AN apology For PARIS. For rejecting of Juno, and Pallas, and presenting of ATE's Golden Ball to VENUS. With a discussion of the Reasons that might induce him to favour either of the three. Occasioned by a Private Discourse, wherein the Trojans judgement was carped at by some, And defended By R: B. Gent. Ann. Aetatis suae 18.  Ovid. 
— Vincant quibus alma Dione  
Faverit, & toto qui volat orbe Puer.  
LONDON, Printed for Th. Dring, and are to be sold at his shop at the sign of the George near cliffords-inn in Fleetstreet. 1649.   

To my Noble LADY, THE LADY, E: R.  
Madam,  
YOur will is a Law to me, and the least beck of your commands the Alarum that calls all my Intellects and Faculties into a posture of serving you, to which they are so addicted by a natural propensity, as they are never more in their own Sphere, than when they be moving upon your ladyship's Errand.  
Nor is this without good reason, since that rare cumble of Graces and virtues, that Venus and Minerva have treasured up in the fair Tablet of your face, and rich Closet of your mind, have made such a perfect conquest of me, that my will is but the echo of yours, or rather I have no will but your pleasure; the palpitation of my heart, and pulse of my affections, so observe, and keep such even time and measure with yours, as they are no longer mine, but your own. And (Curious wonder of nature's sweat) proud am I that you will make use of your own, in giving a theme to my Muse, who nor knows, nor delights in any other, than the praises, or ('cause that's too high a flight for her flaggie pinion) the admiration of your ladyship. But such as she is, she glories to be yours, and in that livery comes to prostrate at your feet a Jargon of a few rambling passages, thought upon only in obedience to your Commands.  
For may it please your ladyship to remember, that among other passages of entertainment, at Sir John's, there happened a conference concerning the omnipotency of Love, and triumph of Beauty, in pursuance of which the Trojan Prince Paris his Judgement was called in question, and he blamed for disposing of the Ball (as he did) to love's Mistress, when two other great Deities were her competitors; Your well-worded Brother (compared with whom I am less than a shadow) pleaded stiffly for Juno, Sir T. B. Bartt for Pallas, and there being none that had taken up the Bucklar for Venus, your ladyship commanded me to become her Advocate; so that there was rather a necessity of, than an Arrogance in, my undertaking it.  
Now (Excellent Lady) so auspicious were my Stars to me (above merit) that these course-waled Passages found good acceptance from that noble Company, but especially (which I was most ambitious of) from your dear self, who bade me file them upon the Register of time, lest they should evaporate into air, and be lost, and enjoined me to give you an exact Copy of them, promising to overvalue them so far, as to let them find room in your Cabinet.  
See here then (Fair Queen of Hearts) these few Flowers by me stuck upon Venus her tresses, expanding themselves (like the Marigold to Phoebus) to the sunny beams of your eyes, in whom it lies either to cherish, or scorch them.  
Nor Madam durst I own the thought, that you would once open those starry Casements of your soul, to glance upon these creeping Ideas, but that I may call them (in a manner) your own, for it was your breath that gave them birth, though they were conceived by,  
Madam, Your ladyship's Most enchained Servitor, ROBERT BARON. From Gray's inn.   

To the same.  
An Epigram.  
Madam,  
WHen last I came to kiss your hands, you were  
Reading the Legend of the Trojan war.  
Then did you wish t'have seen that peerless Dame,  
Whose form (rarer than wonder) partial fame  
Proclaimeth with so loud a blast, as it  
Fires coldest hearts, and deafest ears doth hit.  
You mused of what fine clay Titan did make  
Her, better than the rest, that for her sake  
Th' hot Phrygian Prince thought it not much to come  
To scarce known Greece, from remote Ilium;  
And that Greece thought not millions lives too dear,  
With all her Mines to boot, to ransom her;  
And that the Teu●rans did not stick to fill  
Their Trenches with their bloods to guard her still.  
If her Effigies, or a better face,  
Madam, you long to see, look in your glass.  
Your ladyships to the Altar, ROBERT BARON.   

To his worthily esteemed friend M. R. Baron, upon his Apology for PARIS.  
Venus' deserved not so much, I'll swear,  
From th'other two the Prize away to bear  
Of Beauty, as thou dost the prize of wit  
From all, that ever on this subject writ.  
Thou've made great Juno boast, with such a grace  
Her Acts, and plead in such a wealthy Phrase  
For th' Golden Ball, as she doth owe to thee  
Much of that metal for a salary.  
Thou've made wise Pallas speak such very charms,  
Urging the Glory of her Arts, and arms,  
As she, in recompense, must slift a bough  
From Daphne's trunk, and therewith grace thy brow.  
And 'cause thou've helped Loves goddess to declare  
The pleasures of her Nymph, so sweet, so fair,  
(For whose sake she obtained the Prize) may She  
One such (fair as herself) bestow on thee.  
D: S. Gent.   

To the Author.  
Ana 

Robert Baron  
Born to be rare.   gram.  

Thy Letters, as so many stars, do tell,  
Thou shalt be rare, without a parallel.   
Sic vaticinatur, Robert Freeman, GENT.   

AN Apology for PARIS: For rejecting of Juno and Pallas, and presenting of Ate's Golden Ball to Venus: With a discussion of the Reasons that might induce him to favour either of the three.  
WHen the Ilian flocks, laden with rich fleeces, were feasting themselves with the dainties of Ida's Painted meads, whose Princely shepherd Paris (for even such in time of yore disdained not the sheephook, and to converse with old russet honesty) sat sheltering himself from the fiery lashes of heaven's curl-pate waggoner, under the courteous shade of a broad beech, warbling upon his sevenfold Syrinx some amorous sonnet, that spoke high the encomiums of some neighbouring shepherdess, having the pretty Songsters of the woods bearing part in his Lyribliring melody, whilst the conspiring arms of the trees danced to the Concord, and the complisant Nymph, echo, in the vaulted bower approved, and imitated each of his airs, as greedily as if her dear Narcissus had lent breath to them.  
On a sudden the blue enameled Portcullis of heaven flew open, and there issued out three Triumphant Chariots, the first drawn by an harnessed team of Peacocks, and decked with boughs of Cedar; Herein sat Juno, wife and sister to mighty Jove, Queen of crowns and Mines, the nuptial goddess, and protectress of the genial bed. The second Chariot was drawn by Marius his Eagle, and Prometheus his Vulture, and stuck about with wreaths of oak, palm, and bays; Herein sat prudent and Potent Pallas, the Issue of Jove's better part his brain, Empress of Arts and arms, commandress in chief in the Pierian green, and the Pharsalian field. The last and lightest Chariot, (before which ran a bevy of naked Nymphs and little Cupids, strewing Roses and Violets in the way, and singing of wanton Ditties,) was beset with branches of myrtle, and hung thick with hearts transfixed with arrows, others flaming, virgin's girdles, Garlands, and worlds of such like Love-Trophies; it was drawn by a pair of milky Doves, who bild and wantonized as they went, as if they were enamoured of either's whiteness, which excelled winter's finest down, the neck of L●da's aged Swan, and what ever else knows a name, but the hand of her whom they drew, which was Lovely Venus, Crowned with her star, Queen of hearts, sovereign Mistress of Love and Beauty. Now alighted those three Deities from their shining Chariots, and came marching with awful pace, (Lackeyed with Glory and majesty) over the honey suckled plains of Ida, by Cloris spread with verdant plush for them to tread upon. The timorous Stripling was ecstasied at their angelic presence, as the Arcadian Fishermen were when they saw that brave Triton, the incomparable Prince Pyrocles riding (as on horseback) upon the mast of his mangled ship, (full of unmoved Majesty, as if he had been the Neptune of that Ocean, waving his sword about his crown, as though he would threaten the world in that extremity) and (as they their sweating oars) he was about moving his heels to carry him out of the dint of such glorious spirits; but that Monsieur Mercury their winged postilion, beckoned to him with his Caduceus, and stayed him with these words:  
See (noble Prince) how much thou art in Jove's books, and what a large share thou possessest of his royal favour, who has sent the three Deities majorum Gentium, his own Wife, Daughter, and niece, through the spangled orbs, to plead a writ of Honour at thy bar, and hath given in errand to me, his feathered Herald, to make the motion, and procute them audience; thus than the Cause is stated;  
Dame Ate an exploded common Barretter, Mistress of revenge & debate, Néve foret terris securior arduus aether, Lest crystal mantled heaven should be Securer than the Earth, and Sea, puzzled its Peace, and conspired to sow her seeds of dissension among the Celestials; nor did it suffice her to play at small game, but she hath set at enmity the goddesses of the first rank, Saturnia the Great, Tritonia the wise, and Aphrodite the fair, by casting of a Golden Globe among them (as they sat enjoying themselves at a banquet-hill whence she was excluded) with this Inscription, Give this to the fairest, to which each lays claim, and swells with disdain to hear her title questioned, for the clearing of which they all attend thy sentence, and are to stand to thy award.  
