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Jupiter |
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Right far too long as now were to recite |
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The ancient estate wherein our self hath reigned, |
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What honour, what laud given us of very right, |
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What glory we have had duly unfeigned |
| 5 |
Of each creature which duty hath constrained, |
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For above all gods, since our fathers fall |
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We Jupiter were ever principal. |
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If we so have been (as truth it is in deed) |
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Beyond the compass of all comparison, |
| 10 |
Who could presume to show for any mede |
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So that it might appear to human reason |
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The high renown we stand in at this season? |
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For since that Heaven and Earth were first create |
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Stood we never in such triumphant estate |
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| 15 |
As we now do, whereof we will report |
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Such part as we see mete for time present |
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Chiefly concerning your perpetual comfort |
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As the thing self shall prove in experiment |
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Which highly shall bind you on knees lowly bent |
| 20 |
Solely to honour our highness day by day. |
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And now to the matter give ear and we shall say. |
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Before our presence in our high parliament, |
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Both gods and goddesses of all degrees |
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Hath late assembled by common assent |
| 25 |
For the redress of certain enormities |
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Bred among them through extremities |
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Abused in each to other of them all, |
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Namely to purpose in these most special: |
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Our foresaid father Saturn, and Phoebus, |
| 30 |
Aeolus and Phoebe, these four by name, |
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Whose natures not only so far contrarious, |
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But also of malice each other to defame, |
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Have long time abused right far out of frame |
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The due course of all their constellations, |
| 35 |
To the great damage of all Earthly nations, |
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Which was debated in place said before. |
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And first as became our father most ancient |
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With beard white as snow, his locks both cold and hoar, |
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Hath entered such matter as served his intent, |
| 40 |
Lauding his frosty mansion in the firmament |
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To air and earth as thing most precious, |
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Purging all humours that are contagious. |
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How be it, he alledgeth that of long time past |
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Little hath prevailed his great diligence, |
| 45 |
Full oft upon earth his fair frost he hath cast |
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All things hurtful to banish out of presence, |
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But Phoebus intending to keep him in silence |
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When he hath laboured all night in his powers |
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His glaring beams marreth all in two hours. |
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| 50 |
Phoebus to this made no manner answering |
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Whereupon they both then Phoebe defied. |
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Each for his part led in her reproving |
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That by her showers superfluous they have tried |
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In all that she may their powers be denied. |
| 55 |
Whereunto Phoebe made answer no more |
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Than Phoebus to Saturn had made before. |
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Anon upon Aeolus all these did fle |
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Complaining their causes each one a-row, |
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And said, to compare none was so evil as he, |
| 60 |
For when he is disposed his blasts to blow |
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He suffereth neither sunshine, rain, nor snow. |
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They each against other, and he against all three, |
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Thus can these four in no manner agree; |
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Which seen in themself, and further considering |
| 65 |
The same to redress, was cause of their assembly. |
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And also that we, evermore being, |
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Beside our puissant power of deity, |
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Of wisdom and nature so noble and so free, |
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From all extremities the mean dividing, |
| 70 |
To peace and plenty each thing attempering, |
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They have in conclusion wholly surrendered |
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Into our hands as much as concerning |
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All manner weathers by them engendered |
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The full of their powers for term everlasting, |
| 75 |
To set such order as standeth with our pleasing, |
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Which thing, as of our part, no part required |
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But of all their parties right humbly desired |
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To take upon us whereto we did assent. |
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And so in all things with one voice agreeable |
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| 80 |
We have clearly finished our foresaid parliament, |
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To your great wealth which shall be firm and stable, |
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And to our honour far inestimable. |
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For since their powers, as ours, added to our own |
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Who can we say know us as we should be known? |
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| 85 |
But now, for fine, the rest of our intent |
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Wherefore, as now, we hither are descended, |
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Is only to satisfy and content |
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All manner people which have been offended |
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By any weather meet to be amended. |
| 90 |
Upon whose complaints, declaring their grief, |
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We shall shape remedy for their relief. |
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And to give knowledge for their hither resort, |
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We would this afore proclaimed to be |
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To all our people by some one of this sort |
| 95 |
Whom we list to choose here amongst all ye. |
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Wherefore each man avaunce and we shall see |
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Which of you is most meet to be our cryer. |
