The complete works of John Lyly now for the first time collected and edited from the earliest quartos with life, bibliography, essays, notes and index by R. Warwick Bond |
 | I. |
| III. |
 |
|
 | The complete works of John Lyly |  |
476
[Swel Ceres now, for other Gods are shrinking]
At the bottome of the hill, entring into the hous Ceres with her Nymphes in an haruest Cart, meete her Maiesty, hauing a Crowne of wheat-ears with a Iewell, and after this song, vttered the speech following.
Swel Ceres now, for other Gods are shrinking,
Pomona pineth,
Fruitlesse her tree;
Faire Phœbus shineth
Onely on mee.
Conceite doth make me smile whilst I am thinking,
How euery one doth read my story,
How euery bough on Ceres lowreth,
Cause heauens plenty on me powreth,
And they in leaues doe onely glory,
All other Gods of power bereuen,
Ceres only Queene of heauen.
Pomona pineth,
Fruitlesse her tree;
Faire Phœbus shineth
Onely on mee.
Conceite doth make me smile whilst I am thinking,
How euery one doth read my story,
How euery bough on Ceres lowreth,
Cause heauens plenty on me powreth,
And they in leaues doe onely glory,
All other Gods of power bereuen,
Ceres only Queene of heauen.
With Robes and flowers let me be dressed,
Cynthia that shineth,
Is not so cleare,
Cynthia declineth,
When I appeere,
Yet in this Ile shee raignes as blessed,
And euery one at her doth wonder,
And in my eares still fonde Fame whispers,
Cynthia shalbe Ceres Mistres,
But first my Carre shall riue a sunder, [The cart parts in the middle.]
Helpe Phœbus helpe! my fall is suddaine;
Cynthia, Cynthia, must be soueraigne.
Cynthia that shineth,
Is not so cleare,
Cynthia declineth,
When I appeere,
Yet in this Ile shee raignes as blessed,
And euery one at her doth wonder,
And in my eares still fonde Fame whispers,
Cynthia shalbe Ceres Mistres,
But first my Carre shall riue a sunder, [The cart parts in the middle.]
Helpe Phœbus helpe! my fall is suddaine;
Cynthia, Cynthia, must be soueraigne.
| The complete works of John Lyly | |