"THE QUEEN O' THE SKY,

WHOSE WATERY ARCH AND MESSENGER AM I,

BIDS THEE LEAVE THESE."

ACT IV. SC. I.

Bids thee leave these; and with her sovereign grace,
Here, on this grass-plot, in this very place,

To come and sport :—her peacocks fly amain:
Approach, rich Ceres, her to entertain.

Enter CERES

CERES

Hail, many-colour'd messenger, that ne'er
Dost disobey the wife of Jupiter;

Who, with thy saffron wings, upon my flowers
Diffusest honey-drops, refreshing showers;
And with each end of thy blue bow dost crown
My bosky acres and my unshrubb'd down,

Rich scarf to my proud earth ;-why hath thy queen
Summon'd me hither, to this short-grass'd green ?

IRIS

A contract of true love to celebrate;

And some donation freely to estate

On the blest lovers.

CERES

Tell me, heavenly bow,

If Venus or her son, as thou dost know,

Do now attend the queen? Since they did plot
The means that dusky Dis my daughter got,

Her and her blind boy's scandal'd company

I have forsworn.

IRIS

Of her society

Be not afraid I met her deity

Cutting the clouds towards Paphos, and her son

Dor M