But Life was like a faire young lusty boy, Such as they faine Dan Cupid to have beene, Deckt all with flowres and wings of gold fit to employ. XLVII. When these were past, thus gan the Titanesse; For who sees not that Time on all doth pray XLVIII. ? Then thus gan love; "Right true it is, that these That Time himselfe doth move and still compell That moves them all, and makes them changed be? So them We gods doe rule, and in them also Thee." XLIX. To whom thus Mutability; "The things, Which we see not how they are mov'd and swayd, Ye may attribute to yourselves as kings, And say, they by your secret power are made: 1 Disseise, dispossess. 2 Namely, particularly. Mov'd by your might, and ordered by your ayde, Yourselves are likewise chang'd, and subiect unto Mee? L. "And first, concerning her that is the first, Even you, faire Cynthia; whom so much ye make Now hornd, now round, now bright, now brown and gray; So that as changefull as the moone men use to say. LI. "Next Mercury; who though he lesse appeare Though faire all night, yet is she darke all day: And fills the darkned world with terror and dismay. LII. "Now Mars, that valiant man, is changed most; At sight thereof, and damne their lying bookes: His sterne aspect, and calme his crabbed lookes: So many turning cranks1 these have, so many crookes. LIII. "But you, Dan Iove, that only constant are, And king of all the rest, as ye do clame, Are you not subject eeke to this misfare?? Then let me aske you this withouten blame; But, wheresoever they comment 3 the same, They all consent that ye begotten were And borne here in this world; ne other can appeare. LIV. "Then are ye mortall borne, and thrall to Me; Besides, that power and vertue, which ye spake, LV. "Besides, the sundry motions of your spheares, Onely the starrie skie doth still remaine : Yet do the starres and signes therein still move, 1 Cranks, windings. 2 Misfare, misfortune. 3 Comment, feign, pretend. 4 Obliquid, oblique. 5 Clerkes, learned men. And even itself is mov'd, as wizards saine1: Therefore both you and them to Me I subiect prove. LVI. "Then since within this wide great Universe LVII. So having ended, silence long ensewed; Ne Nature to or fro spake for a space, But with firme eyes affixt the ground still viewed. Meane while all creatures, looking in her face, Expecting th' end of this so doubtfull case, Did hang in long suspence what would ensew, To whether side should fall the soveraigne place: At length she, looking up with chearefull view, The silence brake, and gave her doome in speeches few: LVIII. "I well consider all that ye have sayd; 1 Saine, say. 2 Addoom, adjudge. Then over them Change doth not rule and raigne : But they raigne over Change, and doe their states maintaine. LIX. "Cease therefore, Daughter, further to aspire, And thee content thus to be rul'd by Me: For thy decay thou seekst by thy desire: But time shall come that all shall changed bee, And from thenceforth none no more change shall see!" And Natures selfe did vanish, whither no man wist.3 1 Whist, silenced. 2 See, dominion. 3 Wist, knew. |