elues beloued sake
(Euen in the depth of passion)
Our Center though our selues we make,
Yet is not that our station;
For whilst our Browes ambitious be
And youth at hand awayts vs,
It is a pretty thing to see
How finely Beautie cheats vs, 350
And whilst with tyme we tryfling stand
To practise Antique graces
Age with a pale and withered hand
Drawes Furowes in our faces._

When they which so desirous were before
To hear her sing; desirous are far more
To haue her cease; and call to haue her stayd
For she to much alredy had bewray'd.
And as the _thrice three Sisters_ thus had grac'd
Their Celebration, and themselues had plac'd 360
Vpon a Violet banck, in order all
Where they at will might view the Festifall
The Nimphs and all the lusty youth that were
At this braue Nimphall, by them honored there,
To Gratifie the heauenly Gerles againe
Lastly prepare in state to entertaine
Those sacred Sisters, fairely and confer,
On each of them, their prayse particular
And thus the Nimphes to the nine Muses sung.
When as the Youth and Forresters among 370
That well prepared for this businesse were,
Become the _Chorus_, and thus sung they there.

Nimphes. Clio _then first of those Celestiall nine
That daily offer to the sacred shryne,
Of wise _Apollo_; Queene of Stories,
Thou that vindicat'st the glories
Of passed ages, and renewst
Their acts which euery day thou viewst,
And from a lethargy dost keepe
Old nodding time, else prone to sleepe._ 380

Chorus. Clio _O craue of _Phoebus_ to inspire
Vs, for his Altars with his holiest fire,
And let his glorious euer-shining Rayes
Giue life and growth to our Elizian Bayes._

Nimphes. Melpomine _thou melancholly Maid
Next, to wise _Phoebus_ we inuoke thy ayd,
In Buskins that dost stride the Stage,
And in thy deepe distracted rage,
In blood-shed that dost take delight,
Thy obiect the most fearfull sight, 390
That louest the sighes, the shreekes, and sounds
Of horrors, that arise from wounds._

Chorus. _Sad Muse, O craue of _Phoebus_ to inspire
Vs for his Altars, with his holiest fir