His celestial Majesty waved the determination of this controversy himself, because he would not disoblige any such Deities; wherefore he removed the suit from Heavens high Court of Chancery, hither, where he constitutes thee the judge, and commands thee to make Ida the Court of Equity. Take then High borne Prince, this wager of three Goddesses contention, designed for the best deserver, and let thy impartial judgement in disposing of it to her, evidence, that Astrea hath not yet taken her flight from Earth.  
Mercury retreated, having made Paris Guardian of the Ball, whose amorous eyes were now more clogged with change of Beauties, than King Midas was once with gold. Now this, now that, now one by one he beheld; this seemed fair, that as fair, the other fairest; one was full of awful Majesty, the other of audacity tempered with meekness, the third of beauty waited upon by all the graces; whilst every winning feature did entangle his intricate fancy, as liking all alike, he loved, confounded in his election, Juno (with a sleek forehead) advanced forward, and thus became her own Advocate.  
Grow royal Plant, and bourgeon every moment, till thy touring top invades Heaven, and thy magnitude fills Earth, and all the Inhabitants shelter themselves under the shadow of thy imperial branches; which is all in thine own power to command, if thou wilt obey me, and that but in being just to thyself, and me, in preferring before two meaner Nymphs (with whom my spleen swells to be ranked) me, that have the Monopoly of crowns and sceptres in mine hands, in reward of which I'll turn over my Patent to thee, and for that little yellow Globe, make this great one thine. Thy most ambitious and avarous thoughts are too narrow to comprehend the moiety of those honours and treasures that shall spread and prostrate themselves before thee (my young ambition) I'll swell a Diamond into a gross mountain, lofty as Tenariff, spacious as Ida, and will congeal a heap of pearls into a lucid rock, than command Vulcan and his Cyclopean Journeymen to hew them into two fair palaces, which I will mo●t about with the wealthy streams of Tagus, and his golden-sanded Brothers, I'll furnish them with spoils of Sea and Land, and environ them with a shade of golden Apple trees, transplanted from Hesperides, and these (my Darling) shalt call thy palaces of Pleasure. I will begirt thy brows with such a circle as shall seem to be made to shame earth's spangled canopy, even when most gorgeously sparkling with stars, in nights chief pomp; and (believe it) no face shows so beautiful as that that looks from under a crown.  
I'll rifle all nature's secret Cabinets to find Jewels worthy to embellish thy shining sceptre withal, with the wagging of which thou shalt charm all minds to subjection, as Mercury's Caduceus did Argus his eyes to slumbering.  
Make but these petty Goddesses subject to me, and I'll make all subject to thee, thee to none; all the Spheres shall seem to move as thou byasest them, the whole frame of the Creation depend upon thy will, thy frown shall shake the world off the hinges, and both the Poles into an ague; thy command shall level mountains and raise valleys, make aspiring spires kiss the centre, and lowly stones the Sun; thou, not fortune, shalt make of a consul a Rhetor, of a Rhetor a consul, as if there were not any fate but thy favour, no all-disposing Providence, but thy pleasure.  
I'll furnish thee with a spruce Regiment of supple Courtiers, which shall echo thee, and observe thee as thy watch does thy clock; And turn like turquois in thy Ring, and look well or ill with thee, and be true Heliotropes to you their Sun.  
— Erit satis una  
Vox ad decretum, Nutus ad Imperium.  
Thy sleightest word like Persian Law shall stand▪  
One Nod shall be sufficient to command.  
Every Look of thine shall be a Law, every Syllable a Statute, confirmed and ratified, with a Sic jubet Paris, a foundation as strong as the centre.  
I'll prevail with Nature to create some new Beasts, whose precious skins shall make the beaver and motley Ermine of none account, and with them I'll clad thy body. I'll make a sturdy unicorn come and crouch at thy feet, thou mounted, he shall exalt his horn, and scorn the ass that carried the Egyptian Osiris, and by his strutting pace prouder than ordinary, show he knows what weight he bears.  
The Sun shall be thy Helmet, and he only with his feather-footed coursers shall be able to make the four of thy Dominions. Each City which thou shalt visit in thy royal progress shall seem on fire, all Steeples shall echo thy {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} all Pies and Parrots shall be taught that note, which the wild Burgesses of the Woods shall learn of them (as once they did of Psappho's flatterers) and sing it every morning. All Conduits shall run with the richest Falernian Wine, all thy paths shall be spread with Simyrimis Tapestry, every street shall be thronged with Pageants, every hearth shall smoke with bruised Nard and Masculine odours: the Virgins shall keep holiday, and crown their dangling tresses with wild Ivy, every one shall assume a leafy spear; every hand shall be wearied with binding its head with Fillets, to bear thine health. Every mouth shall be full of thy praises, every tongue shall sing Io, and salute thine ear with Songs, whose burdens shall be, 
Jupiter in caelis, Paris egit omnia terris,  
Divisum imperium cum Jove Paris habet.  
In Heaven Jove, on Earth Paris sway doth bear,  
And Territories with the Thunderer share.   
Now did Saturnia retrograde, leaving Paris thoughts gilt with the reflection of oar and crowns, and the birth of Jove's brain took her place and spoke after this manner.  
I know (green Bud of Honour) that every accent and Particle of this Queen's Oration tickled, and spoke music to thine eat, and methinks I see thee even feast, nay surfeit thine eye with those mountains of profits and glories she boasts of; but make not thy sense the measure of things: For sense like the Sun expands and reveals the face of the terrestrial Globe, but conceals and seals up the face of the celestial. Give eyes to thy Reason, and try if thou be'st so Eagle-sighted as to discover Wisdom and Knowledge in their Courtly dress, which hadst thou once glanced upon with thy corporeal eyes (as thou Mayst with thy mental, by contemplation) thou wouldst allow nothing else fair.  
shall stop their ears with wax, for fear of doting upon thee, as once Ulysses did his, for fear of being betrayed to their treacherous charm.  
5. philosophy shall bestow her Stone on thee, and turn all thou touchest into gold, or which is more, all thou treatest on into satisfaction, the truest treasure. Labirynthian Paradoxes that are bones to others shall be milk to thee; aenigmas that rest in clouds to the rest, shall be all Sun to thee; and heights which others cannot soar unto by strong faith, thou shalt reach with Reason.  
6. Thou shalt make a new edition of, and addition to, arithmetic, and complete her with numbers enough to count those many atoms whose accidental concourse made this big-bellied earth, and how many minutes have thrust out one another since that accident happened.  
7. Thou shalt make a geometrical girdle for the massy ball, and reckon how many inches make up her vast dimensions; that done, like a Palmer with thy Jacobs' staff thou shalt pass beyond the firmament.  
And that thou Mayest mix pleasure with profit, the sister choir shall make thy head their Parnassus, thy mouth their Hippocrene, whence shall flow such streams of poetic Nectar, as shall water thy name many centuries of years hence, and render it odoriferous as the East. Thy verse shall turn Prometheus his Vulture into a wanton Pigeon, and bespangle Heaven with new stars, and fill fame's Roll with Hero's: so shalt thou live by them, they by thy story; they the glory of men, thou of wits. Yet to complete thee, for that small circle, thou shalt ride in circuit upon the Vehiculae Scientiarum, Languages, through all the several Provinces of Learning; and how profitable and pleasing a thing is it to have the orbs of the mind concentrique with the orbs of the world.  
By this thou shalt be rendered more thyself than thou art now; for a man's understanding is the chiefest part of himself, according to most men's accounts, as is evident, in that they abhor more to be reputed fools, which is a defect contrary to the understanding, than to be counted vicious, which is a defect contrary to the will.  
The swiftness of thy apprehension, thy penetrating judgement and soaring invention, shall render thee the theme of honour's tongue, and make every moment of thy life notable; together with thy energency of fancy, which thou (being borne to a crown) hast more use for than thy neighbours, that thou Mayst know how to mix morals with politics. For knowledge (which is not only the excellentest thing in man, but the very excellency of man,) is the Basis, and Mother of all the virtues royal; without it there can be no true fortitude: for Perils are the daughters of Fury, and Fury is a passion, and passions always turn to their contraries, and therefore the most furious Orlando's when their first blast is spent, are usually the most pusillanimous Dametases or Clineases. Without it there can be no Liberality; for giving is but want of audacity to deny, or discretion to poise.  
Without it there can be no justice; for giving to a man what is his own, is but fortune, or want of a corrupter, or seducer.  
Without it there can be no Constancy, or Patience; for suffering is but stupidity.  
Without it there can be no Temperance; for we shall restrain ourselves from virtue, as well as from vice: for he that cannot discern, cannot elect or choose. Well therefore said one of the scientificallest of my sons. Then shall people enjoy the height and influence of felicity, when either Kings be Philosophers, or Philosophers Kings.  
