Iris.
Ceres, most bounteous lady, thy rich leas
Of wheat, rye, barley, fetches, oats, and pease;
Thy turfy mountains, where live nibling sheep,
And flat meads^{0 note} thatch'd with stover, them to keep;
^{1 note}Thy banks with pionied, and tulip'd brims,
Which spungy April at thy hest betrims,
To make cold nymphs chaste crowns; and thy broom-groves,
Whose shadow the dismissed bachelor loves,
Being lass-lorn; thy pole-clipt vineyard,
And thy sea-marge steril, and rocky hard,
Where thou thyself do'st air; the Queen o'th' sky,
Whose wat'ry arch and messenger am I,
Bids thee leave these; and with her Sov'reign Grace,
Here on this grass-plot, in this very place,
To come and sport; her peacocks fly amain:
Approach, rich Ceres, her to entertain. Enter Ceres.

Cer.
Hail, many-colour'd messenger, that ne'er
Do'st disobey the wife of Jupiter:
Who, with thy saffron wings, upon my flowers
Diffusest honey drops, refreshing showers;
And with each end of thy blue bow do'st crown
My bosky acres, and my unshrub'd down,
Rich scarf to my proud earth; why hath thy Queen
Summon'd me hither, to this short grass'd green?

Iris.
A contract of true love to celebrate,
And some donation freely to estate
On the bless'd lovers.

Cer.
Tell me, heav'nly bow,
If Venus or her son, as thou do'st know,
Do now attend the Queen: since they did plot
The means, that dusky Dis my daughter got,
Her and her blind boy's scandal'd company
I have forsworn.

Iris.
Of her society
Be not afraid; I met her deity
Cutting the clouds towards Paphos, and her son
Dove-drawn with her; here thought they to have done
Some wanton charm upon this man and maid,
Whose vows are, that no bed-right shall be paid
'Till Hymen's torch be lighted; but in vain.
Mars's hot minion is return'd again,
Her waspish-headed son has broke his arrows,
Swears, he will shoot no more, but play with sparrows,
And be a boy right out.

Cer.
High Queen of state,
Great Juno, comes; I know her by her gait. [Juno descends, and enters.

Jun.
How does my bounteous sister? go with me
To bless this twain, that they may prosp'rous be,
And honour'd in their issue.

Jun.
Honour, riches, marriage-blessing,
Long continuance and increasing,
Hourly joys be still upon you!
Juno sings her blessings on you:

Cer.
Earth's increase, and foyson-plenty,^{2 note}
Barns and garners never empty,

Vines, with clustring bunches growing,
Plants, with goodly burden bowing,
Spring come to you, at the farthest,
In the very end of harvest!
Scarcity and want shall shun you;
Ceres' blessing so is on you.

Fer.
This is a most majestic vision, and
Harmonious charmingly: may I be bold
To think these spirits?

Pro.
Spirits, which by mine art
I have from their confines call'd to enact
My present fancies.

Fer.
Let me live here ever;
So rare a wonder'd father, and a wife,
Make this place paradise.

Pro.
Sweet; now silence:
Juno and Ceres whisper seriously;
There's something else to do; hush, and be mute,
Or else our spell is marr'd. Juno and Ceres whisper, and send Iris on employment.

Iris.
You nymphs, call'd Nayads, of the winding brooks,
With your sedg'd crowns, and ever-harmless looks,
Leave your crisp channels, and on this green land
Answer your summons, Juno does command:
Come, temperate nymphs, and help to celebrate
A contract of true love; be not too late. Enter certain Nymphs.
You sun-burn'd sicklemen, of August weary,
Come hither from the furrow, and be merry;

Make holy-day; your rye-straw hats put on,
And these fresh nymphs encounter every one
In country footing.

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