And might of all men royally be seene, Or could be fram'd by workman's rare device; And all embost with lyons and with flowre-de lice. And over all her cloth of ftate was fpred, Not of rich tiffew, nor of cloth of gold, Nor of ought elfe that may be richest red, But like a cloud, as likeft may be told, That her broad fpreading wings did wide unfold; Whocs fkirts were bordered with bright funny beames, Gliftring like gold, amongst the plights enrold, And here and there fhooting forth filver ftreames, Mongft which crept little angels thro' the glittering gleames. Seemed thofe little angels did uphold The cloth of state, and on their purpled wings Did bear the pendants, thro' their nimblefs bold, Befides a thousand more of fuch, as fings Hymnes to high God, and carols heavenly things, Encompaffed the throne, on which the fate: She angel-like, the heir of ancient kings And mighty conquerors, in royal state, Whilft kings and Cæfars at her feet did them proftrate. Thus fhe did fit in fovereign majeftic, Holding a fcepter in her royal hand, The facred pledge of peace and clemencie, With which high God had bleft her happy land, Maugre fo many foes which did withstand. But at her feet her fword was likewife layd, Whoes long reft rusted the bright steely brand, Yet when as focs enforc't, or friends fought ayde, She could it sternly draw, that all the world difmaide; And round about before her feet there fate A beautie of faire virgins clad in white, That goodly feem'd t' adorne her royal fate, All lovely daughters of high Jove, that hight Lite, by him begot in love's delight, Upon the righteous Themis: those they fay Upon Jove's judgment-feat waite day and night, And when in wrath he threats the world's decay, They doe his anger calme, and cruel vengeance stay. They alfo doe, by his divine permission, Upon the thrones of mortal princes tend, And often treat for pardon and remiflion To fuppliants through frailtie which offend; Thole did upon Marcillae's throne attend: Juft Dice, wife Eunomie, mild Eirene; And them amongst, her glory to commend, Sate goodly Temperance, in garments clene, And facred Reverance,yborne of heavenlyftrene. Some clerkes doe doubt in their deviceful art, Whether this heavenly thing, whereof. I treat, To weeten, mercy, be of justice part, Or drawne forth from her by divine extreate. This well I wote, that fure fhe is as great, And meriteth to have as high a place, Sith in th' Almighties everlafting feat For if that virtue be of that great might, daine, In which all trees of honour ftately food, Spreading pavilions for the birds to bowre, Unmarr'd with ragged mofs or filthy mud; Keeping all noifome things away from it, And to the waters fall tuning their accents fit. And on the top thereof a fpatious plaine Either to dance, when they to dance would faine, Did feem to over-look the lowly vale, By this, eternall lamps, where with high Jove Doth light the world, were half yfpent, And the moift daughters of huge Atlas fhove Into the ocean deep to drive their wearie drove, Now when as all the world in filence deep Ythrowded was, and every mortal wight Was drowned in the depth of deadly fleep. Night, thou foule mother of annoyance fad, Sifter of heavy death, and nurfe of woe, Which wait begot in heaven, but for thy bad And brutifh fhape, thruft downe to hell below, Where, by the grim floud of Cocytus flowe, That dwelling is Her.bus' black hous, (Black Herebus, thy husband, is the foe Of all the Gods) where thou ungracious, Half of thy days doeft lead in horrour hedeous. The world in his continual courfe to keep, What had th' Eternal Maker need of thee, That doeft all things deface, ne letteft fee The beautie of his work? Indeed in fleep The flothful body doth love to fteep His luftlefs limbs, and drowne his bafer mind, Doth praife thee oft, and oft from Stygian deep Calls thee his goddefs, in his errour blind, And great dame Nature's hand-maid chearing every kind. But well I wote, that to an heavy heart Thou art the root and nurse of bitter cares, Breeder of new, renewer of old smarts; And dreadful vifions, in the which alive, All these (I wote) in thy protection bee, And fheweth each