Part III

Latona's twins, bright Cynthia, and her brother.
Resplendent Phoebus, with his glorious rays
Had seven times given place to one another,
And fully had accomplisht seven days
Ere Leoline, through devious woods and ways,
Accompanied by Ffloyd as his consort,
Came to Eblana to King Dermot's court.

On the eighth day, sacred to Venus' name,
It fortuned at court there was a feast
To welcome an Embassador that came
From Albion, which they two (among the rest)
Coming to see, like two French monsieurs drest,
They, noted to be strangers, were so grac't,
As next to the King's table to be plac't.

At midst whereof under a cloth of state,
To which one must by three degrees ascend,
In a rich chair the royal Dermot sate,
Th' Embassador and Princess at each end;
On Mellefant, Amanthis doth attend.
As cup-bearer, the while that she did dine,
And when she pleas'd to call, did bring her wine.

Whenas six several courses serv'd had bin,
The royal dinner drawing towards an end,
A rich and sumptuous banquet was brought in,
Which did such kinds of sweetmeats comprehend,
As might with fruits of Paradise contend.
Of which the choicest and most excellent
The Princess to the seeming Frenchmen sent,

Giving her page Amanthis a command
To let them know, that if they did desire,
They should be brought to kiss King Dermot's hand.
Prince Leoline and Ffloyd, his faithful Squire,
These unexpected courtesies admire :
Which taking, they a low obeisance make,
Admiring the pure French Amanthis spake.

To whom Prince Leoline in French replied,
And told her, such an unexpected grace,
Their duties and affections so tied.
As that they all occasions would embrace,
To testify their service ; and in case
They might receive such honour, that it would
Oblige them more than any favour could.

The table taken from before the King,
And all the royal ceremonies ended,
Amanthis eftsoones did the strangers bring,
And told him that two French Lords there attended,
By Mellefant the Princess recommended,
To have the honour for to kiss his hands,
And to receive his Majesty's commands.

King Dermot, full of royal courtesy.
Not only gave his hand, but more to grace 'em
Descended so below his Majesty,
As that he did in friendly wise embrace 'em,
Commanding his Lord Chamberlain to place 'em
In his own lodgings, that they might not want
Conveniency to wait on Mellefant.

Whose hands they kissing with all reverence
The Princess doth them kindly entertain :
Now while the King had private conference
With the Embassador, the Prince did gain
An opportunity for to detain
The Princess in discourse: 'twixt him and her
Amanthis was the sweet interpreter.

Prince Leoline's discourses pleas'd so well
The Princess, that she oftentimes did send
To have him come, fine romances to tell,
To which she would so sweet attention lend,
As Dido-like she seemed to depend
Upon his lip, and such delights did take,
She wisht to speak French only for his sake.

But whatsoever by the Prince was said
Of love, or of adventures of that kind,
Must by Amanthis be interpreted,
Whose eyes the Prince's language could not blind,
For he was known, and how he stood inclin'd.
Nor was discreet Amanthis ignorant
That Leoline made love to Mellefant.

But to what end she could not yet discover :
For if to marry her was his intent.
It seem'd most strange that he should be a lover,
Who in love's actions was so impotent ;
And if he were not so, then that content
Should Mellefant enjoy, and that delight
In Hymen's sports, which was Amanthis' right.

But ere a month was past, it fortun'd so,
The Princess Mellefant Amanthis sent
To the Prince Leoline, to let him know
And carry him this courtly compliment,
That if he pleas'd to ride abroad, she meant
(Since that the weather was so calm and fair)
To ride into the fields to take the air.

Amanthis with this message being gone,
Prince Leoline was in his chamber found
Sitting upon his bedside all alone :
His countenance sad, his eyes fixt on the ground,
As if he did with careful thoughts abound :
But seeing of Amanthis, he acquir'd
A happiness that he had long desir'd.

For he now got an opportunity,
His mind unto Amanthis to disclose :
Whose message being told, immediately
The Prince began and said, ' Fair youth, suppose
I told a secret, might I not repose
So much in thee as never to reveal it,
But in thy faithful bosom to conceal it ? '

To whom Amanthis straight replied, 'You may
A privacy unto my trust commit,
Which if it touch the Princess any way,
Or King, to hide it were nor safe nor fit ;
For in my duty I must utter it :
But if so be that it touch none of these.
You may securely tell me what you please.'

