Rhodon and Iris· A pastorall, as it vvas presented at the florists feast in Norwich, May 3. 1631.

ACT. 1. SCEN. 4.

Cynosbatus, Martagon.

Cy.

MY honor'd friend, most noble Martagon, Who whilom didst with thy imperiall power Command the mountaines proud, and humble plaines

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Of happy Thessaly: who hath eclips'd The splendour of thy light, and clipp'd those wings That did ore-shade these fields from East to West. Each Shepheard that was wont to feed his flocks Vpon these fertile meads, was wont whilere To pay the tribute of his primest lambs. But now as one coup'd in an angle up, Thou art compell'd to satisfie thy selfe, With a small portion of that soveraignty Which thou didst earst enioy.

Ma.

Deare friend Cynosbatus, if that the world Had bin compos'd in a cubicke forme And not orbicular; or if this globe Were destin'd to be ought else then fortunes ball, By alterations racket banded to and fro; Then iustly might'st thou wonder to behold My present state, so short of my precedent height. Nor doth this monster, Change, beare sway alone, Ore elements, men, beasts, and plants, But those celestiall bodies that are fram'd Of purer constitutions, are compell'd To be obedient to her awfull doome. Reare up thy eyes unto the spangl'd cope, And there behold Ioves starre-enchased belt, The glittering Zodiacke wonderfully chang'd In a few thousand yeares: For those fixt stars, which like a Diamond cleare, Adorne the baudricke of the Thunderer, Have wander'd from their former stations. Witnesse the golden Ram who now is gone astray, And shoulder'd hath the Cretian Bull; and he Those twins of Iove so sore hath butted,

That they have crush'd the Crab, and thrust him quite Into the den of the Nemaean Lyon. Thus by the change of these superiour bodies, Strange alterations in the world are wrought, Great Empires maim'd, & Kingdoms brought to naught. And that auspicious lampe, who freely lends His light to lesser fires, the prince of generation, Even Sol himselfe, is five degrees declin'd, Since learned Ptolome did take his height. But if Egyptian wisards we may trust, Who in Astrologie wont to excell; By them tis told, that foure times they have seene That glorious Charrioter flit from his place: Twice hath he rose (they say) where now he sets, And twice declined where he now doth rise. If these Celestiall powers, whose influence Commands terrestriall substances, Be object to mutation, then needs must Sublunar things, submit themselues to change. Then wonder not good friend Cynosbatus, To see my state and power diminish'd thus.

Cy.

Tis true deare Martagon, experience showes That alteration every day brings forth A new birth of effects.

Ma.

But I prethe friend, satisfie me in one thing.

Cy.

My bosome's yours, take from that Cabinet The choisest secret that can pleasure you: Tell me in what your will's to be resolu'd.

Ma.

There is a rumour spred through Thessaly, That your faire sister, Madame Eglantine, Shall be espoused to the Shepheard Rhodon, The prince of all the Swaines that dwell on Hybla.

Cy.

From no ill grounds this rumor sprang, thou•••• The Fates did crosse what was by us intended.

Na.

Then there's no expectation of my Nuptial rite

Cy.

No; all's dissolv'd.

Na.

I thanke my Starres for that.

Cy.

Your reason, Noble friend.

Ma.

A kin he is to that male spirited Dame, That stout Virago, that proud Shepheardesse Call'd Violetta: who complaines of wrongs Late suffer'd at my hands: And hee's the man by whom she hopes To be aveng'd on me, for this pretended injury; And had he matcht your sister, sweet Eglantine, Then might I have had cause for to suspect Your love not to be sound, since you accepted So great a soe of mine, for your neere friend.

Cy.

Then I am glad the Fates would not agree That I should lose so true a friend as thee.

Exeunt.