thing as it is indeed, The prayfes of high God he fair difplayes, Which dark nefs fhall fubdue, and heaven win: With pearly dew, and the earth's gloomy fhade Did dim the brightnefs of the welkin round, invade. § 167. Occafion. AND him behind, a wicked hagg did stalke, Grew all afore, and loofely hung unroll'd; Sone Some times the raught him ftones, wherewith to finite, Sometimes her staff, tho' it her own leg were, Withouten which the could not go upright; Ne evil means fhe did forbeare, [reare. That might him move to wrath, and indignation $168. Palace of Sleep. TO Morpheus' house doth haftily repaire: Amid the bowels of the earth full fteep And lowe, where dawning day doth never peep, His dwelling is; there Thetys his wet bed Doth ever wath, and Cynthia ftill doth steep In filver dew his ever drouping head, Whiles fad night over him her mantle black doth spread. Whofe double gates he findeth locked fast, The one faire fram`d with burnish'd ivory, The other all with filver over-caft; And fhut up faft within her prifons blind, Makes the huge element against her kind To move, and tremble as it were aghast, Untill that it an iffue forth may find, Then forth it breakes, and with his furious blaft Confound both land and feas, and sky doth overcast. § 171. Sun. AS when two Suns appear in th' azure sky, Mounted in Phoebus' chariot fierie bright: Both darting forth faire beames to each man's eye, And both adorn'd with lars of flaming light, All that behold fuch ftrange prodigious fight, Not knowing nature's work, nor what to weene, Are wrapt with wonder and with rare affright. $172. Phaeton. And wakefull dogges before them farre doe lye, EXCEEDING fhone, like Phœbus' fairest Watching to banith Care their enemy, Who oft is wont to trouble gentle fleep. By them the spright doth pafs in quietly, [deep And unto Morpheus comes, whom drownded In drowfie fit he finds: of nothing he takes keep. And more to lull him in his flumbers foft, A trickling ftream from high rock tumbling And ever drizling raine upon the loft, No other noife, nor peoples troublous cryes, As ftill are wont t' annoy the walled town, Might there be heard: but carclefs quiet lies, Wrapt in eternal filence, farre from enemies. § 169. Tyger. A On which they ween their famin to affwage, And gaine a feaftful guerdon of their toyle, Both falling out, do flir up ftrife-full broyle, And cruell battell twixt themfelves do make. Whiles neither lets the other touch the fpoyle, But either 'fdeignes with other to partake. Another. As when a tyger and a lyonefs Doth in defence thereof full ftoutly ftond: That the to hunt the beaft firft took in hond; And therefore ought it have, where ever the it found. $ 170. Winds. LIKE as a boift'rous wind, [hid, Which in th' earth's hollow caves hath long been childe, THE Of fowle mishapen wights, of which some were Headed like owles, with beakes uncomely bent, Cthers like dogs, others like gryphons dreare, And fome had wings, and fome had clawes to teare, And every one of them had lynces eyes, And every one did bowe and arrowes beare, All thofe were lawless lufts, corrupt envies, And covetous aspects, all cruell enemies. Did lay itrong fiege, and battailous affault, Thofe fame against the bulwarke of the fight Ne once did yield it refpit day nor night, But foon as Titan gan his head exault, Ard foon again as he his light withhault, Their wicked engines they against it bent: That is, each thing by which the eyes may fault; But two than all more huge and violent, Beautyand money, they that bulwark forelyrent. Gnawing her nayles for felnefs and for ire, And thereout fucking venom to her parts intire. A foule and loathly creature fure in fight, And in conditions to be loath'd no less : For fhee was ftuft with rancour and defpight Up to the throat; that oft with bitterness It forth would break, and gufh in great excefs, Pouring out ftreames of poyfon and of gall, Gainst all that truth or virtue doe profeffe; Whome the with leefings lewdly did mifcall, And wickedly back-bite: her name men Slander call. Her nature is, all goodness to abufe, With which the guiltlefs perfons may accufe, And steale away the crowne of