University of Virginia Library

THE HONORABLE Entertainement gieuen to the Queenes Maiestie in Progresse, at Eluetham in Hampshire, by the right Honorable the Earle of Hertford. 1591

The Poets speech to his boy offering him a Cushion.

Now let vs vse no cushions, but faire hearts:
For now we kneel to more than usuall Saints.

The Poets speech to her Maiestie.

The Dittie of the six Virgins Song.

The Oration of Nereus to her Maiesty.

Faire Cinthia the wide Oceans Empresse,
I watry Nereus houered on the coast
To greete your Maiesty with this my traine
Of dauncing Tritons, and shrill singing Nimphs.
But all in vaine: Elisa was not there;
For which our Neptune grieud, and blamd the star,
Whose thwarting influence dasht our longing hope.
Therefore impatient, that this worthles earth
Should beare your Highnes weight, and we sea Gods,
(Whose iealous waues haue swallowd vp your foes,
And to your Realme are walles impregnable)
With such large fauour seldome time are grac't:
I from the deepes haue drawen this winding flud,
Whose crescent forme figures the rich increase
Of all that sweet Elisa holdeth deare.
And with me came gould-brested India,
Who daunted at your sight, leapt to the shoare,
And sprinkling endlesse treasure on this Ile,
Left me this iewell to present your Grace,
For hym, that vnder you doth hold this place.
See where her ship remaines, whose silkewouen takling
Is turnde to twigs, and threefold mast to trees,
Receiuing life from verdure of your lookes;
(For what cannot your gracious looks effect?)
Yon vgly monster creeping from the South,
To spoyle these blessed fields of Albion,
By selfe same beames is chang'd into a Snaile,
Whose bulrush hornes are not of force to hurt.
As this snaile is, so be thine enemies,
And neuer yet did Nereus wishe in vaine.
That Fort did Neptune raise, for your defence;
And in this Barke, which gods hale neare the shore,
White footed Thetis sends her Musicke maydes,
To please Elisaes eares with harmony.
Hear them fair Queene: and when their Musick ends,
My Triton shall awake the Syluane Gods,
To doe their hommage to your Maiesty.

The Sea nymphes Dittie.

Eccho.
A second Sun.

Eccho.
Doth blesse the place.

The Oration of Syluanus.

Nereus.
But see Syluanus where thy loue doth sit.

Syluanus.
My sweet Neæra? was her eare so neare?
O set my hearts delight vpon this banke,
That in compassion of old sufferance,
Shee may relent in sight of beauties Queene.

Nereus.
On this condition shall shee come on shoare.
That with thy hand thou plight a solemne vow,
Not to prophane her vndefiled state.

Syluanus.
Here, take my hand, and therewithall I vowe

Nereus.
That water will extinguish wanton fire.

The Oration of faire Neæra.

Here her Maiesty named the Pinnace, the Bonaduenture, and Neæra went on with her speech, as followeth.

The Plowmans Song.

In the merrie moneth of May,
In a morne, by breake of day,
Forth I walked by the wood side,
Where as May was in his pride.
There I spied, all alone
Phyllida and Corydon.
Much adoe there was God wot,
He would loue, and she would not.
She said, neuer man was true:
He said, none was false to you.
He said, he had loued her long:
She said, loue should haue no wrong.
Coridon would kisse her then:
She said, maides must kisse no men,
Till they did for good and all.
Then she made the shepheard call
All the heauens to witnesse truth,
Neuer lou'd a truer youth.
Thus with many a pretie oath,
Yea and nay, and faith and troth,
Such as silly shepheards vse,
When they will not loue abuse,
Loue, which had beene long deluded,
Was with kisses sweet concluded:
And Phyllida with garlands gay,
Was made the Lady of the May.

The speech of the Fairy Queene to her Maiestie.

I that abide in places vnder ground,
Aureola, the Queene of Fairy land,
That euery night in rings of painted flowers
Turne round, and carroll out Elisaes name:
Hearing, that Nereus and the Syluane Gods
Haue lately welcomde your Imperiall Grace,
Oapend the earth with this enchanting wand,
To doe my duety to your Maiestie.
And humbly to salute you with this Chaplet,
Giuen me by Auberon the Fairy King.
Bright shining Phœbe, that in humaine shape,
Hid'st heauens perfection, vouchsafe t'accept it:
And I Aureola, belou'd in heauen,
(For amorous starres fall nightly in my lap)
Will cause that heauens enlarge thy goulden dayes,
And cut them short, that enuy at thy praise.

[The Fairies Song.]

Elisa is the fairest Queene
That euer trod vpon this greene.
Elisaes eyes are blessed starres,
Inducing peace, subduing warres.
Elisaes hand is christall bright,
Her wordes are balme, her lookes are light.
Elisaes brest is that faire hill,
Where vertue dwels, and sacred skill,
O blessed bee each day and houre,
Where sweete Elisa builds her bowre.

The Poets speech at her Maiesties departure.

[Come againe: A Dittie.]