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Pleasant dialogues and dramma's

selected out of Lucian, Erasmus, Textor, Ovid, &c. ... By Tho. Heywood

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Spoken to the right Honourable the Earle of Dover, at his house in Broadstreet upon a Candlemas night.
  
  
  
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Spoken to the right Honourable the Earle of Dover, at his house in Broadstreet upon a Candlemas night.

The Prologue.

The downy Swan though yoakt in Venus Teame,

244

Yet of all birds that ever lov'd the streame,
Is held to be the chiefest: Pallas Owle
In Athens fam'd for many a learned scrowle,
Compos'd in Inke and Oyle, th' embleme of watch,
By which the most laborious students catch
At Arts (howe're, benighted) was not more
Famous, in Greece, then on Caister shore
Your sacred Bird, which the nine Sisters strove
To make the symbole of conjugall love,
With which the Cock, the Bird of Mars combin'd,
A double gardian knot, to be untwin'd
Never: 'Tis now made fast, so intricate,
Not Alexanders sword, not time, not fate
Can e'ver untye, for what's in vertue laid,
Envie can never blast, nor age invade.
In this blest state both you, and yours, now stand
As first dispos'd, so strengthened by that hand,
Which as it makes, protects; you have begun
To grace the City with your presence: run
That happy course still: you and your lov'd wife
Have to dead hospitality given new life.
Still cherish it: old Christenmasse almost starv'd
Through base neglect, by you hath beene preserv'd.
O give him still like welcome, that whilst he
Hath name on earth, you may his harbourer be.

Epilogue.

What man can wish his blisse to crowne,
Or in abundance heaven powre downe.
Health, plenty, solace, all delights
That lengthen dayes, or shorten nights.
Heavens favour, and the Courts best grace,
Attend the great Lord of this place.
Old Christenmasse hunger-starv'd and dry,
Who earst did drinke deepe and far'd hye
You welcome, and with Princely cheere,
Feast Ianus father of the yeare.

245

The sparing Chuff could be content
To thrust the twelve dayes into Lent.
You Englands custome, wake from sleepe,
Which all the Christian world still keepe:
For which may you thus stor'd with guests
Long celebrate these annuall feasts,
That you and your good Lady may
Together, many a New-yeares day,
Rejoyce in your blest Issue till
The houres shall faile, and time stand still.