curious lay, 90
And with their most melodious Quires
Make short the longest day.

The _thrice three Virgins_ heavenly Cleere,
Their trembling Timbrels sound,
Whilst the three comely Graces there
Dance many a dainty Round,

Decay nor Age there nothing knowes,
There is continuall Youth,
As Time on plant or creatures growes,
So still their strength renewth. 100

The Poets Paradice this is,
To which but few can come;
The Muses onely bower of blisse
Their Deare _Elizium_.

Here happy soules, (their blessed bowers,
Free from the rude resort
Of beastly people) spend the houres,
In harmelesse mirth and sport,

Then on to the _Elizian_ plaines
_Apollo_ doth invite you 110
Where he prouides with pastorall straines,
In Nimphals to delight you.

The first Nimphall

RODOPE and DORIDA.

_This Nimphall of delights doth treat,
Choice beauties, and proportions neat,
Of curious shapes, and dainty features
Describd in two most perfect creatures._

When _Phoebus_ with a face of mirth,
Had flong abroad his beames,
To blanch the bosome of the earth,
And glaze the gliding streames.
Within a goodly Mertle groue,
Vpon that hallowed day
The Nimphes to the bright Queene of loue
Their vowes were vsde to pay.
Faire _Rodope_ and _Dorida_
Met in those sacred shades, 10
Then whom the Sunne in all his way,
Nere saw two daintier Maids.
And through the thickets thrild his fires,
Supposing to haue seene
The soueraigne _Goddesse of desires_,
Or _Ioves Emperious Queene_:
Both of so wondrous beauties were,
In shape both so excell,
That to be paraleld elsewhere,
No iudging eye could tell. 20
And their affections so surpasse,
As well it might be deemd,
That th' one of them the other was,
And but themselues they seem'd.
And whilst the Nimphes that neare this place,
Disposed were to play
At Barly-breake and Prison-base,
Doe passe the time away:
This peerlesse payre together set,
The other at their sport, 30
None neare their free discourse to let,