The araygnement of Paris a pastorall. Presented before the Queenes Maiestie, by the Children of her chappell.

ACT. II. (Book 2)

SCENA I.

Venus, Iuno▪ Pallas.

Ven. ex abrupto.

But pray you tell me, Iuno, was it so, As Pallas tolde me here the tale of Ecch••.

Iun.

Shee was a nympe indeede, as Pallas ••••ls, A walker, such as in these thickets dwell••: And as shee tolde what subtill iugling prankes Shee playde with Iuno, so she tolde her thanke••: A tatling tru••l to come at euerie call, And now foresooth nor tongue nor life at all.

And though perhaps shee was a helpe to Ioue, And held me chat, while he might court his loue▪ Beleeue me, dames, I am of this opinion, He tooke but little pleasure in the minion. And what so ere his scapes haue bene beside, Dare saie for him a neuer strayed so wyde: A louely nutbrowne lasse, or lustie tru••l, Haue power perhaps to make a god a bull.

Ven.

Gramercie gentle Iuno for that iest, I faith that item was worth all the rest.

Pal.

No matter, Venus, how so ere you skorne, My father Ioue at that time wa••e the horne.

Iun.

Had euerie wanton god aboue, Venus, not better lucke, Then heauen would be a pleasaunt parcke, & Mars a lustie bucke.

Ven.

Tut Mars hath hornes to butte withall although no bull a showes. A neuer needes to maske in nets, a feares no iellous froes.

Iun.

Forsooth the better is his turne, for if a speake to loude, Must finde some shifte to shadowe him, a net, or else a cloude.

Pal.

No more of this, fayre goddesses, vnrip not so your shames, To stand all naked to the world, that bene such heauenly dames.

Iun.

Nay, Pallas, that's a common tricke with Venus well we knowe, And all the Gods in heauen haue seene her naked, long agoe.

Ven.

And then she was so faire and bright, and louelie and so t••••m, As Mars is but for Venus tooth, and shee will sporte with him. And but me list not here to make comparison with Ioue, Mars is no raunger, Iuno, he in euerie open groue.

Pal.

To much of this: we wander farre, the skies begine to skowle, Retire we to Dianas bowre, the weather will be ••oule.

The storme being past of thunder & lightning, & Ate hauing trūdled the ball into place▪ crying Fatum Troie, Iuno taketh the bal vp & speaketh.

Iun.

Pallas, the storme is past and gon, and Phoebus cleares the skies, And loe, beholde a ball of golde, a faire and worthie prize.

Ven.

This posie wils, the apple to the fayrest giuen be, Then is it mine: for Venus hight the fayrest of the three.

Pal.

The fayrest here as fayre is ment, am I, ye do me wronge: And if the f••y••est haue it must, to me it doth belong

Iun.

Then Iuno may it not enioy, so euery one sayes no, But I will proue my selfe the fayrest, er I lose it so.

The breyfe is this, 〈…〉〈…〉.

They read•• the 〈◊〉〈◊〉.

Let this vnto 〈◊〉〈◊〉 fayrest gyven 〈◊〉〈◊〉, The fayrest of the three▪ and ••am shee. Detur Pulche 〈…〉〈…〉

Pallas reades.

The fayrest 〈…〉〈…〉.

Venus reades.

Detur Pulcherrimae. 〈…〉〈…〉 The fayrest of the thre, and I am 〈◊〉〈◊〉.

Iun.

My face is fayre, 〈…〉〈…〉 That all the gods in heauen 〈…〉〈…〉, Ha••e made them chuse 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of the 〈◊〉〈◊〉, To bee the wyfe of I••••e, and Queene of heauen. Y•• then this prize be 〈…〉〈…〉 to beautye, The only shee that wins this prize am I.

Ven.

That Venus is the fayrest▪ this dothe proue, That Venus is the louely Queen of loue. The name of Venus is in deede but bautye, And men me fayrest call, per excellencye. Yf then this prize be but bequeathed to beautye, The only shee that wins this prize, am I.

Pall.

To stand on tearmes of beautye as yow take it, Beeleue me, Ladies, is but to mystake it: The beautye that this subtill prize must vvin, No outvvarde beautye highte, but dvvels vvithin. And f••yfte•••• as yovv please, and yovv shall finde, This beautye, is the beautye of the minde. This fayrenes, Vertue highte, in generall, That many braunches hathe in speciall: This beauty vvysdom hight, vvhereof am I, By heauen appointed, goddesse vvorthelye. And looke hovv muche the minde, the better 〈◊〉〈◊〉, Doth ouerpasse the bodye in deserte: So much the mistris of those guyfts devine, Excells thy beautie, and that state of thine. Then yf this prize bee thus bequeathed to beautye, The only she that vvins this prize, am I.

