CUPID

My Lord, these Nymph's, partly of the scattered train, Of friendless virtue (living in the woods Of shady Arden : and of late not hearing The dreadful sounds of War; but that sweet Peace, Was by your valour lifted from her graven, Set on your royal right hand: and all virtues Summoned with honour, and with rich rewards, To be her handmaidens): These I say, the virtues, Have put their heads out of their Caves and Coverts, To be her true attendants in your Court: In which desire, I must relate a tale, Of kind and worthy emulation, Betwixt these two Virtues, leaders of the train. This on the right hand is Sophrosyne, Or Chastity : this other Dapsyle Or Liberality : their Emulation Begat a jar, which thus was reconciled. I, (having left my Goddess mother's lap, To hawlke, and shoot at Birds in Arden groves,) Beheld this Princely Nymph with much affection, Left killing Birds, and turned into a Bird, Like which I flew betwixt her Ivory breasts, As if I had been driven by some Hawlke, To sue to her for safety of my life; She smiled at first, and sweetly shadowd me, With soft protection of her silver hand; Sometimes she tied my legs in her rich hair, And made me (passed my nature, liberty) Proud of my fetters: As I pertly sat, On the white pillows of her naked breasts, I sung for joy; she answered note for note, Relish for relish, with such ease and Art, In her divine division, that my tunes, Showed Like the God of Shepherds to the Suns, Compared with hers: ashamed of which disgrace, I took my true shape, Bow, and all my shafts, And lighted all my torches at her eyes, Which (set about her, in a golden ring) I followed Birds again, from Tree to Tree, Killed, and presented, and she kindly took. But when she handled my triumphant Bow, And saw the beauty of my golden shafts, She begged them of me; I, poor boy replied, I had no other Riches; yet was pleased To hazard all, and stake them gainst a kiss, At and old game I used, called Penny-prick. She p ivy to her own skill in the play, Answered my challenge, so, I lost my arms: And now my Shafts are headed with her looks, One of which Shafts she put into my Bow And shot at this fair Nymph, with whom before I told your Majesty, she had some jar. The Nymph did instantly repent all parts She played in urging that effeminate war, Loved and submitted; which submission This took so well, that now they both are one: And as for your deer love, their discords grew, So for your love, they did their loves renew. And now to prove them capable of your court In skill of such conceits, and qualities As here are practised; they will first submit Their grace in dancing to your highness doom, And pray the press to give their meisures room, If this suffice, for one Court compliment, To make them gracious, and entertainde; Behold another parcel of their Courtship, Which is a rare dexterity in riddles, Shown in one instance, which is here inscribed. Here is a Riddle, which if any Knight At first fight can resolve; he shall enjoy This Jewel here annexed; which though it show To vulgar eyes, no richer then a Pebble; And that no Lapydarie, nor great man Will give a Soulz for it; it's worth a kingdom: For it's and artificial stone composed, By their great Mistress, Virtue: and will make Him that shall wear it, live with any little, Suffizde, and more content then any king. If he that undertakes cannot resolve it; And that these Nymph's can have no harbour here; (It being considered, that so many virtues Can never live in Court) he shall resolve To leave the Court, and live with them in Arden, It's this sir. What's that a fair Lady, most of all likes, Yet ever makes show she least of all seeks? That's ever embraced and affected by her, Yet never is seen to please or come nigh her: Most served in her night-weeds: does her good in a corner, But a poor men thing yet does richly adorn her: Most cheap, and most deer, above all worldly pelf, That is hard to get in, but comes out of it self. Here it is. Good fame? how make you that good? Thats granted; Exceeding right. That all must grant. It is: and be the virtue of it, yours. We'll now turn to our dance, and then attend, Your highness will, as touching our resort, If virtue may be entertained in Court,