Poems with the Muses looking-glasse: and Amyntas· By Thomas Randolph Master of Arts, and late fellow of Trinity Colledge in Cambridge.

SCEN. 3.

• Mopsus.
• Corymbus.

Mop.

What aire is that? The voice of—Turtles billing! Of Turtles! a good Omen! shee is chast— And billing, billing, o delicious billing! That word presages kissing.—

Co.

Who is this? Mopsus, my learned Augur?

Mop.

Stand aside, —The other side; I will not talke to thee Vnlesse I have the winde.

Co.

Why, whats the matter Mopsus?

Mop.

Th'art infected;

Co.

What with the Plague?

Mop.

Worse then the Plague, the Wisdom! You have been in travell, & that's dangerous For getting Wisdome.

Co.

Then nere feare it, Mopsus, For I come home a foole just as I went.

Mop.

By Ceres?

Co.

Yes.

Mop.

By Ceres welcome then!

Co.

But Mopsus, why doe you walke here alone! That's—dangerous too!

Mop.

I: but I come to meet The Cittizens of the aire; you have heard my skill In augury?

Co.

Why I have heard your name Not mention'd any where in all my Travailes.

Mop.

How? not mention'd?

Co.

—Yo'are to hasty Mopsus, Not—without admiration.

Mop.

I know that.

Co.

How should you know it?

Mop.

Why some birds or other, Fly from all countries hither, and they tell mee.

Co.

But how dare you converse with birds that travell?

Mop.

With an antidote I may: but my Corymbus What strange birds have you seene beyond seas?

Cor.

Brave ones: Ladies with fans and feathers! dainty Fowles! There were brave taking Augury.

Mop.

But, Corymbus, Are those fine Lady-birds such pretty things?

Co.

As tame as sparrowes, and as sweet as Nightingals.

Mop.

Is the Cocklady-bird, or the Henlady-bird The better?

Co.

All are hens.

Mop.

O admirable! Would you had brought me one! but whats the Fan?

Co.

A fan's a—wing of one side.

Mop.

Delicate! And what's their Feather?

Co.

Like the copple-crowne

The Lap-wing has:

Mop.

The Lap-wing? then they 'l—ly.

Co.

With men they will;

Mop.

Delicious Lady-birds! But have they such brave traines, such curious tailes As our birds have?

Co.

Like Peacocks, there's the head Of all their pride.

Mop.

Nay 'tis the taile, Corymbus, Surely these things you call the Lady-birds Are the true birds of Paradice!

Enter Corymbus's carriages.

Co.

Very right— Mopsus, I cannot stay, I must attend My carriage to the Temple: gentle Mopsus Farewell!

Exit.

Mop.

Farewell Corymbus! By my troth I never long'd for any thing in my life So much as Lady-birds; dainty Lady-birds! I would fetch one of them; but I dare not travell For fear I catch the wisdome. O sweet Lady-birds! With copple crownes, and wings but on one side! And tailes like Peacocks! curious Lady-birds!