QVATORZAIN. 17. Horaæ.
Horæ the howres, daughters of Iupiter and Themis,
are by Homer and other Poets saide to keepe the
gates of heauen, and by opening of them to make
faire weather, and by shutting them to make foule
weather, they fauour learning and associate Venus
and the Graces: They are imagined to haue soft feet
and to be most slow of all the Goddesses, and still to
worke some new matter, they moderate and deuide
the succession of times.
We that are calde Tymes goldē winged Howres:
And are the Porters of Heauens Christall gate,
Come from the Pallace of Celestiall powers,
This Countesse death with pompe to celebrate;
By shutting vp Heauens gate we send downe rayne,
Darking the triple region of the Aire,
And when we list opening the doore againe,
Dry the moyst clowdes & make the weather faire,
Weepe now O clowdes vppon the grassie earth,
With often drops fret through the hardest stones,
While we in sorrowe for this Ladies death,
Flie back againe to the Celestiall thrones:
And locking fast the great Porte of the Skie,
Send downe more showres for her mortalitie.