their good name: Ne ever knight fo bold, ne ever dame So chaft and loyall liv'd, but he would ftrive With forged caufe them falfely to defame: Ne ever thing was done fo well alive, But the with blame would blot, and of due praise deprive. Her words were not as common words are ment, T'exprefs the meaning of the inward minde; But noifome breath, and poys'nous fpirit fent From inward parts, with cancar'd malice lin'd, And breathed forth with blaft of bitter winde; Which paffing thro' the eares, would pearce the heart, And wound the foul it felf with grief unkind: For, like the ftings of afpes, that kill with finart, Her fpightfull words did prick and wound the inner part. § 175. Storme. HEE cryde, as rageing feas are wont to rore, When wintry ftorme his wrathfull wreck does threat, The rolling billows beat the ragged fhore, As they the earth would fhoulder from her feat, And greedy gulf does gape, as he would eat His neighbour element in his revenge: Then gin the bluftering breathren boldly threat, To move the world from off his ftedfaft henge, And boyftrous battell make,each otherto avenge. Another. Like to a ftorm that hovers under skie Long here and there, and round about doth flie, At length breaks down in raine, and haile, and fleet, Firft from one coaft, till nought thereof be dry; And then another, till that likewife fleet; And fo from fide to fide, till all the world be weet. And next her wrinkled skin rough fackcloth wore, That ftretcht it self, as it had long lain frill; Or other like infernall furies kind: For of a maide fhe had the outward face, To hide the horrour which did lurk behind, The better to beguile whom the fo fond did nad. Thereto the body of a dog she had, Full of fell ravin and fierce greediness; A lyon's clawes with power and rigour clad, To rend and teare what fo the can opprefs; And dragon's taile, whocs fting without redrefs Full deadly wounds, when fo it is empight; The father of that fatal progeny, To many a one, which came into her fchool, But it in fhape and beauty did excell Farre palling that, which by furpatting skill Did fall in love: yet this much fairer fhined, And both her feet and legs together twined Were with a fake, whoes head and taile were faft combined. The caufe why he was covered with a veile, Was hard to know, for that her priests the fame From people's knowledge labour'd to conceale. But footh it was not fure for womanifh fhame, Nor any blemish which the worke mote blame; But for (they fay) the hath both kinds in one, Both male and female, both under one name: She £re and mother is herself alone; On either fide of her two young men ftood, Yet were they brethren both of half the blood, The one of them hight Love, the other Hate. Nath'lefs that dame fo well them tempred both, Albe that Hatred was thereof full loth, Begets, and eke conceives, ne needeth other none. Unwilling to behold that lovely band, And all about her neck and fhoulders flew A flock of little loves, and fports and joyes, With nimble wings of gold and purple hew; Whoes fhapes feem'd not like to terrestrial boyes, But like to angels playing heavenly toyes; The whilft their elder brother was away, The wide kingdome of love with lordly fway, Some of their lofs, fome of their love's delay, § 179. Temple of Venus. THE temple of great Venus, that is hight There worshipped of every living wight; Not that fame famous temple of Diane, And which all Afia fought with vows profane, With endless coft to be the Almighty's fee; named Yet fhe was of fuch grace and vertuous might, That her commandment he could not withstand, But bit his lip for felonous defpight, And gnafht his iron tufks at that displeasing fight. Concord the cleeped was in common reed, They both hertwins, both born of heavenly feed, Of little, much, of foes the maketh friends, As their Almighty Maker first ordained, And fire devour the aire, and hell them quite, 'Into the inmoft temple thus I came, londs gay, A thoufand precious gifts worth many a pound, An hundred altars round about were fet, That with the fteme thereof the temple fwet, And cke an hundred brazen cauldrons bright, To bathe in joy and amorous defire, r Every |