Quoth Leoline, 'That which I have to say
Concerns the Princess, but in such a kind.
As if that thou my counsel should'st bewray,
After that I have utter'd all my mind.
It may be I with thee no fault should find :
For say I should desire thee to prove,
Whether the Princess Mellefant could love.

My fortunes and my birth perchance may be
Greater than yet they seem ; 'tis often seen,
Mean clothes do hide high-born nobility.
And though she be a Princess, nay a Queen,
Great Princesses have oft enamour'd been
Of gentlemen ; so fortune did advance
Medor above the Paladins of France.

And so Queen Clytemnestra, as we read.
Before King Agamemnon did prefer
And took into her royal nuptial bed
Aegisthus, her sweet-fac'd adulterer,
In birth and fortunes far unworthy her.
And so fair Helen did young Paris make
Her choice, and Menelaus did forsake.

But these, thou'lt say, were precedents of lust.
And such as virtuous ladies should detest :
But what I seek is honourably just ;
Which since I have committed to thy breast,
If thou, fair lovely youth, wilt do thy best
My suit to thy sweet Princess to commend,
Be sure that thou hast gain'd a thankful friend.'

To which Amanthis answered, ' You are
(My Lord) a stranger and as yet unknown,
You must upon your honour then declare
Whether you have a lady of your own
Living ; and if that she from you be gone,
Or you from her ; if either should be true,
None knows the inconvenience would ensue.'

These speeches startled Leoline, whose heart
Being conscious, made him answer, ' 'Tis a truth
I had a lady once, to whom thou art
So like in feature, personage, beauty, youth,
And every lineament, as if she doth
Yet live, I should my state and life engage,
That thou wert she in habit of a page.

For woe is me, away from me she fled,
Being ignorant of what the cause might be,
And left me lying fast asleep in bed ;
And now for aught I know thou mayst be she ;
For her true image I behold in thee :
But to believ't were fondness.' Here he stopt.
And from his eyes some crystal tears there dropt.

Amanthis weeping for to see him weep,
' My Lord, ' quoth she, ' if you a lady had
That parted from you when you were asleep,
(Though loath) I shall unto your sorrows add
Such a relation shall make you more sad,
For if your lady can nowhere be found,
It is too true, I fear, that she is drown'd.

For now it is some twenty days and more
Since mariners arriv'd here, who do say
How that they found sailing along the shore
The body of a Frenchman cast away,
On whom were letters found that did bewray
That he had stol'n a lady, who together
Perisht with him, as they were coming hither.

And if one may believe the common fame
That 'mongst the people hath divulg'd this,
The lady was of quality, her name.
If I remember right, was Sydanis.
Now if that this were she that did amiss.
And so much wrong'd your love, I must confess
Your sorrow for her ought to be the less.'

Prince Leoline hearing this sad relation,
Like serpents to him were Amanthis' words.
Stirring both jealousy and indignation,
And pierc't his heart like to so many swords,
His grief this only utterance affords,
'Ah, Sydanis was she, whom I deplore.
Who seem'd a saint but ah me ! died a whore.'

' Well,' quoth Amanthis, ' if I may amend
What is amiss, or may your woe relieve,
You may be sure I shall my furtherance lend,
And to your suit my best assistance give :
For Sydanis no longer shall you grieve.
For being free to marry whom you please,
I shall endeavour to procure your ease.'

This said, Amanthis Leoline did leave,
And back return'd to act that was design'd.
Now here a man may easily conceive
What perturbations vext the Prince's mind.
Who knowing he Jean Foutre dead did find.
And that part of the story he well knew,
He might well think, that all the rest was true.

Perplext with doubts, whether his impotence
Was the sole cause made Sydanis to fly
Before that he could have intelligence
Of such unfeigned marks as might descry
The truth, or loss of her virginity.
For though she as a virgin was reputed,
Yet by Jean Foutre he might be cornuted.

On th' other side one probably may guess
The trouble that perplext Amanthis thought,
Since Leoline must Mellefant possess.
Who might deny him nothing that he sought :
And all this by Amanthis must be wrought.
Who by a kind unkind, and courteous wooing,
Must be the author of her own undoing.

But since Amanthis had a promise made
To further his love-suit in all she might :
It must be done, therefore she did persuade
Prince Leoline, in the French tongue to write
To Mellefant ; for what he did indite,
She said the Princess would show none but her,
Who was betwixt them both interpreter.