Neither (Delight of fortune, if thou pleasest) judge of my gifts by what thou know'st of them already; no more than thou wouldst do of a Jeweller or Lapidaries store, by that only which is set out towards the street in his shop. I have another donative in store for thee, if thou be'st not thine own foe; thou shalt share as much of Mars in the hand, as of Mercury in the head; so that fame shall find it task enough to employ all her breath in, to tell the admiring world how many stubborn Nations thou hast subjugated, and how many high and arduous attempts thine own single prowess has atcheived; which shall at the same instant both delight and affright the Auditors. Thy name shall conquer like Zisca's drum, and thy triumph be certain before the battle; who so stands against Paris, by Paris shall fall; thy foes shall be to thee as waves to a rock, thou to them as fireto fern. Philosophers and Generals shall fetch their Authorities and Stratagems from thee, than Oracle of wit and war; every day shall present thee with a new palm; to thy honour Games shall be invented which shall thrust the Pythia and Olympiads out of esteem: every champion field and plain shall stand thick with Pillars, and cloud-high Pyramids, Temples, Statues, and Agulieos erected in memorial of thy Trophies and Victories, which shall make thy terrible name rival with time, for the victory of perpetuity.  
Now retreated Tritonia, leaving Paris building castles in the air, and erecting Trophies in his thoughts, when fair Aphrodite approached with a world of winning majesty in her looks; and as the elixir turneth all things into gold, so the Sunny beams of this illustrious Deities eyes, (whose every motion shot ten thousand Cupids into the hot Phrygians soul) reflecting upon his, soon affected him with her passion, and made him ready to prostrate (without further cunctation) the Ball, with his glowing heart, at her feet. First she slipped down her loose flower-embroydered mantle, and enriched his gullon eyes with the wealth of her lovely breasts, those nectar running fountains, as far excelling those two palaces of pleasure which Juno even now promised, as they did the humble colleges that were the mothers of the Capitol; and before she opened the cherry of her lips, she emparadised him with a winning smile, such a one as if hell afforded the like, who would not post thither, esteeming the sulphurous flames cool, in comparison of his desire of the fruition of such loveliness?  
Having pleaded with his eye with such silent (though flexanimous) Oratory; she next charmed his ear, the other principal sense of inquisition, with such such like raptures,  
Place not thy heaven (Noblest of hearts) in those things that have transformed earth to Hell, viz. Gold and Iron, I would have thy life (dearest) more of kin to the Golden age, when no Viper cared to rip up the bowels of his mother Earth, or plunder her entrails of her best concocted dust; when there needed no elaborate circumvallations, or Trenches, no Palizad●'s or art of Enginery, to keep out hostile troops, but the unarmed people had for their defence a wall of innocence and love,  
It will better beseem thy tongue to bear a part in some sweet oily-melting ditties, highly penned, and sung by a fair Queen in a summer's bower, with ravishing division on her Lute, than to speak terms of manage to a bounding steed.  
That fresh and blooming cheek (sweet as April, flourishing as June) was not made to be withered with night watchings, like an old Apple John; nor were those blossoms of beauty bestowed on thee to be weltered in a study, or nipped by tedious marches. It better becomes thy bud of youth, and the flowering spring time of thine Age, to spend the naked summer in the cooler shade, and the slower winter by the hearth.  
Make me (dear Wanton) Mistress of that narrow sphere, and thou shalt always move in one of delight, as spacious as desire.  
On this pleasant rising ground i'll plant a checkered myrtle grove for thy divertisement, on each branch whereof shall perch a plumed Chorister, and there shall Philomela (the harmless Siren of the woods) ply the nimble wing from tree to tree, teaching the groves to chant the Legends of her Loves, and the heaven she found in Tereus his strict embraces, to taste which once more, she shall wish as often as there are trees wagging to her song, to reassume her pristine shape, that she might be ravished again.  
The pavement shall be enameled with Violets that roled themselves in the cooling blood of my tender Adonis, and wear it still for a Livery. There shall the daisies jet it in their double ruffs, and grieved Clyte now an Heliotrope pursue her coy Titan whom I made once to follow coyer Daphne to as little purpose. There shall the Daffadiles pour all their tears out of their dewy cups; for there's not a leaf shall be an umbrella for sorrow, but the pretty mixture of Flora's treasury shall make the gaudy earth seem another Glaxia, embossed with stars, which shall never know sunburnt autumn of frozen winter, but by Zephyrs flowery Brise's shall be perfumed and rendered as thyself flourishing.  
Here the toiling bees (the muse's birds) shall make another Hybla, and every hollow tree shall present thee with the sweet sweat of their labour. This palace of the spring will I water with serpent rivulets of milk, and Nectar, (fragrant as my breath) which I will sluice into small winding Cataracts, (as the veins in the body) to indent the ground, and moisten every part, and musically play with the blue pebbles, as they wantonly glide by, and make thy sleep softer than it is.  
Here shalt thou wash away the sweeting of August in the flowing juice of the rocks, and bathe in the spirits of July flowers, Musk-Roses, and blue veined Violets.  
Hither will I send a wanton Bevie of sportive waggish Nymphs to attend thee, and to gather for thee (as it was in the Saturnian times of yore) Wildings and Strawberries of the Wood (which shall wrinkle their cheeks with laughter, for joy to be thy mess) and to feast thy palate with delicious Honey, dropping from green Holy-Oakes, and with sweeter too distilling from their prettily swelling lips, which shall be balm to cure the deep wounds of Love; balm sweeter than the dew that lies on Roses when the morning opens, and ushers in the day with dubious light. Here shalt thou see nothing not excellent, so among such equally eminent variety, thy observing eye shall not know of which to serve thine heart; this shall seem mildly majestical, that of a sweet complexion, this pleasantly entertain, that charmingly allure; here shall stand a proper girl, there strut a goodly ambling Nymph, the next a gay Brownetta, as if Jupiter had hither brought his thefts; among these, might wandering Cadmus have sought his missed sister, and Ceres her Proserpina, every of their looks shall be as attractive as the Thracian Lyre, and lead all thy senses captive after them.  
I'll weave the tops of four comely Sycamores and mulberries (the wisest of trees) that mourn in the bloods of Pyramus and Thisbe, (having friendly Vines lovingly clasping about their barks) into a retiring room; the dropping Woodbine and odorous Suckling, with the Roses of both hues, shall be the Arras to line this bower within.  
Under this shady canopy shalt thou repose, upon a green couch embroybered with Hyacinths and Crowtoes, and whereon my young soft paramour shall live in a pale anenomy; and there shall Crocus and Smilax (whereof the one might have filled Nectar in Ganimeds' room, the other have waited in Hebe's stead) now changed into two pretty flowers, embrace one another, and smell fragrant as of late did their desires.  
And now (young Dardanian) unless thou be'st frosty spirited, unless Alecto's cold poison fills thy veins, I'll melt thee into amorous thoughts, and speak charms to all thy senses, and make thee all flame.  
Make me thy friend and (Goddess like) I swear by the black Stygian fen, to throw into thine arms the only perfect piece of nature's pencil, by it (scorning art) painted of such a colour, as is the Ivory of India, distained with vermilion, or the snow of a lily married to the scarlet of a Rose. A matchless Paragon whose perfections shall be many and years few. A beauty whom the best verses and pencils have extolled, the fair argument on which all wits shall employ their oratory; fresher and sweeter than a new blown Rose-bud, whiter and softer than a dying Swans down, or the down of a Thistle; nimble and sportive as a young Roe, wanton as the wind, that curls her hair; fair as the morning, clear as the noon, ruddy as the evening, sweet as the spring (the fair mother of flowers) ripe as autumn, better in all things than desire; one for whom Prometheus tempered better clay than ordinary, or (to say better) he composed her of soul stuff; one for whom Clotho kept her best and finest wool; one in whom the fates meant to shame all their former works, and in her composition so exhausted their treasury, as ever since, such fragments of woman as others are, be daily thrust into the world; one upon whose peerless face (so full of loves and Cupids,) millions have waited for alms; one to whom Princes and and wits have bent, and homaged, and whole squadrons of Lovers have besieged and sought to storm, with whole volleys of obediential oaths, and the hollow Granado's of compliment. She that hath been the rack of thousand souls, the flame of thousands hearts; (who would willingly have offered up themselves in their own fires sacrifices to her) she shall not cost thee one sigh, or tear of despair, but shall freely come to meet thy embraces, and shall every day increase thy affection by new merits. Tell me for love's sake, is it not more lovely to lie intwined in her foulding arms, like a lily imprisoned in a jail of snow, or ivory in a band of alabaster, than to sit muffled in furs like a bedrid Miser?  
Let desperate persons endure the thunder of war, and the hailshot of oft redoubled strokes; then show a rent scarce stained with (perhaps innocent) blood, as a trophy, or a fragment of a torn banner; the meanest of her favours will make a goodlier show. How canst thou be mean, being Lord of her who is beauty's kingdom? or poor, enjoying the wealth of her golden hair?  
1 She shall be the feast of all thy senses; thou shalt see the Sun (the great Lynx of Heaven) divided in her eyes, lightning with such splendour as put out the beholders, killing and reviving with frowns and smiles at pleasure; in short, thou shalt behold before thee the model of heaven, and pride of earth.  
2 Thou shalt smell in her breath a fragrancy that admits no comparison with the panther's breath gathered in bags, and mixed with Cretan wines, or with the Eastern spices on the phoenix pile, when she herself is both the Priest and the Sacrifice.  
3 Thy taste shall find in the swelling Apples of her breast, the Katherine pears on her cheeks, and the balme-bedewed Cherries of her lips, such sweets, with which the tongues of Nightingales, the heads of parrots, the brains of Peacocks and ostriches, prepared (in sauced dishes) by the cunningest cost-neglecting cooks, are not worthy to be named the same day.  
