SYLVANUS

Stay Sylvans, and let the loudest voice of Music proclaim it (even as high as Heaven) that he is come. Most happy Prince, pardon me, that being mean in habit, and wild in appearance, (for my richest li vorie is but leaves, and my stateliest dwelling but in the woods,) thus rudely with piping Syluanes. I pre fume to intercept your royal passage. These are my walks: yet stand I here, not to cut off your way, but to give it a full and a bounteous welcome, being a Messenger sent from the Lady Eirene my Mistress, to deliver and errand to the best of all these Worthies, your royal self. Many Kingdoms hath the Lady sought out to abide in, but from them all, hath she been most churlishly banished: not that her beauty did deserve such unkindness, but that (Like the eye of Heaven) hers were too bright, and there were no Eam gles breeding in those nests, that could truly behold them. At last here she arrived, Destiny subscribing to this Warrant, that none but this Land should be her In heritance. In contempt of which happiness, Envy shoots his empoisoned stings at her heart, but his And dears (being charmed) turn their dangerous heads upon his own bosom. Those that dwell far off, pine away with vexing to see her prosper, because all the ac quaintauce which they have of her, is this, that they know there is such a goodly Creature as Eirene, in the world, yet her face they know not: while all those that here sleep under the warmth of her wings, adore her by the sacred & Celestial name of Peace, for number being (as her blessings are) infinite. Her daughter Euporia (well known by the name of Plenty, is at this present with her, (being indeed ne ver from her side) under yonder Arbour they fit, which after the daughters name is called, Hortus Euporiae ( Plenties Bower: ) Chaste are they both, and both may dens in memory of a Virgin, to whom they were nurse children: for whose sake (because they were bound to her for their life,) me, have they charged to lay at your imperial feet, (being your hereditary endue) the tribute of their love: And with it thus to say. That they have languished many heavy months for your presence, which to them would have been, (& proud they are that it shall be so now,) of the same operation and influence, that the Sun is to the spring, and the spring to the earth: hearing therefore what treble preferment you have bestowed upon this day, wherein beside the beams of a glorious Sun, two other clear and gracious stars shine cheer fully on these her homely buildings: Into which (be cause no duty should be wanting) she hath given leave even to Strangers, to be Sharers in her happi nes, by suffering them to bid you likewise welcome. By me (once hers now your vassal,) she entreats, and with a knee sinking lower than the ground on which you tread, do I humbly execute her pleasure, that ere you pass further, you would deign to walk into yonder Garden: the Hesperides live not there but the Muses, and the Muses no longer than under your protection. Thus far am I sent to conduct you Thy there, prostrately begging this grace, (since I dare not, as being unworthy, lackey by your royal side) in that yet these my green Followers and my self may be joyful forerunners of your expected approach, away Sylvanus.