And thereby she should find occasion
Fitly to speak of Leoline's true love.
And by a gentle amorous persuasion
She might all lets (if any were) remove.
Prince Leoline her counsel doth approve,
And writes, who by Amanthis was assur'd
An answer to his lines should be procur'd.

Now after courtship and kind compliment,
And many courteous visits of respect,
Amanthis came, as if she had bin sent
To Leoline, to tell him the effect
Of her proceedings (which he did expect)
And brought a letter with her, which she feign'd
She had from Princess Mellefant obtain'd.

Th' effect whereof was this : she first desir'd
It might not seem a lightness in a maid,
To yield so soon to that which was requir'd
For Cupid, whose commands must be obeyed,
Had by her eyes into her heart conveyed
His lovely shape, his worth and every grace,
Where never man but he had yet a place.

But now her amorous bosom was a shrine.
Devoted wholly to the god of Love,
In which the saint was lovely Leoline.
She writ, That in affection she would prove
More constant than the truest Turtle-dove.
What more for modesty might not be told.
She left it to Amanthis to unfold.

In fine, Amanthis did the Prince persuade
So powerfully, that if he pleas'd, he might
The maiden fort of Mellefant invade.
And enter in that fortress of delight :
For she, Corinna-like, the following night
Would come unto Prince Leoline his bed.
And offer there her princely maidenhead.

Provided always, when that she did come,
A promise must be made, might not be broken,
That they in their embraces should be dumb,
And that between them no word should be spoken.
For on the morrow, by a private token.
He should be sure, so that he would not vaunt,
He had enjoy'd the Princess Mellefant.

The Prince, that heard with joy and admiration
Amanthis' words, impatient of delay,
On the Sun's horses lays an imputation,
That they were lame, or else had gone astray,
And Sol in malice had prolong'd the day.
That drove so slowly down Olympus' hill,
And winged Time he chid for standing still.

But at the last the long'd-for hour grew near.
The evening sets, and the steeds of the Sun
Were posted to the other hemisphere,
On this side having their last stage y-run,
Bright things beginning to wax dim and dun,
And night uprising from dark Acheron,
O'er all the sky a pitchy veil had thrown.

About the hour of twelve, when all was still,
And Morpheus sealed had all mortal eyes,
Amanthis, who was ready to fulfil
Her promise, softly from her bed doth rise,
And in her smock and a furr'd mantle hies
To Leoline's bedchamber, where in stead
Of Mellefant, she goes to him to bed.

No sooner did they touch each other's skin.
And she was in his fragrant bosom laid,
But that the Prince love's onset did begin.
And in his wars the valiant champion play'd :
What faint resistance a young silly maid
Could make, unto his force, did quickly yield ;
Some blood was lost, although he won the field.

For no hot Frenchman, nor high Tuscan blood,
Whose panting veins do swell with lively heat,
In Venus' breach more stoutly ever stood,
Or on her drum did more alarums beat,
But Cupid at the last sounds a retreat :
Amanthis at his mercy now doth lie,
Thinking what kind of death she was to die.

But she must now endure no other death,
For standing mute, but either must be prest,
Or smothering kisses so should stop her breath,
As that Love's flames enclos'd within her breast,
Should burn the more, the more they were supprest.
And so she as Love's Martyr should expire,
Or Phoenix-Hke, consume in her own fire.

These pleasant kind of deaths Amanthis oft
And willingly did suffer ere 'twas day,
Nine times the lusty Prince did come aloft :
But now Amanthis could no longer stay ;
For while 'twas dark she needs must go away ;
On her. Prince Leoline bestow'd a ring,
Man's eye did ne'er behold so rare a thing.

For in it was an admirable stone.
Whose colour (like the carbuncle) was red,
By day, it with its native lustre shone.
And like the sun-bright beams abroad did spread.
But that which greatest admiration bred,
It had a quality ne'er seen before.
First to keep light, then after to restore.

For if one to the sunbeams did expose it.
And hold it in them but a little space,
And in a box would afterwards enclose it,
Then after go into some darksome place
Whereas one could not see one's hand, nor face,
Opening the box, a beam of light would come.
Pyramid-like, would lighten all the room.

But she was gladder of the consequence.
Than of the precious stone she did receive.
For now, without suspicion or offence,
She knew how she might Leoline deceive.
Whom she at parting from his bed did leave.
Recounting with himself, how by that deed
He might as King of Erinland succeed.

