University of Virginia Library

SCENA II.

Paris alone. Manentibus Pal. Iunone, Venere.
Ven.
Iuno, in happie time, I do accept the man,
It seemeth by his lookes, some skill of loue he can.

Par.
The nymphe is gone, and I all solitarie,
Must wend to tend my charge, opprest with melancholy.
This day (or else me fayles my sheepeherdes skill)
Will tide me passing good, or passing ill.

Iun.
Sheepeherd, abash not, though, at sudden thus,
Thou be aryued by ignorance among vs,
Not earthlie but deuine, and goddesses all three,
Iuno, Pallas, Venus, these our titles be.
Nor feare to speake, for reuerence of the place,
Chosen to ende a harde and doubtfull case.
This apple loe (nor aske thou whence it came)
Is to be giuen vnto the fayrest dame.
And fayrest is, nor shee, nor shee, but shee,
Whom, sheepeherd, thou shalt fayrest name to be.
This is thy charge, fulfill without offence,
And shee that winnes shall giue thee recompence.

Pal.
Dreade not to speake for we haue chosen thee,
Sith in this case, we can no iudges be.

Ven.
And, sheepeherd, say that I the fayrest ame,
And thou shalt win good guerdon for the same.

Iun.
Nay, shepherde, looke vppon my stately grace,
Because the pompe that longs to Iunoes mace,
They mayst not see: and thincke Queene Iunoes name,
To vvhome olde shepherds title vvorkes of fame,
Is mightye, and may easily suffize,
At Phebus hande to gaine a golden prize.
And for thy meede, sythe I ame Queene of riches,
Shepherde, I vvill revvarde thee vvith greate monarchies,
Empires, and kingdomes, heapes of massye golde,
Scepters and diadems, curious to beholde,
Riche robes, of sumpteous vvorkmanship and cost,
And thovvsand thinges vvhereof I make no boast
The moulde vvhereon thovve treadest shall be of Tagus sandes,
And Xanthus shall runne liquid golde for the to vvash thy handes:
And yf thou lyke to tend thy flock, and not from them to flie,
Their fleeces shalbe curled gold to please their masters eye.
And last, to sett thy harte one fire, gyue this one fruite to me,
And, shepherd, lo this Tree of Golde vvill I bestovve on thee.
IVNOES SHOWE.
Heereuppon did rise a Tree of gold laden with Diadems & Crownes of golde.
The grovvnde vvhereon it groes, the grasse, the roote of golde,
The body and the bark of golde, all glistringe to beholde,
The leaues of burnysht golde, the fruites that there on grovve:
Are diadems sett vvith pearle in golde in gorgeous glistringe shovve:
And yf this Tree of Golde, in lue may not suffize,
Require a grove of golden trees, so Iuno beare the prize.

The Tree sinketh.
Pall.
Me Ivst not tempt thee vvith decayinge vvealthe,
Which is embaset by vvant of lusty healthe:
But yf thou haue a minde to fly aboue,
Ycrovvned vvith fame neere to the feate of Ioue:
Yf thou aspire to vvysdomes vvorthines.
Where of thovv mayst not see the brightnes
Yf thou desyre honor of chyuallrye,
To bee renouned for happy victorie,
To fighte it out, and in the clumpaine feilde,
To shrovvde thee vnder pallas vvarlike sheilde,
To praunce on barbed steedes, this honor loe,
My selfe for guerdon shall on thee bestowe.
And for encouragement, that thou mayst see,
What famous knightes dame Pallas warriors be,
Beholde in Pallas honour here they come,
Marching alonge with sounde of thundring drom.

PALLAS SHOW.
Hereuppon did enter .9. knights in armour, treading a warlike Almaine, by drome and fife, & then hauing march't foorth againe, Venus speaketh.
Uen.
Come sheepeherde, come, sweete sheepeherde looke on me,
These bene to hoat alarams these for thee:
But if thou wilt giue mee the golden ball,
Cupide my boy shall hate to playe withall,
That when so ere this apple he shall see,
The god of loue himselfe shall thinke on the,
And bid thee looke and chuse, and he will wounde,
Whereso thy fancyes obiect shalbe founde,
And lightlie when he shootes he doth not misse:
And I will giue the many a louelie kysse,
And come and play with thee on Ida here,
And if thou wilt a face that hath no peere,
A gallant girle, a lustie minion trull,
That can giue sporte to thee thy bellyfull,
To rauish all thy beating vaines with ioye,
Here is a lasse of Venus court, my boy,
Helen entreth with 4. Cupides.
Here gentle sheepeherde, heres for thee a peece,
The fayrest face, the flower of gallant Greece.

VENVS SHOW.
Here Helen entreth in her brauerie, with 4 Cupides attending on her, each hauing his fan in his hande to fan fresh ayre in her face. shee singeth as followeth.

Exit.
The song being ended Helen departeth, & Paris Speaketh.
Par.
Most heauenly dames, was never man as I
Poore shepherde swaine, so happy and vnhappy:
The least of these delights, that you deuyse,
Able to wrape and dazle humaine eyes.
But since my silence may not pardoned bee,
And I appoint which is the fayrest shee,
Pardon, most sacred dames, sythe one not all,
By Paris doome must haue this golden ball.
Thy beautye, stately Iuno, dame deuine,
That lyke to Phœbus golden beames doth shine,
Approues it selfe to bee most excellent,
But that fayre face that dothe me most content,
Sythe fayre, faire dames, is neyther shee nor shee,
But shee whome I shall fairest deeme to bee.
That face is hers that hight the Queene of Loue,
whose sweetenes dothe bothe gods and creatours moue.
He guieth the golden Ball to venus.
And if the fayrest face deserue the ball,
Fayre Venus, Ladyes, beares it from yee all.

Ven.
And in this ball dothe Venus more delight,
Then in her louely boy faire Cupids sighte.
Come shepherd comme, sweete Venus is thy frend,
No matter how thow other gods offend.

Venus taketh paris with her.
Exeunt.
Iun.
But he shall rue, and ban the dismal day
wherein his Venus bare the ball away:
And heauen and earth iust wittnesses shall bee,
I will reuenge it on his progenye.

Pal.
well Iuno, whether wee bee leyse or lothe,
Venus hathe got the aple from vs bothe.

Exeunt Ambo