42
And next in ordre was set by hys syde
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Ceres, the goddesse, in a garment
Of sak clothe made with sleues large & wyde,
Embrowderyd with sheues & sykelys bent.
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Of all maner greynes she sealyd the patent,
In token that she was the goddesse of corne.
Olde poetys sey she bereth the heruest horne.
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43
Then was there set the god Cupido,
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All fresshe & galaunt & costlew in aray.
With ouches & rynges he was beset so
The paleys therof shone as though hit had be day.
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A kerchyef of plesaunce stood ouer hys helme ay.
The goddesse Ceres he lookyd in the face
And with oon arme he hyr dyd enbrace.
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44
Next to Cupido in ordyr by and by,
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Of worldly wysdom, sate the forteresse
Callyd Othea, chyef grounde of polycy,
Rewler of knyghthode, of Prudence the goddese.
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Clad all in purpur was she more & lesse,
Safe on her hede a crowne ther stood,
Cowchyd with perles, oryent, fyne and good.
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45
And next to her was god Pluto set,
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With a derke myst enuyrond all aboute,
Hys clothyng was made of a smoky net.
Hys colour was, bothe withyn & withoute,
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Foule, derke & dymme; hys eyen gret & stoute.
Of fyre and sulphure all hys odour wase;
That wo was me whyle I behelde hys fase.
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46
Fortune, the goddesse, with her party face
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Was vnto Pluto next in ordre set.
Varyaunt she was; ay in short space
Hyr whele was redy to turne without let.
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Hyr gowne was of gawdy grene chamelet,
Chaungeable of sondry dyuerse colowres,
To the condycyons accordyng of hyr shoures.
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