Ven.

Nay, Pallas▪ by your leaue, yovv vvander cleane, Wee must not conster heereof as yovv meane: But take the sense as it i•• plainly ment,

And let the fayrest hate, I am content.

Pal.

Our reasons ••ilbe infinite, I trowe, Vnles vnto some other point we grow. For fi••st heres none mee thinkes disposed to y••elde, And none but will with wordes maintaine the fielde.

Iun.

Then if you will to auoyde a tedious grudge, Refer it to the sentence of iudge, Who ere he be that commeth next in place, Let him bestowe the ball, and ende the 〈◊〉〈◊〉.

Ven.

So can it not go wronge with me not at al.

Pal.

I am agreed how euer it befall. And yet by common doome, so may it bee, I may be sayde the fayrest of the three.

Iun.

Then yonder loe that sheepeherde swaine is he, That must be 〈◊〉〈◊〉 in this controuersie.

ACT. II. 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, Iun••, 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.

D••eade 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, sheph••••••e, looke vppon my ••••a••ely grace, Because the pompe that longs to 〈…〉〈…〉 They mayst not see▪ and thincke Queene Iuno••s name, To vvhome olde shepherds title vvorkes of fa••e, Is mightye, and may easily suffize, At Phebus hande to game a golden p••ize. And for thy meede, sythe I ame Queene of riches, Shepherde, I vvill r••vvarde thee vvith grea••e monarchies, Empires, and kingdomes, heapes of massye golde, Scepters and diadems, curious to beholde, Riche robes, of ••umpteous vvorkmanship and cost, And thovvsand thinges vvhereof I make no bo••st 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 she, Their fleeces shalbe curled gold to please their masters eye. And last, to sett thy harte one fire, gyue this one fru••te to me, And, s••epherd, lo this Tree of Golde vvill I bestovve on thee.

IVNOES SHOWE.

Heereuppon did rise a Tre•• of gold laden with Diadems & Crownes of golde.

The grovvnde vvhereon it g••o••s, the grasse, the roote of golde, The body and the bark of golde, all 〈◊〉〈◊〉 to beholde, The leaues of burnysht golde, the fruites that thereon grovve Are diadems sett vvith pearle in golde in gorgeous glistringe shovve: And yf this Tre•• of Golde, in lue may not suffize, Require a grove of golden trees, so▪ Iuno▪ beare the prize.

The Tree sinketh.

Pall.

Me l••st not tempt thee vvith decayinge vvealthe, Which is e••ba••et by vvant of lusty healthe: B••t yf thou haue a minde to fly aboue, Y crovvned vvith fame neere to the ••e••te of Ioue: Yf thou aspire to vvy•• domes vvorthines. Whereof thovv mayst 〈◊〉〈◊〉 see the brightnes Yf thou desyre honor of chyuallrye, To bee renouned for happy victorie, To fighte it out, and in the champaine feilde, To shrovvde thee 〈◊〉〈◊〉 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 warriers be, Beholde in Pallas honour here they come, Marching alonge with founde 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.

Ven.

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 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.

SI Diana nel cielo è vna stella Chiara, è lucente piena di splendore Che porge luc' all' affanato cuore: Si Diana, nel ferno è vna dea, Che deconforto all' anime dannate, Che per amor son morte desperate:

Si Diana ch' in 〈◊〉〈◊〉 è delle nimphe R••ina, imperatiue d•• dol•••• f••ori Tra bo••c••'e Selue da morte a pastori. Io son vn Diana dolce e rara Chle con Le guardi Io posso far guerra A Dian' infern' in ciel••, et in terra▪

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 Iun••, dame deuine, That lyke to Phoebus golden beames doth shine, Approues it selfe to bee most excellent, But that fayre face that dothe me most content, Sythe fayre, faired••mes, 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, ••weete Venus is thy frend, No matter how thow other gods offend.

Venus taketh paris with her.

Exeunt.

Iun.

B••t 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 leys•• or lothe, Venus hathe got the aple from vs bothe.

Exeunt Ambo