4 To thy touch shall lie open the warm snow and soft polished ivory of her body, which excels in softness the ranging clouds, the Indian Cotton, or Cotshold Wool, in sleekness the smoothest cut Diamond, or looking-glass.  
And thus (to the suspense of the listening Nightingales who grieving to hear a sweeter voice than their own, shall fall down and die upon her Lute,) shall she (the Orpheus of the world) charm thine ear.  

Song.  

1.  
From th'early dawn, till Sol retires,  
On beds of violets we'll lie toying.  
we'll quench, then kissing, fan loves fires:  
Happy bliss, there's none to this,  
A lover's heaven is enjoying.   

2.  
Cockles our Lips shall teach to cleave,  
(Whilst no Argus eye controls,)  
Our spirits out at our mouths we'll breathe,  
Mine into thee, thine into me,  
So in each kiss we'll exchange souls.   

3.  
we'll mix ourselves till our bloods turn  
elixir, which the Fates shall mould  
To models of us, they shall burn  
With desires, hot as our fires,  
Whilst we in either's arms grow old.    
Nay most of all, she shall be sprung of the seed of the Gods, and what an honour is it to call Jove Father in law!  
Wouldst have thy Nymph described? I might borrow heavens milky way to paint out her forehead by, I might call it a plain of lilies, or a shrine of snow whither multitudes have come Pilgrimages.  
I might compare her eyes to those of night, or rather that of noon, and call them Spheres of light, flaming strongly and enkindling all others, but that were to dishonour them with the beggarliness of the similitude. Suppose her cheeks two fair gardens planted with the choicest flowers of Paradise, but the lily and the Rose are but obscure types, and shadows of those delicate tinctures laid on her blooming cheeks by nature's Pencil. Imagine her neck a tower of alabaster, her breasts hillocks of snow inlaid with Saphires, her mouth music's Temple, decked with two rails of pearl, her voice the chiming of the Spheres: But these are but faint Metaphors of her, to represent whom, words are too narrow, and freshest colours too dim.  
Rather I wish that thy enfanched eyes were as sharp as an Eagles, or Tiberius his whilst thou dost survey my form, and if they spy any thing in me that may challenge their liking, be confident thou shalt enjoy it in as high a perfection in that beauty's heaven, who shall every minute coin new artful postures, and try the variety of my stealths, to make thy delight immortal; So that you shall be the happiest pair that fry under the Torrid Zone of Love, hourly in that Elysium quenching and renewing your heats, and letting yourselves loose to the freedom of uncontrolled embraces.  
If thou hast a fancy to invent arts and try conclusions, here shalt thou have fit opportunity to surpass Ovid and Aretine, and become Professor in THE CYPRIAN ACADEMY.  
If arms and duels comply with thy humour, thou shalt never want action, the soul of Love, her paps like two Pomegranates rising up on either side with a gentle and tempting swelling, shall as they beat, give both a signal, and a challenge to the encounter. And when thou art foiled, and cast into a qualmie sound, one kiss shall infuse new spirits into thy panting limbs, and arm thee for a fresh charge; and thou shalt always be above thy sweet foe (the ex●ract of delight) in these feats of arms; these not destructive but productive wars, instead of killing the Champions shall produce new ones. Thus (Happy wanton so loved of all the stars) shall pleasure become thine handmaid, and the crop of thy joys be ripe as harvest in the April of thy years.  
These airy blandishments and raptures, made the hot Phrygian big with the desire of their accomplishment, and quite chased the glory of crowns and Triumphant chariots out of his head, and drowned all their pleasures in the thoughts of the sweet fruition of his Queen of sport and loveliness, who did already swim in his fancy, his thoughts dwelled nowhere but on her, whom like another soul, he longed to enjoy. As Phaeton at the first did fearfully admire even the palace of Phoebus, but anon fearless adventure even the presence of Phoebus: So Paris who even now trembled at the Goddesses Port, was now bold enough to reject two of them; without the least conflict in himself which to make his patroness, with a fixed resolution, and a wandering eye, he spoke in such a Dialect.  
A flowery chaplet subtly woven by the cunning hand of a Wood Nymph, is a sweeter and lighter wear than a crown, which causes the headache with its weight, and carries a cross on its top; and is commonly as deep and thick inlaid with troubles as gems. The whole lives of Princes are like a chessboard, or their ermines, they have as many black spots as white, wherefore they shake hands with freedom (the splendour of life) that gape after such gilded toils, which when they are possessed of, they had need borrow ambitious men's conceits to think themselves happy, the Gall is so predominant over the Honey.  
I am heir to one Crown by birth, and Jove grant that Liberty and privilege do not justle that off my head, which if they do, I will scarce lift it thither again; for sovereign Monarchs are like the celestial bodies, they have much veneration, but no rest. It was the desire of power that flung Angels out of Heaven, and the fever of knowledge that thrust man out of Paradise: wherefore neither do I desire to be reared to that slippery height, whence a fall will dash me in pieces, like those wretched creatures that are drawn higher the more to be strapadoed; nor do I thirst to drink of the horse's spring, or drench myself in Castaly, I mean not to undertake a Pilgrimage to Athens, an unwearied travel after wit, nor care I (like worms) to feed upon old books, some whereof tell us that Pride precedes a fall; now what's a greater stirrup for pride than much knowledge? which to this day retains in it somewhat of the Serpent (its first attorney) wherefore when it enters into a man it makes him swell, Scientia inflat.  
I'll never be rival to those candle-wasters, that always stink of Lamp oil, in wooing any coy Art but music: for what serves your sleepy Astronomy but to enhance the price of Night caps, and furred gowns, and to make men catch cold? I'll not tie mine eyes to the stars as if I were made the Argus of the Heavens, to watch the wandering planets motions, none of which I'll ever trace but Venus. If you will needs have me taken with Arts, I like better the art of giving than taking of lives. I desire not to warm me by that fire struck in the devil's tinderbox, War alias Woe, that common wrack of commonweals. Let my brother Hector deck his pride with scars, and make fine lame shows of his wounds, in hope rotten Fame will make him the burden of her song; for my part I desire not to see the inside of Janus his temple; but may Turtle footed peace ever dance Fairy rings in my Land.  
I love not black and blue prowess, nor is it music to mine ear to hear bones rattle with magnanimity. Fortitude is a virtue of the Iron Age, and a goodly virtue sure which even drunkenness can induce? Shall I learn of the giants (that God contemning race) to affect thrones, and so become a mark for Jove's Thunderbolts? or of Cadmus his harvest of men to love fighting, and so water the earth with my blood in recompense for bearing me? No, with Regality dwells cares, with arts unrest, with arms danger; but Love is the true emblem of Heaven, or rather Heaven upon Earth, for Heaven is more the joy than the place. Love is made up of the elixir of delights; shall I then invite fear for my Comrade, and Trouble for my bedfellow? and reject that excellently excellent Nymph, so fair, so gentle, so good, so shaped, so qualified? no dear armful of Roses and lilies, thy embrace shall be my ambition, thy arms my court, thy breast my field, thy bed my tent, thy eyes my books; And you fair Cypria my patroness, to whom as to the worthiest I adjudge the Golden orb, which with my better service, (rare Summary of beauty, therefore of desert) may it please your Deity to accept.  
This disposal made the two rejected Goddesses his inexorable adversaries, and most Philomathies and Martialists his critical censurers, he is only cried up for a Minos of good judgement among Amorists and Beauties, one out of which number (between whom and her that bore away the Golden prize there is no difference but a Mole and a Name) one (who had she been in the number of the competitors the Apple must have been divided between Erycina and her) whose least command is more obligatory with me than an act of Parliament, have enjoined me to apologise for him, and to say somewhat in applause of his preferring before the rest the fair Paphyan Queen, whom I implore to be precedent at the rites, and to inspire me whilst I plead hers and her judge's cause; and I wish that to delineate her deserts and omnipotence, I had a quill snatched from the wing of her amifying son, and dipped in the Nectar of her own Milk.  
But I will not make Minda's large gates to my little City, nor dwell long upon a Proem, for to make too much preamble is tedious, and to make none at all, but blunt.  
To unpassioned men, this Trojans judgement will not appear like that of Aesop's cock, that preferred the barley kernel before the jewel; or of Ulysses Qui vetulam praetulit immortalitati; or of Midas, who being elected Judge between Apollo President of the Muses, and Pan captain of the sheepish Squadrons, judged for plenty; or of the ass in the fable, who preferred the Cucko's note before the Nightingales; but of a nobler, and more reasonable nature, as will concisely appear by these few animadversions.  
First, in respect of himself, common policy prompted this Prince to this disposal, for he being made Umpire between three Deities whereof he must make one his friend, and two his enemies, it was his wisdom to win favour with the most Potent, which was indubitably Venus, if we may take an estimate of power from the extent of dominions, and largeness of command and conquest; all which are so clearly Cypria as they leave no place for opposition, or objection. It's true Juno commands the World, but Venus' monarchizes in the most unlimited manner of sovereignty over millions of worlds, if it will pass for sterling that every man is a microcosm; and though some sons of Earth are so enthralled to sense as Saturnia sways in some of these lesser worlds too, yet many are so refined from earth and ignorance, as they acknowledge no allegiance unto her, but he that submits not to the sceptre of the Paphian Queen is a rebel against nature, and but the shadow of a man; but such stubborn ones are as rare as a horse in the streets of Venice, or a beggar in Holland. Petronius indeed once blasphemed and wrote Satyrs against our goddess, but he soon sung a Palinodia, and spent his last breath in chanting of amorous Odes.  