Amanthis being come to her own bed,
Lay down, but sleep she could not : Jealousies
Concerning Leoline disturb'd her head ;
For having now tried his abilities.
She thought the Prince her sweetness did despise,
But that he no virility did want,
To enjoy his princely mistress Mellefant.

Oh Jealousy in love, who art a vice
More opposite in every quality,
Than is penurious sordid avarice,
To the extreme of prodigality.
Besides, thou sufferest no man to enjoy
What he possesses, without some annoy.

So many cares, so many doubts and fears
Upon thee do continually attend,
As the two portals of the soul, the ears,
Which to all rumours do attention lend,
Dire perturbations to the heart do send,
Procuring such unquiet and unrest,
As should not harbour in a lover's breast.

And to that pass Amanthis thou hast brought,
With fear of losing that delight and pleasure
Which she hath tasted, as her troubled thought
And perturbations one may rightly measure
By a rich miser, who hath found a treasure,
Who is solicitous, and vext with care.
Lest any one of it should have a share.

Further she thought, if Mellefant but knew
Prince Leoline to be King Arvon's son,
He needed not his love-suit to pursue,
For he already had the conquest won.
Such cogitations in her head did run,
And with such thoughts she entertain'd the time.
Till Sol began Night's starry arch to climb,

But when the feather'd herald of the light,
Stout Chantecleer the Cock, with trumpet shrill
Had now proclaim'd darkness was put to flight.
And Phoebus driving up the eastern hill.
With glorious golden beams the world did fill ;
From 'twixt her sheets, as 'twixt two Groneland snows,
Amanthis like a new-sprung lily rose.

And in her page's habit neatly fine,
Her beauteous self she curiously did dight,
As if she had not lain with Leoline,
Nor had not lost her maidenhead that night :
Venus and Cupid pleas'd were with the sight ;
And how she did Prince Leoline beguile,
Even made the old austere Saturnus smile.

For Jupiter in lovers' witty sleights,
Which they contrive and cunningly devise,
(Himself having bin one) so much delights,
As that he oftentimes with them complies,
And doth but laugh at lovers' perjuries :
For now Amanthis was a part to act.
Which to perform, she no invention lackt.

For the next morn about the hour of ten,
To Princess Mellefant she had access.
Who seeing her, demanded of her. When
That the French Lord such courtship would express.
As unto her a visit to address?
To whom Amanthis said, ' I am to blame,
That I no sooner to your highness came,

To tell you that it is the Lord's intent,
(If so it please your Highness and the King)
This night a Masquerado to present,
Where you shall see him dance, and hear him sing.
Your answer I again to him must bring.
Who hopes your Highness graciously will take,
A service only done for your dear sake.

He further hopes you'll honour him thus much,
As to receive this ring, and so to grace it.
As that it may your princely finger touch.
On which he humbly prays that you would place it :
This fair occasion, if you please t' embrace it.
And cherish it, may the beginning prove
Of a most happy honourable love.

For, Madam, his brave parts and excellence.
Which other men's perfections far outgoes,
His valour, learning, wit, and eloquence,
Which like a flood of nectar from him flows.
That he is some great Prince most plainlj shows :
And let one presuppose that he were none,
Yet your most honour'd service makes him one.'

Fair Mellefant, whose breast th' Idalian fire
Had gently warm'd, unto her thus replied:
' Amanthis,' quoth she, ' I do much admire
How that a stranger can so soon have spied
An advocate, that cannot be denied ;
Those in their suits of eloquence have need,
That seek unjust things, and so fear to speed.

But thou who art a young and lovely youth,
Might'st well have spared that which thou hast said.
For to converse with thee (such is thy truth)
A Vestal Virgin would not be afraid :
Thy looks are Rhetoric to persuade a maid;
And be assur'd, I willingly shall grant
Whatever thou shalt ask of Mellefant.

Therefore to him who (as thou sayst) doth seem
A noble Prince, this message thou shalt bear :
Tell him his love we highly do esteem,
And for his honour'd sake the ring I'll wear,
Which next himself shall be to me most dear.'
Having thus said, straight to the King she went,
And for that time broke off her compliment.

Now some will say, 'twas too much forwardness
In Mellefant, that with so small ado,
She did her love unto the Prince express :
For bashful maids do let their suitors woo,
And that same thing they have most mind unto,
Lest men their maiden coyness should suspect,
They seem to shun, at leastwise to neglect.

