MERCURY

Plenty srich Queen, cheerer of fainting souls, Whose Altars are adorned with ripend sheaves. Know that security chief nurse of sin, Hath bred contempt in all Boeotia. The old are scorned of the wanton young, Unhallowed hands, and hearts impure far, Rend down the Altars sacred to the Gods. Heaven is long suffering, and eternal Powers Are full of pity to perversest men: which made the awful Ruler of the rest, Summon this meeting of the heavenly States: The first was Jupiter, Juno with him, Next Mars and Venus, him I know you knew not, His Harness is converted to soft silk His wars are only wantonings with her, That scandalizeth heaven and heaps world's hate, Apollo next, then Bacchus belly-God, And horned Vulcan forger of heavens fire, The last poor Cynthia making woeful moan, That she is left sweet virgin post alone. I am but messenger, and must not denounce Till the high senate of the Gods decreeit, But sacred Ceres, if I may divine, In heaven shall Venus vaunt but little time. I see a sort of wondering gazing eyes, That do await the end of this conceit, whom Mercury with waving of his rod, And holy spells enjoins to fit and see, effectual working of a Prophesy. Ceres I will, and now I am alone will I advise me of a messenger That will not faint: will not said I? Nay shall not faint sent forth by Mercury. I am resolved, the next I meet with be it he or she, To do this message shall be sent by me. Heigh down down a down a down, heigh down down a down a, Our beauty is the bravest Lass in all the town a For beauty's sweet sake, I sleep when I should wake, she is so nut brown a. Her cheeks so read as a cherry, do make my heart full merry So that I cannot choose in cobbling of my shoes, but sing heigh derry derry down derry. why here I am Dame, lets see what thou canst say, Bestir your Distaff, do the worst you may. Let me alone Ralph, hold thy peace thou fool I am a sprite indeed, a fiend which will pursue thee still, Until I take a full revenge of all thy proffered ill And for thy former dealings to thy husband hath been bade, I charm thee and inchant thee quean, Thou henceforth shalt be mad: And never shall thy foolish brain cut off this frantic fit, Till with thy hand unwillingly thou murder do commit. Ralph High thee home, & thou shalt find upon thy bed Attire that for a prophets suit shall stand thee in good stead A prophet thou must be and leave thy work a while. I am Mercury the Messenger of the Gods. I must charm him asleep, or he will still be prating. I'll please thee well, I pre thee Ralph fit down. We will have twain, but first attend my tale. Not far hence stands Mars his Court, to whom thus see thou say, Mars though thou be a Cock of the game, that wontest to croe by day, And with thy sharpened spurs the craven Cocks didst kill and slay: Sith now thou dost but prune thy wings, and make thy feathers gay: A dunghill Cock that croes by night, shall slily thee betray, And tread thy Hen, and for a time shall carry her away. And she by him shall hatch a Chick, this Country to decay. And for this pretty Pullets name thou shalt the better learn: When thou shalt only letters five within one name discern, Three vowels and two consonants, which vowels if thou scan, Does found that which to every pa conducteth every man. Then call to mind this Prophecy, for thats the bastards name: Then rouse thy self, then reach thy sword, and win thy wonted fame. Now Ralph awake, for I have done the task for which I came. Be it known unto all people, that whereas Venus alias lust, hath long challenged a pre-eminence in heaven, and been adored with the name of a Goddess, the Synod of the Gods being assembled, in regard of his adulteries with Mars, discoue read by Phœbus, when in the face of heaven, they hoth were ta ken in and iron net: wherein his wrong to Vulcan was apparent; and since that, many other escapes considered. But lastly and most especially, her public adultery she hath committed with that base monster Contempt they have all consented, and to this decree firmed; that no more shall Venus possess the title of a Goddess, but be utterly excluded the compass of heaven: and it shall be taken as great indignity to the Gods to give Venus a nigh other title than the detested name of lust, or strumpet Venus: And whosoever shall adore Contempt or entertain him, shall be reputed and enemy to the Gods. More, it is decreed that war shall be raised against Booetia, and victory shall not fallen on their side, till the Cabin of Contempt be consumed with fire. Given at Olympus by Jupiter and the celestial Synod. What who are these? I take ye to be two of Venus virgins, are ye not? Then I perceive you be both maids for the most partly, As true as neither of you both are maids So true it is, that I have uttered. The sentence is set down, Venus exiled, Whose child is that you bear so tenderly? Oh is it so, and whither bear you it? Is it a boy or girl, I pray you tell? Who were the godmothers? Your names I crave. And whither name I pray ye bears the girl? And who is godfather? Ruinam otherwise called Ruin the child, Contempt the father, Venus alias lust the mother, Ru and Inam the godmother , Ingratitude the Oodfather and grandfather, And Security the nurse, Heeres a brood that all Booetia shall curse. Well damsels High you hence, for one is coming nigh Will tread your young one under foot. Yes, and did send that prophesy, And even as thou camest hither The bastard and the godmothers Were in this place together. Were they in deed, where are they now? I'll search, I'll follow them. Be patient Mars, they will be quickly found Ruinam is the bastards name. R.N. the consonants, V. . and A. the vowels be, and Via is the way. I will go and do my best for thee. What mine man? It was the secret judgement of the Gods, Sateros speak to the Duke to think on him, and to remit his fault. Mars shall we hence? Ralph she shall trouble none of us, I'll charm her fast a sleep. So sleep thy fill, now Ralph come forth to me. Fear not come forth, I mean no hurt to thee. Now Mars thou seemest like thy self, Thy women's weeds cast off, Which made thee be in heaven a scorn, On earth a common scoff. Now have I found it Mercury, thou hast resolved I will raise war, I will aduenged be, Go with me Mercury, thou my revenge shalt see.