; or As Catul. hath it in nup. In . and Manl. without Hymen , which is marriage: Nit potest Venus, famà quod bona come probet, &c. never shine, But when it mixeth with thy sphere , and mine. Yes sir, she. What might your glorious cause of triumph be? Ha'you shot She urges these as mira cles, because Pallas , and the Muses are most contrary to Cupid. See Luc. Dialogue. Ven. & Cupid. MINERVA, or the Thespian dams? Heat aged Rhea , the mother of the gods, whom Luncian , in that place makes, to have fallen frantically in love, by Cupid's means, with Attys. So of the Moon, with Endymion, Hercules, &c. OPS again, with youthful flames? Or have you made the colder Moon to visit Once more, a sheepcote? Say, what conquest is it Can make you hope such a renown to win? Is there a second HERCULES brought to spin? Or, for some new disguise, leaves JOVE his thunder? Stay nymphs , we then will try A nearer way. Look all these ladies eyes, And see if there he not concealed lies; Or in their bosoms, betwixt their swelling breasts: (The wag affects to make himself such nests) Perchance, he'hath God some simple heart, to hide His subtle shape in: I will have him cried. And all his virtues told. That, when they know What spright he is, she soon may let him go, That guards him now; and think her self right blessed, To be so timely rid of such a guest. Begin soft GRACES, and proclaim reward To her that brings him in. Speak, to be herd.