But since great Virgil writes. That Dido lov'd
At the first sight the wand'ring Knight of Troy,
Whose story much more her affections mov'd.
Than could the torch of Venus' wanton Boy :
Let Mellefant, in that she was not coy,
Be blameless, since we by experience find
Those women are not fair, that are not kind.

For Heaven itself, that is a thing most fair,
While it is gently calm, serene and dear,
While Zephyrus perfumes the curled air,
With gladness it the heart of man doth cheer :
But if it gloomy, dark, and sad appear,
It never on us mortals showers a storm,
But blackness doth heaven's beauteous face deform.

Nor do I say she lov'd but as a friend,
Giving the Prince a courteous sweet regard.
Which had not yet so far as love extend,
Though more for him than other men she car'd.
Her gracious looks were only his reward :
For why, as yet she only did incline.
And not resolve, to love Prince Leoline.

But time and opportunity of place,
Which clerks assign for all things that are done,
Did consummate within a little space
That part of love was happily begun.
The evening now approach't, and that day's Sun
Himself below the horizon had set,
And had in western waves his chariot wet :

Whenas those high supernal Deities
That all men's actions do foresee and know,
And do preside at all solemnities.
Assembled were to look on things below,
A Masque before King Dermot, which doth show,
That 'tis a part of their celestial mirth,
To see how men do personate them on earth,

In Heaven's tenth house, bright Honour's highest throne.
On starry studded arches builded round.
Great Jupiter the Thunderer bright shone,
His brows with beams of radiant lightning crown'd :
Just opposite to him, low under ground
His melancholy sire Saturnus old
Did sit, who never pastimes would behold.

Next Jove sate Mars, the fiery god of war,
In arms of burnisht steel completely dight :
By him Apollo, who had left his car.
And for a while laid by his robes of light :
Next him sate Venus, goddess of delight,
Whose golden hair in curious knots was tied :
Then Mercury, and Luna by his side.

With these assembled were those Heroes,
Whose fixed lights the eighth Sphere do adorn,
Stormy Orion, and great Hercules,
With skin from the Nemean Lion torn,
August's bright Virgin with her ear of corn.
Near Berenice combing of her hair,
Sate Cassiopaea in her starry chair.

As these spectators sitting in the skies
Made Jove's high palace glorious ; even so
As they cast on King Dermot's court their eyes.
Another heaven they beheld below :
Such art and cost did Leoline bestow
Upon the masquing scenes, as no expense
Could add more beauty or magnificence.

For to a high and spacious stately room
Prepar'd for presentations of delight.
King Dermot in his royal robes being come,
Attended on by many a Lord and Knight,
With his fair daughter Mellefant the bright.
Where under a rich pearl-em broider'd state,
She like a glorious constellation sate.

The ladies hid with jewels, who had seen
On arras-covered scaffolds sitting there.
He would have thought that he so high had been,
As he at once saw either hemisphere,
So like a starry firmament they were.
And all that space that was below, between
The hemisphere, lookt like the earth in green.

For all the floor, whereon the masquers' feet
Their stately steps in figures were to tread,
And gracefully to sunder, and to meet,
A carpet of green cloth did overspread ;
Which seem'd an even flow'ry vale, or mead,
On which the hyacinth and narcissus blue
So naturally were stain'd, as if they grew:

The violet, cowslip, and the daffodill.
The tulip, the primrose, and with them
The daisy sprung from the green camomill,
The flow'ry orchis with its tender stem,
The goddess Flora's crown, the meadows' gem.
Which seem'd the masquers' dancing did commend,
Who trod so light they did not make them bend.

More might be said, but let thus much suffice,
For to say more of flow'rs but needless were.
The King being set, and all spectators' eyes
Fixt on the scene, the first thing did appear
Were clouds, some dusky blue, and some were clear,
As if it seem'd a sky were overcast.
Which all did vanish, with Favonie's blast.

These clouds disperst, down dropping the May dew,
Aurora rose, crown'd with the morning star.
Four snow-white swans her purple chariot drew.
And gently mounted up her rosy car.
Next that in perspective was seen from far
The rolling Ocean, and as there had bin
Waves of a flowing spring-tide coming in —

Which as they rolled nearer on the sand,
Upon the tumbling billows was descried
Arion with a golden harp in 's hand,
Who a huge crooked dolphin did bestride.
And on the dancing waves did bravely ride.
Before him Tritons, who in shells did blow,
And were as the loud music to the show.

