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I ratify this my rich gift: O Ferdinand,
Do not smile at me, that I boast her off,

For thou shalt find she will outstrip all praise,
And make it halt behind her.

Fer. I do believe it,
Against an oracle.

Pro. Then, as my gift, and thine own acquifition
Worthily purchas'd, take my daughter: But

If thou doft break her virgin knot, before
All fanctimonious ceremonies may

With full and holy rite be minister'd,
No fweet 'afperfion fhall the Heavens let fall
To make this contract grow; but barren hate,
Sour-ey'd disdain, and difcord, shall beftrew
The union of your bed with weeds fo loathly,
That you fhall hate it both: therefore take heed,
As Hymen's lamps shall light you.

Fer. As I hope

For quiet days, fair iffue, and long life,

With fuch love as is now; the murkieft den,

The most opportune place, the strong'st suggestion
Our worfer Genius "can, fhall never melt

Mine honour into luft; to take away

The edge of that day's celebration,

When I shall think, or Phoebus' steeds are founder'd,

Or night kept chain'd below.

Pro. Fairly spoke:

Sit then, and talk with her, she is thine own.-
What, Ariel; my industrious fervant Ariel!-

Enter Ariel.

Ari. What would my potent mafter? here I am.
Pro. Thou and thy meaner fellows, your last service

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can,]—is capable of inspiring.

Did worthily perform; and I must use you
In fuch another trick: go, bring "the rabble,
O'er whom I give thee power, here, to this place:
Incite them to quick motion; for I must
Bestow upon the eyes of this young couple
Some vanity of mine art; it is my promife,
And they expect it from me.

Ari. Presently?

Pro. Ay, with a twink.

Ari. Before you can fay, Come, and go,
And breathe twice; and cry, fo, foi

Each one, tripping on his toe,
Will be here with mop and moe:

Do you love me, mafter? no.

Pro. Dearly, my delicate Ariel: Do not approach, Till thou doft hear me call.

Ari. Well, I conceive.

Pro. Look, thou be true; do not give dalliance
Too much the rein; the ftrongest oaths are straw
To the fire i'the blood: be more abstemious,

Or elfe, good night, your vow!
Fer. I warrant you, fir;

The white, cold, virgin-fnow upon my heart
Abates the ardour of my liver.

Pro. Well.

Now come, my Ariel; bring a corollary, Rather than want a fpirit; appear, and pertly. * No tongue; all eyes; be filent.

n the rabble,]-crew of inferior spirits.

[Exit.

[Soft mufick.

• vanity]-gaudy display.

P The white, cold, virgin-fnow &c.]-A beautiful allufion to Mount

Etna.

a a corollary,]-a furplus, more than fufficient.

No tongue; all eyes; be filent.]-or elfe, as he tells us afterwards,

the "Spell is marr’d.”

"Hear his fpeech but fay thou nought."

MACBETH, A&t IV, S. 1. 1 Witch.

A Mafque.

A Mafque. Enter Iris.

Iris. Ceres, most bounteous lady, thy rich leas
Of wheat, rye, barley, vetches, oats, and pease;
Thy turfy mountains, where live nibbling fheep,
And flat meads thatch'd with ftover, them to keep;
Thy banks with pionied and lillied brims,

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Which spungy April at thy heft betrims,

To make cold nymphs chatte crowns; and thy " broom groves,

Whofe fhadow the difmiffed batchelor loves,

Being lafs-lorn; thy pole-clipt vineyard;
Where thou thyself do'ft air; The queen o' the sky,

Whose watery arch, and meffenger, am I,

Bids thee leave thefe; and with her fovereign grace,
Here on this grafs-plot, in this very place,
To come and sport: her peacocks fly amain;
Approach, rich Ceres, her to entertain.

Enter Ceres.

Cer. Hail, many-colour'd meffenger, that ne'er
Doft disobey the wife of Jupiter;

Who, with thy faffron wings, upon my flowers
Diffuseft honey drops, refreshing showers;
And with each end of thy blue bow doft crown
My 'bofky acres, and my unfhrubb'd down,
Rich scarf to my proud earth; Why hath thy queen
Summon'd me hither, to this short-grafs'd green?
Iris. A contract of true love to celebrate;

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• thatch'd with ftover,]-covered with grafs. willed-flowery, reedy.

lafs-lorn-forfaken. x pole-clipt]-twined round poles.

• befky]-woody.

u brown.

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a eftate]-confer, bestow. Cer.

Cer. Tell me, heavenly bow,

If Venus, or her fon, as thou doft know,

b

Do now attend the queen? fince they did plot
The means that dufky Dis my daughter got,
Her and her blind boy's fcandal'd company

I have forfworn.

Iris. Of her fociety

Be not afraid I met her deity

Cutting the clouds towards Paphos; and her fon
Dove-drawn with her: here thought they to have done
Some wanton charm upon this man and maid,
Whose vows are, that no bed-rite shall be paid
Till Hymen's torch be lighted: but in vain;
Mars's hot minion is return'd again;

Her wafpish-headed fon has broke his arrows,
Swears he will fhoot no more, but play with fparrows,
And be a boy right out.

Cer. Highest queen of state,

Great Juno comes; I know her by her gait.

Enter Jano.

Jun. How does my bounteous fifter? Go with me, To bless this twain, that they may profperous be, And honour'd in their iffue.

Jun. Honour, riches, marriage-bleffing,

Long continuance, and increasing,
Hourly joys be still upon you!
Funo fings her bleffings on you.

с

Cer. Earth's increase, and foifon plenty;
Barns, and garners, never empty;
Vines, with cluft'ring bunches growing;
Plants, with goodly burden bowing;

dufky Dis]-grim Pluto.

foifon plenty]-plenty in the extreme.

Spring come to you, at the fartheft,`
very end of barveft!

In the

Scarcity, and want, shall shun you ;
Ceres' bleffing fo is on you.

Fer. This is a most majestic vifion, and • Harmonious charmingly may I be bold To think these spirits?

Pro. Spirits, which by mine art

I have from their confines call'd to enact
My prefent fancies.

Fer. Let me live here ever;

So rare a wonder'd father, and a wife,

Make this place paradise.

Pro. Sweet now, filence:

Juno, and Ceres, whisper feriously';

There's fomething elfe to do: hufh, and be mute,
Or else our spell is marr❜d.

[Juno and Ceres whisper, and fend Iris on employment.] Iris. You nymphs, call'd Naiads, of the wandring brooks,

With your fedg'd crowns, and ever harmless looks,
Leave your 'crifp channels, and on this green land
Answer your fummons; Juno does command :
Come, temperate nymphs, and help to celebrate
A contract of true love; be not too late.

Enter certain nymphs.

You fun-burn'd ficklemen, of Auguft weary,
Come hither from the furrow, and be merry;
Make holy-day your rye-ftraw hats put on,
And these fresh nymphs encounter every one
In country footing.

Harmonious charmingly :]-Charmingly harmonious-charming lay. a wonder'd father,]—and admirable a father. ( crifp]-curling, winding.

Enter

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