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,
Each other thus they court,
_Dorida._ My sweet, my soueraigne _Rodope_,
My deare delight, my loue,
That Locke of hayre thou sentst to me,
I to this Bracelet woue;
Which brighter euery day doth grow
The longer it is worne,
As its delicious fellowes doe,
Thy Temples that adorne. 40
_Rodope._ Nay had I thine my _Dorida_,
I would them so bestow,
As that the winde vpon my way,
Might backward make them flow,
So should it in its greatst excesse
Turne to becalmed ayre,
And quite forget all boistrousnesse
To play with euery hayre.
_Dorida._ To me like thine had nature giuen,
A Brow, so Archt, so cleere, 50
A Front, wherein so much of heauen
Doth to each eye appeare,
The world should see, I would strike dead
The Milky Way that's now,
And say that Nectar _Hebe_ shed
Fell all vpon my Brow.
_Rodope._ O had I eyes like _Doridaes_,
I would inchant the day
And make the Sunne to stand at gaze,
Till he forget his way: 60
And cause his Sister _Queene of Streames_,
When so I list by night;
By her much blushing at my Beames
T' eclipse her borrowed light.
_Dorida._ Had I a Cheeke like _Rodopes_,
In midst of which doth stand,
A Groue of Roses, such as these,
In such a snowy land:
I would then make the Lilly which we now
So much for whitenesse name, 70
As drooping downe the head to bow,
And die for very shame.
_Rodope._ Had I a bosome like to thine,
When I it pleas'd to show,
T' what part o' th' Skie I would incline
I would make th' Etheriall bowe,
My swannish breast brancht all with blew,
In brauery like the spring:
In Winter to the generall view
Full Summer forth should bring. 80
_Dorida._ Had I a body like my deare,
Were I so straight so tall,
O, if so broad my shoulders were,
Had I a waste so small;
I would challenge the proud Queene of loue
To yeeld to me for shape,
And I should feare that _Mars_ or _Iove_
Would venter for my rape.
_Rodope._ Had I a hand like thee my Gerle,
(This hand O let me kisse) 90
These Ivory Arrowes pyl'd with pearle,
Had I a hand like this;
I would not doubt at all to make,
Each finger of my hand
To taske swift _Mercury_ to take
With his inchanting wand.
_Dorida._ Had I a Theigh like Rodopes;
Which twas my chance to viewe,
When lying on yon banck at ease,
The wind thy skirt vp blew, 100
I would say it were a columne wrought
To some intent Diuine,
And for our chaste _Diana_ sought,
A pillar for her shryne.
_Rodope._ Had I a Leg but like to thine
That were so neat, so cleane,
A swelling Calfe, a Small so fine,
An Ankle, round and leane,
I would tell nature she doth misse
Her old skill; and maintaine, 110
She shewd her master peece in this,
Not to be done againe.
_Dorida._ Had I that Foot hid in those shoos,
(Proportion'd to my height)
Short Heele, thin Instep, euen Toes,
A Sole so wondrous straight,
The Forresters and Nimphes at this
Amazed all should stand,
And kneeling downe, should meekely kisse
The Print left in the sand. 120
By this the Nimphes came from their sport,
All pleased wondrous well,
And to these Maydens make report
What lately them befell:
One said the dainty _Lelipa_
Did all the rest out-goe,
Another would a wager lay
She would outstrip a Roe;
Sayes one, how like you _Florimel_
There is your dainty face: 130
A fourth replide, she lik't that well,
Yet better lik't her grace,
She's counted, I confesse, quoth she,
To be our onely Pearle,
Yet haue I heard her oft to be
A melancholy Gerle.
Another said she quite mistoke,
That onely was her art,
When melancholly had her looke
Then mirth was in her heart; 140
And hath she then that pretty trick
Another doth reply,
I thought no Nimph could haue bin sick
Of that disease but I;
I know you can dissemble well
Quoth one to giue you due,
But here be some (who Ile not tell)
Can do't as well as you,
Who thus replies, I know that too,
We haue it from our Mother, 150
Yet there be some this thing can doe
More cunningly then other:
If Maydens but dissemble can
Their sorrow and ther ioy,
Their pore dissimulation than,
Is but a very toy.