This is that powerful Planet that makes not only rational but irrational, not only the animate, but inanimate creatures, and vegetables feel her influxious power. So that she commands the three souls that animate the world, the vegetative, the sensitive, and the rational, one whereof is infused into Plants, two into Beasts, all into Men. No creature (as Saint Jerome concludes) is to be found Quod non aliquid amat, no stock or stone that hath not some feeling of Love.  
Even Flowers and Plants feel her influence, the fair Primrose (the first borne of the spring) if forsaken of the masculine flower, droops and withers disconsolate, as if she kept her beauty only for him. The Heliotrope was enamoured of goldenhaired Titan, and still at his presence unmaskes (as if he came to court her) and converts towards him; the Vine, the elm, the Cabbage and the Olive dote upon and manacle one another in their arms; the Olive and the myrtle intwine their roots and branches if they grow near.  
Palm trees are of both sexes, and express not a sympathy, but a Love passion.  
Vivunt in Venerem frondes, omnisque vicissim,  
Felix arbor amat, nutant ad mutua Palmae  
Faedera, Populeo suspirat Populus ictu,  
Et Platano Platanus, Alnoque assibilat Alnus.  
Leaves sing their Loves, Each complemental tree  
In courtship bows, the amorous palms we see  
Confirm their leagues with nods, Poplars enchain  
Their arms, the Plane infettereth the Plane.  
Florentius tells us of a palm that loved most fervently, and would not be comforted until her Love applied itself unto her, you might see the two trees bend, and of their own accord stretch out their boughs to embrace, and kiss each other. They marry one another, and when the wind brings the smell to them they are marvellously affected: they will be sick for love, ready to die and Pine away, which the Husbandman perceiving, strokes those palms that grow togetogether, and so stroking again the palm that is enamoured, they carry kisses from the one to the other, or weaving their Leaves or boughs into a Love-net, they will prosper and flourish with a greater bravery. But the greatest Triumph of Love in these kind of vegetals was in the two Italian palms, the Male growing at Brundisium, the Female at Otranto, which continued Barren, till they saw another (growing up higher) though many Stadium's asunder.  
Dionea is that Omnipotent Power that puts motion into a Stone, and strikes fire from Ice, and makes cold water sensible of her heat: this is she that made the amorous Brook Alpeus pursue the coy and flying River Arethusa, from the Stymphalin Woods, (piercing earth's hidden bowels) through cold Emyranthus and Ellis, till they ran both in one channel, and mingled Waves.  
Flumina senserunt ipsa quid esset amor.  
Triumphant Love hath made cold water fire,  
And give and take the flame of warm Desire.  
The nimble Birds are overtaken by Cupid's nimbler wings, and annually elect their Valentines. What a perfect Harmonia of affection is there between the Turtle and his dear mate? whose continual billing shames Diana, and her Icy-fouled train. What a zealous adorer of our goddess is the wanton Sparrow, who empties himself of all his radical moisture in her Rites, and at three years' end, (when that column of life fails him) offers up his dry bones a Sacrifice to her. The Eagle of Sestos, and peacock of Leucadia were both betrayed to the Love of Virgins, and having zealously served them here, followed them to Elysium, as that wonder of a Dog did his Master Sabinus. Aristotle will have birds to sing ob futuram Venerem, for joy and hope of their stealths to come.  
The Idalian Archer makes the Inhabitants of the floods his Bulls too, and pierces the Armour of their glittering scales; he placed among his Trophies the sluggish Whales, the Triton of Epirus, the crook-backed Dolphin that was enamoured of Hernias, and him (at Puteoli) that loved a child and would carry him upon his back as the Lord of his Affections, and after died for loss of him. Pisces ob amorem marcescunt, pallescunt, &c. Fishes pine away for love, and wax lean, if Gomesius Authority may be taken, and are Rampant too, some of them. Venus takes Diana's work out of her hands, and wounds and entangles in her toils the fourfooted Citizens of the forest. Furor est insignis equarum. How insatiable is the lecherous Goat? The cows run and lough in the Valley, and the fiercer beasts make the trees quiver and be all aspen, at their roaring not for their Prey, but absent Loves; Cupid is as familiar with Lions as Children with Cosset lambs, and oftentimes gets on their backs, holding them by the manes, and riding them about like Horses, whilst they fawn upon him with their tails.  
Omne adeò Genus in terris hominumque ferarum,  
Et genus aequoreum, pecudes, pictaeque volucres  
In furias ignemque ruunt, amor omnibus idem.  
All kind of Creatures in the earth, beasts grim,  
And men, and fish with golden gills that swim,  
And painted birds alike to rage do fly,  
Thus Love bears equal sway, in Earth, Sea, sky.  
Lest any thing should escape her, she catched that nimble wonder of volacity, the wind itself Boreas, he that in his rage tosses the blue billows, curling their monstrous heads, and tears up knotty oaks, and makes the massy Ball to stagger (like a drunken man) when he flies through her hollow entrails and crannies, she made this Fury turn all mildness, and convert himself into gentle breeze, to fan Orythia's rosy fair hair, whom being denied he bore away in a blast.  
The Spirits of the air, and devils of Hell are subject to Love, else what mean the Stories of Incubus and Succubus, of Nymphs, fauns, satyrs, fairs, and those lascivious Telchines, about whom the Platonists spent so many Pen-ploughed Reams of Paper?  
Excellently said that well-worded Noble Italian, Baptista Guarini, in his matchless pastoral, Il Pastor fido, upon this theme: 
— Look round about,  
Examine the whole Universe throughout,  
All that is fair or good, here or above,  
Or is a Lover, or the work of Love.  
Th' all-seeing Heaven, the fruitful Earth's a Lover,  
The Sea with Love is ready to boil over.   
Pallas has but few Subjects, and these adore Venus too; nay, she herself may be called (without solecism) Venus her handmaid, for Valour is a Page to Love, not Love to Valour; for none in that Valiant are taken with this Love, but once wounded with Love, they become so, and undauntedly undergo all perils for the beloved.  
Improbe amor quid non mortalia pectora cogis.  
Tyrant Love, what canst not thou  
Compel poor mortal men do do?  
The valiantest Field-men have been no Niggards of their blood in love's quarrel, which sharpens their Swords as well as their Spirits. What made Persius combat that immense prodigy of Nature and the deep, Medusa, that drove the broad-spread waves before his mighty breast, but the Love of Andromede? and having loosed her from her Gyves, (Far unworthy of so fair a Prisoner) and changed them for Hymen's sweeter Bands, What made Phineus rashly turn the nuptial Feast into a Sanguinary Fray, and make the clashing of bruised Armour and groans of his dying friends his Epithalamion Notes, but the Love he bore to the same illustrious Lady?  
Arithmetic wants Numbers to reckon the Tilts and tournaments, the combats, Wounds, and Deaths, that such quarrels have caused, whilst the brave Aspects of lovely Dames did Tantara to the fight, and their favours wag in sight.  
It's no news to hear that Erycina takes Victory its self Prisoner, and makes the Victor Captive to his Captive, as she did the redoubted Amphialus to the divinely divine Philoclea, Jupiter to Calisto, & Hercules (the scourge of Monsters) to fair Omphale; to comply with whose humour, he left off his lion's spoil, to wear (Sardanapalus-like) womens' soft Robes, and with those hands with which he drew blood, he drew the slender thread, (which trembled to be spun by such terrible fingers) and held a feeble distaff with that arm which used to bear the knotty Club, and thresh Tyrant Champions like a bunch of hemp, or a stockfish. These were his Interludes between his Acts, and when his Ribs were well beaten, and grew crazy, then would he retreat into her Lap (the Bay of sweet Delight) as into love's Port, to be new built for further engagement.  
Cupid has made the whole body of Philosophy and Divinity too, to tremble at the twang of his bow, the greatest Masters of Wit and Reason have coveted no higher subject to heighten their Fancies than great love's Supremacy, and the Encomiums of some Beauty. How did sweet-tongued Petrarch trudge up and down after Laura? How was Loves great Master Ovid enamoured of bright Julia, (the jewel of his soul) and Celebrated her excellencies and their stealths under the mask of Corinna? Did not Cytheris possess Cornelius Gallus his soul, and Plautia Tibullus his? Did not smooth Propertius place his heaven in Cynthia's Love, who being ravished from him by injurious Atropos in the heat and height of their best days, how did it crack his sinews, shrink his veins, and make his very heartstrings jar, and so enthralled him to Melancholy Don Saturn, as he locked himself up in her tomb, who alive served in stead of a tenth Muse unto him: of which wittily the Epagrammatist: 
Cynthia te vatem fecit Lascive Properti,  
Ingenium Galli Pulchra Lycoris babet,  
Famaest Arguti Nemesis formosa Tibulli,  
Lesbian dictavit docte Catulle tibi.  
