CUPID

Divine Ceres, Cupid accepteth any thing, that comes from Ceres, which feeds my Sparrows with ripe corn, my Pigeons with wholesome seeds; and ho nourest my Temple with chased virgins. In those that are not in love, reverent thoughts of love, in those that be, faithful vows. Pride in the beautiful, bitter taunts in the witty, in all. That they be never idle. Because they thought it impossible to love. Constancy and secrecy. Sighs and tears. Wit and idleness. Opportunity and Importunity. Happiness without end. That only shall be known to men. To be deceived when they do. Why, Ceres, do you think that lust follows love? Ceres, lovers are chased: for what is love, divine love, but the quintescens of chastity, and affections binding by heavenly motions, thou cannot be undone by earthly means, by any man? Ceres, be light nor obstina , and faithful; so shall your flames warm, but not burn, delight and never discomfort. If you come to Cupid, speak boldly, so must lo vers, speak faithfully, so must speeders. I accept your offers not without cause, and wone der at your loves, not without pleasure: but be your thoughts as true as your words? I know, that where mine arrow lights, there breeds love, but shooting every minute a thousand shafts, I know not on whose heart they light, though they fallen on no place but hearts. What are your Mistress's? Is the one cruel, th'other coy, the third incon stant? What do they think of Cupid? Dare they blaspheme my godhead, which Jove does worship, Neptune reverence, and all the gods tremble at? To make them love, were a revenge too gentle for Cupid : to make you hate, a recompense too small for lo vers. But of that anon: what have you used in love? What said they of gifts? What of words? What of oaths? What of sighs? What of swoonings? What reasons gave they, not to love? Well, then shall you see Cupid requite their rea sons with his rigour. What punishment do you desire, that Cupid will deny? Your revenges are reasonable, and shall be granted. Thou Nisae, whose heart no tears could pierce, shalt with continual waves be wasted: in stead of thy fair hair, shalt thou have green mos e, thy face of fl to, be cause thy heart is of marble, thine ears shall be holes for fish, whose ears were more deaf then fish. Thou Ce liam whom beauty made proud, shalt have the fruit of beauty, that is, to fade while it is flourishing, and to blast before it is blown. Thy face, as fair as the Damask rose, shall perish Like the Damask rose, the canker shall eat thee in the bud, and every little wind blow thee from the stalk, and then shall men in the morning wear thee in their Hats, and at night cast thee at their heals. Thou Ni obe, whom nothing can please (but that which most dis pleases Cupid, inconstancy) shalt only breathe and suck air for food, and wear feathers for silk, being more wavering then air, and lighter then feathers. This will Cupid do. Therefore, when next you shall behold your Ladies, do but send a faithful sighs to Cupid, and there shall arise a thick missed which Proserpine shall send, and in the moment you shall be revenged, and they changed, Cupid prove himself a great God, and they peevish girls. You shall year lie at my Temple offer true hearts, and hourly bestow all your wits in loving devices, think all the time lost, that is not spent in love, let your oaths be without number, but not without truth, your words full of alluring sweetness, but not of broad flattery, your at tires neat, but not womanish, your gifts of more price for the fine device, then the great valve, and yet of such value, that the device seem not beggarly, nor your selves blockish, be secret that works miracles, be constant that bring that secrecy; this is all Cupid does come maund. Away. Ceres, thy Nymphs were stubborn, and thy self speaking so imperiously to Cupid, somewhat stately. If you ask the cause in choler, Sic volo, sic jubeo : if in curtain sie, Quae venum ex merito poenam dolenda venit. They were dis dainefull, and have their deserts; thou Ceres, dost but govern the guts of men, I the hearts: thou seekest to starve Erisicthon with thy ministered famine, whom his daughter shall preserve by my virtue love. No Ceres, but such a God as makes thunder fallen out of Jove's hand, by throwing thoughts into his heart, and to be more terrified with the sparkling of a Ladies eye, then men with the flashes of his lightning: such a God that hath kindled more fire in Neptune's bosom, then the whole Sea which he is king of can quench: such power have I, that Pluto's never dying fire, does but scorch in respect of my flames. Diana hath felt some motions of love, Vesta does, Ceres shall. To those that resist, a Lion, to those that sub mit, a Lamb. Yea, as much as between sickness and health, though in both be life: those that yield and honour Cum bid, shall possess sweet thoughts, and enjoy pleasing with shes: the other shall be tormented with vain imaginati ons and impossible Hope's. Thy Nymphs did in disdain, scorn my con stant love. But Diana hath changed her blood to Fresh flowers, which are to be seen on the ground. All Ceres grove shall he deck with Garlands, and account every tree holy; a stately monument shall he erect, in remembrance of Fidelia, and offer yearly sa crifice. You shall present in honour of my mother Venus, Grapes and Wheat, for Sine Cerere & Baccho friget We nus. You shall suffer your Nymphs to play, sometime to be idle, in the favour of Cupid, for Otiasitollas, periere Cum pidinis arcus. So much for Ceres. Thy Nymphs shall make no vows to continue Virgins, nor use words to disgrace love, nor fly from opportunities that kindle affections: if they be chased, let them not be cruel; if fair, not proud; if loving not inconstant. Cruelty is for Tigers, pride for Peacocks, inconstancy for fools. Those that practice deceit, shall perish: Cupid fa uoureth none but the faithful. Then shall thy Nymphs recover their fame's, so as they yield to love. Erisicthon, be thou careful to honour Ceres, and forget not to please her Nymphs. The faithful love of thy daughter Protea, hath wrought both pity in me to grant her desires, and to release thy pu is ents. Thou Petum lium shalt enjoy thy love, becaused know thee loyal. But do you, Ramis, continue your constant love, and you, Montanus, and you, Silvestris. Then Venus, send down that shower, wherewith thou Wertenberg wont to wath those that do thee worship, and let love by thy beams, be honoured in all the world and feared, wished for, and wondered at: here are thy Nymphs, Ceres. You see, Ladies, what it is to make a mock of love, or a scorn of Cupid ; see where your lovers stand, you must now take them for your husbands; this is my judge meant, this is Ceres promise. Will you not yield? How say you Ramis? Do your loves continue? Are your thoughts constant? & yours Montanus? And yours Silvestris? And will you not yield, Virgins? What have we here? Hath punishment made you perverse? Ceres, I vow here by my sweet mother Venus, that if they yield not, I will turn them again, not to flowers, or stones, or birds, but to monsters, no less fill thie to be seen, then to be nam hateful: they shall creep that now stand, and be to all men odious, and be to themselves (for the mind they shall retain) loath some. I am glad you are all agreed, enjoy your loves, and every one his delight. Thou Erisicthon art restored of Ceres, all the lovers pleased by Cupid, she joyful, I honoured. Now, Ladies, I will make such unspotted love among you, that there shall be no suspicion nor jar, no unkindness nor jealousy: but let all Ladies here after take heed, that they resist not love, which works wonders. Here is none but is happy: but do not as Hippo manes did, when by Venus ay he won Atlanta, defile her Temple with unchaste desire and forgotten to sacrifice vows. I will soar up into heave , to settle the loves of the gods, that in earth have disposed the affections of men. If thou restore Erisicthon, they embrace their loves, and all offer sacrifice to me.