Sea-monsters, who up from the deep were come.
Presented a delightful antic dance,
Who on the waters' surface nimbly swome.
Making odd murgeons with their looks askance.
Sometimes they dive, sometimes they did advance,
Sometimes they over one another leapt,
And to the music time exactly kept.

Between each dance Arion with his lyre.
That with sweet silver sounding chords was strung,
Sitting in midst of a melodious quire
Of sixteen sirens, so divinely sung,
That all the room with varied echoes rung.
Arion's part was acted by the squire.
Whose singing all that heard him did admire.

The music ended, to delight the eye,
Another scene and spectacle begun,
For there aloft in a clear azure sky
Was seen a bright and glorious shining sun,
Who to his great meridian had run,
O'er whom the asterisme was represented
Of Leo, whose hot breath his flames augmented.

Under his beams, as flying o'er the seas,
Did Daedalus and Icarus appear ;
The sire in the mid-way did soar at ease,
But Icarus his son mounting too near,
His wax-composed wings unfeathered were :
So headlong to the sea he tumbled down,
Whose billows the foolhardy youth did drown.

Now the sea going out, which erst had flow'd,
Did leave a bare and golden yellow sand.
Whereon rare shells, and orient pearls were strow'd,
Which gathered by twelve Sea-Nymphs out of hand,
In scallop-shells, were brought unto the land
Unto the King, and Mellefant, as sent
From him that did Arion represent.

The first scene vanishing, and being past,
And all things gone, as if they had not been ;
The second scene, whereon their eyes they cast,
Was the Hesperides, with trees all green,
On which both gold and silver fruits were seen.
Apollo there amidst the Muses nine
Sate, personated by Prince Leoline.

Who playing on a rare theorbo lute.
The strings his fingers did not only touch,
But sung so sweet and deep a base unto't,
As never mortal ear heard any such :
The Muses did alternately as much,
To sound of several instruments, in fine,
They in one chorus all together join.

Besides them, there was sitting in a grove
The shepherds' god Pan, with his pipe of reed,
Who for the mast'ry with Apollo strove,
Whether in Music's practice did exceed.
Between them both, King Midas, who decreed
That Pan in skill Apollo did surpass,
Had for his meed two long ears of an ass.

These with ten Satyrs danc'd an antic round
With voltas, and a saraband : which ended,
They suddenly all sunk into the ground,
And with Apollo they no more contended.
Thus done, he and his Muses down descended
From their sweet rosy arbours, which did twin
The honey-suckle and sweet jessamin.

The stately Grand-Ballet Apollo led,
Wherein most curious figures were exprest,
Upon the flow'ry carpet as they tread.
The Muses in fine antique habit drest,
Unto their nimble feet do give no rest,
But in neat figures they the letters frame
Of Mellefant's, and of King Dermot's name.

This done, the Muses like nine ladies clad
(For so they did appear unto the eye)
Their antique habits chang'd, and as they had
Bin metamorphosed, they suddenly
Their neat disguise of women did put by.
And like to nine young gallants did appear,
The comeliest youths that in Eblana were.

The Prince, too, putting off his masquing suit,
Apollo representing now no more.
His habit gave, his vizor, ivory lute
To pages, that sweet cedar torches bore,
Appearing now a Prince as heretofore,
Who with the nine young gallants went about
New dances, and to take the ladies out.

Now as the Prince did gracefully present
Himself to Mellefant, it did betide
As he did kiss her hand in compliment,
Upon her finger he the ring espied
He gave in bed, which to her wrist was tied
With a black ribbon, as if she did fear
To lose a jewel she did prize so dear.

Prince Leoline assur'd was by that ring,
That he with Princess Mellefant had lain,
Whereas indeed there ne'er was such a thing;
Such was his courage he could not refrain
To court the Princess in an amorous strain :
For while he danc't with her, his eyes exprest
Those flames of love that burnt within his breast.

But now it growing late, and night far spent,
The Bransles being danc't, the revels ended,
The Prince's Masque did give all eyes content,
Who by King Dermot highly was commended,
On whom both he and masquers all attended,
Who to a stately room were forthwith guided,
Whereas a sumptuous banquet was provided.

Which being finisht, the late hour of night
Requir'd, that all the company should part.
Prince Leoline adjourn must his delight
Until next day, for now his amorous heart
Was quite shot through with Cupid's golden dart :
Nor could he pleasure or contentment want
Who thought he enjoy'd the beauteous Mellefant.