Non me Pelignus, nec speruit Mantua vatem,  
Si qua Corinna mihi, si quis Alexis erit.  
Wanton Propertius, and witty Gallus,  
Learned Catullus, and subtle Tibullus,  
To Cynthia, Lychoris, Lesbie,  
And Nemesis you owe your Poetry:  
Naso, nor Maro should not call me bad,  
If I a Corinna, or Alexis had.   
Mercury, (whose Caduceus is said to assuage the rage of the Sea, in that contentions are appeased by the flexanimous power of Eloquence, and discreet Negotiation of ambassadors) he who was said to steal Apollo's Arrow out of Quiver, Vulcan's Tools out of his shop, and Jupiter's sceptre, (Showing the bewitching force of his facundity) was not he love-struck when he saw hearse bearing to Tritonia's fane her Sacrifice, in a crowned Basket, upon her shining hair? and how did he bend his wits to solicit her sister Aglauros to procure him access?  
Nay, Apollo himself, the inventor of poesy, music, and physic, elated for his Victory over the ugly Python, found Cupid's Shaft the most prevalent, when he pursued the overmuch loved, but overmuch hating Daphne, over the uncouth Rocks, craggy cliffs, and untrod Mazes of the Woods.  
Again, the celestial heat was inflamed by a terrestrial, and he who used to look indifferently upon all, cared to see none but Leucöe, for whom his looks waxed so pale, a colour suitable to his grief. Afterwards being banished heaven for a year, for slaying the Cyclops that made the Lightning that slew his son Phaeton, he turned herdsman, and kept the cattle of Aametus King of Thessaly, for the love he bore to his fair Daughter.  
Afterwards he assumed those Weeds again, to enjoy Issa, Daughter of Macarius Prince of Lesbos, so unmajesticall is Majesty where Love hath a footing. This is that ancient passion that vies Antiquity with any time, as Phaedrus contends, and was (according to Hesiod) begot by Terra and Chaos, before the gods were borne.  
Ante Deos omnes primum generavit amorem.  
Love is the elder Sister of the gods,  
Or Mother that gave them beings, & abodes.  
Cupid is more than quarter Master among the gods; Thetide aequor, Vmbras Aeaco, Coelum Jove, &c. For proof of this Antiquity of love's Supremacy, History tells us that this Fire (which some think to be that that Prometh●us fetched down from heaven) burned so hot in old Saturn, (the Father of the gods) as it made him willing to go out of himself, and become a horse to beget Chiron the centaur on Philira, and ever since it hath ruled the three Provinces, (with their Rulers) that his Dominions were divided into, viz. Hell, Sea, and Heaven; excellently expressed by that Poet laureate (to whose Name, Wit and Art must bow, and are justified only by honouring it) in his Hue and Cry after Cupid in his Marriage mask.  
At his sight the sun hath turned,  
Neptune in the Waters burned,  
Hell hath found a greater heat;  
Jove himself forsook his Seat.  
From the centre to the sky,  
Are his Trophies reared high.  
So that it was no heresy in Orpheus to make a petty Pope of him, and give him the keys of heaven and hell, Claves habet superorum & inferorum. Nor was his Herald Ovid out of the Story, when he thus blazed his style; Regnat & in superos jus habet ille Deos.  
Love commanded Pitchy Pluto (that holds the inferior Province of the triparted world) to ravish Proserpina, from the sedgy Banks of Pergusa Lake. Love made the green glassy god of Waves to bow his Trident to her sceptre.  
In mare nimirum jus habet orta mari.  
She that from the Ocean sprung,  
Hath right to rule the Waves among.  
This watery Proteus became for Arne a Bull, for Ephimedia the turbulent River Enipus, for Bisalpida a ram, for Ceres and Medusa a Horse, for Melanthe a Dolphin, &c.  
And lest Heaven should remain freer than Earth, Sea, and Hell, Love struck great Jupiter, the scatterer of three-forked lightning, with the likings of Io, Semele, Latone, Alcuma, &c. And made him Metamorphose himself for Europa into a Bull, (and put himself to graze that he might lick her hands who fed him with flowers) for Danae into a storm of Gold, in which shape he stormed Acrisius his Tower, (and here he made Juno, Gold, serve Venus, Love,) for Astrea into an Eagle, for Leda into a Swan, for Antiope into a satire, for Aegina into a Flame, for Mnemosyne into a shepherd, for Dois into a Serpent, for Calisto into a Wood-Nymph or Nun, so much he esteemed his pleasure above his state: So as Lucian's Juno called him Ludus amoris, Cupid's whirligig.  
I need not here insert how Bacchus became a Grape for Erigone, or remember the rest of the God's stealths; it's sufficient to prove Aphrodite the potentest of them all, in that all veil to her and her son, she to none. Wisely therefore did Paris to dispose of the Ball, so as he made the Ruler of the triple world his friend with it.  
Secondly, I applaud his judging for the Sea-born Queen, when I consider the quality of the gifts that the three goddesses were Mistresses of. The one could lade his head with Starry crowns, the Badges of the gods, and ambition of men: but why should his great mind stoop to that Lure which even a cynic could disdain? Did not Diogenes prefer his Tub before the Luculent Throne of Alexander the Great, the whole world's terror? which proud humility so pleased that mighty Hero, as he thought that careless Snails condition better than all men's, but his own, wherefore he broke out into such expressions, I could wish to be Diogenes of I were not Alexander; but he and they that stand upon the pinnacles of State, need not boast their slippery height, but remember they walk not upon a Helix that still enlargeth, but upon fortune's wheel, whereof having reached the top they must descend to the lower spokes, as did Darius the Potent, Osman the Proud, (whom a janissary dispatched) Belizarius the valiant, Crasus the rich, Priamu● the fair, Nero the cruel, Sejanus the haughty, cum multis aliis quae nunc, &c. More wretched in the evening of their lives than Irus, for miserum est fuisse felicem, Had I wist is an idle speech. Whether do these Crowns and sceptres the worlds magnalia, but indeed the balls and rackets of Fortune, hurri● men? through how many restless nights and less restful thoughts do they chase these sweet bitter joys? as the more we grasp the thievish sands, the faster they steal through our fingers: so is content the farther from them the more they seek it in the fading glories of the world, which like an Ignis fatuus first lead them through wild untrodden paths, then by vast airy thoughts to that Precipice, whence they fall and are torn like Absyrtus.  
Juno could also have made him Master of inexhaustible mines of gold, the soul of the world, the price of lives and laws, the Terminus ad quem, to which most actions are biased: but why should a Prince make that his Ruler which Plato banisheth from his commonwealth, as the mother and nurse of vice, and an envious spirit exciting to sacrilege and murder? This was too poor a bait to take nobility, which was slighted even by the shepherds of Arcadia, a happy people, wanting little, because they desired not much. But this means Paris kept himself from the fever of avarice, for such is the sacred hunger of gold, that who so enjoys most of it, seeks (Volpone like) by sordid penury to accumulate more. But is it not the height of folly to live poor all a man's life, to die rich?  
The other goddess could have decked his head with ever springing bays, and filled his hand with triumphant palm, the price of blood and sweat. I confess it was some unhappiness that he looked upon these with so transient, and careless an eye: eye said I? had it been in the power of his optics to have reached such objects, as prowess (the metal) and Knowledge (the varnish of a man,) it would have removed all hesitations and scruples from him, and made him have devoted himself to the Lady of such treasure, and loveliness:  
Non per Deos, aut Pictor posset,  
Aut Statuarius ullus fingere,  
Talem pulchritudinem, qualempallas habet.  
Nor Gods, nor rare Vandicke, nor Raphael brave,  
Nor nice Pyrgoteles, that in pearls did grave,  
Can feign such Beauty as Arts & prowess have.  
But how could he be taken with this amability since it was not visible? since Aristotle (Nature's great Secretary) affirms, Nemo amore capitur, nisi qui fuerit ante forma speciéque delectatus, no man loves but he who was first delighted with the comeliness and formosity of the object?  
The true Idea of valour and wisdom Paris could hardly form in his mind, but he might easily throng his head with thoughts of tedious marches, dangerfull attempts, sleep-breakings, night-watchings, mortal wounds, and thousand other Gorgon's heads that sense held out to deter him; so that who could imagine he should aspire to that as a reward, of the peril and trouble whereof he had a full prospect, and but an eclipsed glimpse of the glory? He saw but the thorns that hid the Roses, and even this glimpse was much clouded by the refulgence of the third Deity, the beams of whose eyes (those twins of light) so dazzled his, as he could look at no other object, so fares it with a man that forces his eyes against the Sun. The eye and the ear be the Cardinal senses of inquisition; and though the ear is the conduit-pipe of Faith, which (as sacred Rolls report) comes by hearing, yet certain it is that the eye takes in the perfecter notions, and presents the truest ideas to the mind, and that one ocular witness is worth ten auricular.  
Suppose a couple of Apples were proffered to a child, the one as fair as any in sunburnt autumn's store, as beauteous as that which tempted Eve, but of no extraordinary operation, the other but of an indifferent rind, and somewhat withered with lying, but restorative, and of an excellent virtue, would any one blame the child (seeing he cannot see the intrinsic worth of the other) for choosing that which gave a pleasant taste to the eye, before it was seized by the teeth? No more cause have we to chide with Paris for rejecting of Pallas for Venus, since he could not discern the worth and beauty of the one, (it being hid in the secret Cabinet of her soul) but might of the other, since his eyes were full Masters of the rare object of her exquisite Phisnomy, and divine feature, with which sweet looks she caught all her beholders by the eyelids; and being so rarely fair, he might well think her as rarely virtuous, for vultus index animi, the frame and composition of the mind doth follow the frame and composition of the body: so where the body's furniture is beauty, the minds must needs be virtue, grace and beauty are so wonderfully annexed, so sweetly and gently allure our souls, that they confound our judgement, and cannot be distinguished, which made the ancient Poets put the three Graces still in Venus' company, as attending upon her, and holding up her train.  
Neither is the reward that Venus could have bestowed on Paris to be set in the rear, but deserves to be ranked in the first file of desert; and if we consider Paris as Paris, and not as a Prince, hers of all the rest was most necessary for him, she could restore his rib to his side, which who so misseth, wants half of himself.  
His fortune might play herself, and suffer one that had more iron than he, to take away all his gold, for fortune is like April in rain, or the moon in the last Quarter, it will soon change; but Venus could throw into his arms a friend without change, a playfellow without strife, that after his thoughts had kept full term, and been drowned in the deep ideas of State, could have brought him cheerful and vacant intervals, and proved the best Heleborum against Melancholy. Did he desire to extend his life beyond his life, and make the Ages to come his own? she in requital of his Princely embraces, could yield him real fruits of his love, little living Pictures of himself, that should always carry him about them, and transmit him to posterity, they to eternity. Thus might he swallow time its self, and outlive himself.  
Even Juno afterwards thought this the most prevalent Argument, and therefore the chief motive she used to Aeolus to let loose his destructive breath upon Aeneas, and his fragments of Troy, as he was transporting of Ilium over the angry Sea to Italy, was, that she would give him Deïopeia for a Salary.  
Incute vim ventis, submersasque obrue puppes,  
Aut age diversas, & disjice corpora ponto.  
Sunt mihi bis septem praestanti corpore Nymphae,  
Quarum, quae forma pulcherrima, Deïopeiam  
Connnbio jungam stabili, propriámque dicabo:  
Omnes ut tecum meritis pro talibas annos  
Exigat, & pulchra faciat te prole parentem.  
Lend cross winds strength to make the capering brine  
To kiss the Moon, and swallow every Pine;  
A beavie of twice seven fair Nymphs are mine:  
Bright Deïopeia, that the rest outshine  
As far as they do others, shall be thine;  
And her to thee with nuptial bands I'll twine;  
She for such merits shall spend all years with thee,  
And make thee Sire of a fair progeny.  
And it's more than probable that Juno would have used this Argument to Paris, but that she knew she should have been outbidden by the Queen and Monopolist of Beauty.  
Thirdly, I cannot but subscribe to Paris his sentence, when I ruminate upon the penalties that either of the Deities could inflict upon him for rejecting of them.  
Juno could dam up the rich streams of yellow Tagus (whose foam is Amber, and gravel Gold) from running into his coffers, but no matter, for how could he know want that enjoyed Jove's daughters fair hair? and the freshest coral (alas too mean a word) the rubies of her Lips, and her Sunny eyes (the stain of Diamonds) the two centres of beauty, wherein all the lines of Love met? In tota rerum Natura, nihil forma divinius, nihil augustius, nihil pretiosus, saith Isocrates, In all nature's treasure there is nothing so divine and sacred, nothing so precious and majestical as Beauty, its nature's crown, Gold, and Glory; bonum si non summum de summis tamen non infrequenter triumphans. Minerva might make her Mysteries of Philosophy strangers to him, and unlock her secrets to more quicksilvered spirits, who yet were below his envy; for how many Princes break their sleep with the Qui●iti● of Ens, or poring upon Aristotle's intricate questions in the reality of Numerus? And yet their governments miscarry not, they having the most refined wits, and mature judgements to be their Participes curarum, and band opinions with them for the safety of their Monarchies. As for her other gift, Conquest, he desired rather (like a good Patriot) to have his Land decked with Peace, and the child of Peace, good husbandry, than watered with his enemy's blood, or glutted with their fat, knowing that the shining title of a conqueror did indeed little help to the happiness of life. But what if he had been strong as Hercules, valiant as Hector, could his force have ransomed Troy from ruin? or nnderpropt the proud Palaces of Priamus? No, said his excellent Brother that died laden with so many trophies of Honour: 
— Si Pergama dextra  
Defendi possunt, etiam hac defensa fuissent.  
If any Hand could have defended Troy,  
This hand had staved off her annoy.  Few columns are gilded with the Memorials of any victory obtained only by the general's single Valour.  
But Venus that had his heart in her hand could have made the torrent of his affections run in what channel she pleased, and doted upon some deformed Mopsa, some rotten trunk and rusty face, the spoil of Age and triumph of ugliness, whom (when the scales were fallen from his eyes) he should have discovered to have been a Beldame foul as the beast that suckled him, than would her harsh hair (which once he thought finer than flax) appear near allied to fox's fur, her complexion Cousin german to the swart Indian, or tawny Moor; her breath (which once he thought fragrant as the West wind) should then smell like an Obolet able to blast a flower, and her whole composition prove the torment of his eyes, and this plague he could no way fly: 
Quo fugis ah demens, nulla est fuga, tu licet usque  
Ad Tanaim fugias, usque sequetur amor.  
Ho whither Lover? no flight is left for you,  
Clime heaven, sound hell, still will your flame pursue.  Or Venus in revenge might have transfixed his heart with a golden shaft, his Mistresses with a leaden one, to make her hate; her that might have carried life in her looks, death in her mouth, June in her eyes, January in her heart, and what a torment this would have proved, let the pale cheeks of Apollo and Petrarch testify.  
4. Another reason that induceth me to stand to his award, is, because he judged for the most innocent and blameless of the competitors, her whose life was not stained with so many spots as the others. Juno had a black soul in her not fair body. No visor can mask her cruelty to Pious Aeneas, and his weather-beaten Navy (which the high hand of Providence had plucked (as firebrands) out of Troy's flames) and to poor Io, whom her anger transformed to a heifer, and committed to so rigorous a Guardian as boorish Argus, who bound her ivory neck with an unworthy halter, and fed her with bitter salads, (who deserved Ambrosia) and watered her at the brook (which when she went to taste, she oft ran back, as afraid of her own face) who merited Nectar, and allowed her the earth only (not always green) for her bed, once not unworthy of the thunderer himself. No less cruel was Juno to the divine Nonacrine Calisto (who once inflamed her old lecher) in lading her whileome lovely skin with horrid rough hair, and converting her limber fingers (once compacts of warm snow and soft ivory) into ugly paws, and making that mouth to grin (so that she was afraid of her own voice) which was erst so praised of Jove.  
None will excuse her malice against Semele, whom she sought by unworthy covert treachery to destroy, metamorphising herself into her old Beldame Nurse Beroe of Epidaure. No hate so deadly and certain, as that which is masked under the visor of love; for that like thunder hits before it speaks: 
Tuta frequensque via est per amici fallere nomen,  
Tuta frequensque licet sit via, crimen habet.  
T'maske fraud with Love hath safe & common been,  
Though a safe & common way, yet is't a sin.   
See her spite, who contending in a wanton quarrel with Jove which Sex had most pleasure in the act of Venery, he saying the Female, she the Masculine, Tiresias (who had twice changed his Sex) being elected Umpire, confirmed Jove's words, and affirmed that in coiture men had but three ounces of the vigour of Love, women nine; for which her deadly hate deprived him of both his eyes.  
With what fury did she agitate the subversion of the house of Cadmus? did not she too excite the Furies to the ruin of Athamas and Ino, (for no other cause than for their pity and piety in fostering their Nephew Bacchus, whose mother Semele her rage had already tragedized) descend by the horrid shades of deadly Eve, to This his dire Palace, and there commanded, promised, and entreated all in one breath, and at last incensed Tisiphone to prepare for them bruised hemlock, the spurgings of dead men's eyes, mad dogs foam, Frogs blood, the juice of Mandrakes, Adders ears, horned Poppey, cypress boughs, Basilisks blood, Infants fat, scritchowles' eggs, black cat's brain, Henbane, Nightshade, & c? with these and more such poisonous drugs, she so infuriated them, as the father Athamas dashed out the brains of his own son Clearchus, and the mother Ino, (having snakes hissing about her head) precipitated herself, with her other child Malacertes, from a rock into the Ionian Sea; then Juno (like an enemy to the human race) turned all the fleshy hearted Theban Ladies that pitied them into Cadmean fowls, or Statues and Monuments of her revenge and envy.  
I need not remember her turning of Hemus a King, and Rhodope a Queen, into Thracian mountains; the Pigmean Matron Gerannica into a Crane (who now bids battle to her own subjects) Antigone the fair daughter of Laomedon into a stork, who still claps her wings to her own Plaudite. Certain it is that none was more cruel, malicious, or jealous than she, none more revengeful in her jealousy, insomuch as she could not forbear the Dedalian Statue, which angry Jove threatened to marry, but upon the reconciliation caused it to feed its own destruction, fire.  
Nor was Pallas altogether immaculate, the pride of her haughty spirit would not let her acknowledge any equal, no not in the common Art of spinning, no not Arachne herself, Arachne that made the pretty Nymphs of Tmolus often forsake their Vines, and the sleek Pactolian Nymphs their prattling streams, to look upon her rare warps, but her her cruelty made a contemptible Spider, who still entangles Art (like flies) in her cunning Network, which the subtlest hand is too gross to imitate.  
This goddess also gave somewhat too much way to Anger and fury when she sent a fury to torture poor Aglauros (one of the Cycropides) only for being a little long tongued, like the tyrannous Fairy that entails the sides of Tell-tales to the print of her nails.  
But some grave straight-laced Matron (who is constant to one, because her superannuated feature doth not please any other) may cavil that Venus was not without her Mole, but was guilty of falsifying her conjugal trust, she looked with one eye upon Adulterous Mars, with the other upon Horned Vulcan, whom she taught the note of April, and made his black brows to bud.  
But this Peccadillo is too light to weigh with the others gross enormities; this fault (if it deserves that name) falls under a capacity of Pardon, as proceeding from infirmity, but murder and malice from presumption; she was so far from murdering any, as she would rather make more; she was so far from sending Furies to torture any, as she was willing to prevent their tortures.  
What Fury is more terrible than Love, the Queen of Passions, to whom all other are subject, she to none?  
Mallem cum Leone, Cervo, & Apro Aetolico,  
Cum Anteo, & Stymphalicis avibus luctari mavelim,  
Quam cum amore—  
I'd rather cope with the Aetolian boar,  
Anteus, or beasts that in Nemëa roar,  
'Gainst the Stymphalides my strength I'd prove  
With better hope of palm, than 'gainst great Love.  
This powerful conqueror leading the King and God of conquerors prisoner to Venus in a red Rose chain, so that he whose sinewy neck never bowed in battle, he whose stronger strength the strong tempered steel did obey, became servile to her coyness, she pitying the hell he burned in for the heaven of her embrace, let him take her bed for his tent. This was only the fruit of a fleshy heart, and good Nature. Do we not exclaim against those who having abundant store of wealth, yet suffer the needy to perish at their doors for want? With as good reason may we chide with those Ladies, who being rich in Beauty (scorning Art) suffer their loyal Amorists to die for love of them unpitied. And why might not one Venus serve both Mars and Vulcan within heaven (both being twins in love to her) as well as one Virgo do the Gemini without heaven? 5. But it cannot be with any forehead denied, that Astrea herself prompted him to this disposal, because therein he followed the will of the Donor, of this prize of beauty, which was the Motto it bore; Detur pulchriori, Give this to the fairest: Which if we expound literally to be meant of exterior beauty, doubtless to her it belonged, if we judge it meant of interior beauty of the mind, yet to her, because she was not spotted and contaminated with so many vices as the rest.  
But some may object that Paris did violate the League and Law of Nations, in robbing of Menelaus a sovereign Prince of the best jewel of his life, his dear Helena.  
This I may answer with that proverbial axiom, Fallere fallentem non est fraus, to deceive a deceiver is no deceit. His Aunt Hesione was detained Captive in Salamis by Thelamon, under pretence that Hercules when he razed Troy, bestowed her on him, she not restored, being demanded by her brother Priamus his Legates, Paris by stealing of the Spartan Queen cried the Grecians quit.  
Who ever blamed Dido and the Tyrian Lords, for robbing avarous Pygmalion of his heaps of gold? as little cause have we to wrangle with Paris for this amorous stealth: For if we be angry with Corn-ingrossers, and misers that hoard up a little worldly pelf, why should we not as well blame them that engross rich beauties, so much the more, by how much the treasure that they engross is more divine and precious than their trifling riches?  
But some may object, that Paris by this judgement made himself as his mother Hecuba dreamed he would prove, the firebrand of his country; 'twas he that did devast and destroy Troy, sometimes strong in wealth and walls: 
— Notissima fama  
Insula, dives opum, Priami dum Regna manebant,  
Nunc tamen sinus, & statio malefida carinis.  
An isle whose wealth (as fame of old did know)  
Within as free, as Seas without did flow,  
Whilst Priam did her flourishing sceptre sway,  
Now rubbish, and to Ships a treacherous Bay.   
This brought seventy Kings and Kingly peers from Greece with twelve hundred fifty five War ships (whose golden Poops did gild and stain the blue enamel of the deep) to block & coop him up for ten years ten months, and twice six days. This waked the lion War, and made eight hundred sixty thousand Greeks stain the Trojan weapons with their dearest blood, and sent six hundred fifty six thousands of Trojans fighting men, (besides the slaughtered at the Sack) to engarrison, and take up their Quarters in the kingdom of perpetual night; omitting more of little lesser fame, the noble blood of forty Kings ran A Tilt, if we allow Hector, Troilus, and Paris that title. The free sword took liberty to act all that it pleased, and was as familiar with entrails as the augurs; all hate had licence given it, all fury had loose reins, slaughter and death bestrid the streets, whilst the gore he shed flowed up, and stained his thighs, and carried down whole heaps of limbs, and mangled bodies, which the coals of their own flaming houses roasted; no sex or age escaped, infants in the Porch of Life, the sick, the aged that could not hope one day more from nature's bounty, fell, some to fill up the number, some to make the prey, it was crime enough that they had lives. Pluto's covetous boatswain fainted, and asked a Fleet rather than a Boat to ferry over those sad souls to the black world, whose bodies the maws and dens of Beasts could scarce contain, the whole Earth became a Grave, and all to satisfy a hot Lust.  
But if this had not happened, the world had lost that high Example of filial duty and piety that Aeneas gave, in burdening his shoulders with his feeble and most aged Father Anchises, and (leading by the hand his son Ascanius of the age of twelve years) bearing him through the wasteful flames, maugre the wrathful foes into the fields of Phrygia.  
Out of these ashes also sprung the world's phoenix, the Roman Nation, that gave laws to all the rest, and the British that performed acts of more palm than Fame has breath to blaze.  
And we have no reason to call Paris the Viper that eat out the bowels of his country, because this sad event of his judgement was hid from his eyes. If Nature had made every man a Prometheus to contemplate, or a Tiresias to prognosticate the event of things before the action of them, or if we all had our Nativities calculated to our hands, and were forewarned of, and so fore-armed against those Legions of perils that should encounter us in our lives warfare, there would be no need of the veneration of Fortune, or repairing to her fane to implore her Protean deity to be auspicious to us in the conduct of our affairs; for a disease when known is half cured, a wound discovered is recovered, and a danger that is expected is toothless and half prevented; but we are not all allied to the sibyls, nor have we the gift of divination shared amongst us, because we should have our minds intense upon heroic achievements, and still aemulari meliora, and leave the sequel to virtue, who never fails to elevate her patient sons above the reach of chance.  
And as Ignorance is held to be the Mother of Devotion; so (in this point) its the cause of most men's industry: For if all carried their destinies inscribed on their foreheads, such as were condemned to hew their livings out of the Rocks, would never appeal to Fortune to divert her harsh sentence, but would sit down in despair, and sigh out with Tacitus; Fortunae saevienti submittendus est animus, or with Seneca, 
Fatis Agimur, cedite fatis,  
Non sollicitae possunt curae  
Mutare rati stamina fusi.  
By resolute Fates we guided be,  
To their pleasures submit we,  
No care can alter their decree.  The Median and Persian Fates are not like that pack of petty Tyrants that make Acts and Ordinances to day, and vote them void too morrow, no, their inalterable Order is out, that we should always tug at the oar, nor can our anxious care contrive a way to ransom us from these hatches, under which we must ever lie at dead Anchor; wherefore its better for us to subject our necks to the iron yoke of servitude (forged for us) with Sheepish patience, than like the wild Bull strangle ourselves with struggling to break that net from which we shall never unintangle our feet, and so by their sighs of desperation (as with bellows) they augment the fury of the enraged wind, whereas if the love of virtue could make them swell their sails with breathings after the Cape of good Hope, they might perhaps arrive at the Port of Honour. E contra, if men were no greater strangers to their ends than to their beginnings, those that Fortune had selected for her minions, would expect still to be dandled upon her knee, and that the Cornucopia and redundancy of her best favours should drop into their mouths, whilst they (like Marcus Lepidus) stretched themselves upon Flora's green Carpet.  
Therefore lest the ardour and breathings after fame should be refrigerated in Cadets by their despair of soaring above the gutter, though they should spread and try to flutter with their ostrich wings of faint hope, or in others by their presumption of being borne up to Promotions hill on the shoulders of their smiling Fate, and there to find warm lodgings which they never sweat for, prudent Nature lets no man know what the plot is that she intends in the several Scenes of his life, till he comes to act the Epilogue, which (contrary to other Comedians) he usually desires to protract.  
Some in their passage through this elementary world find their way strewed with Roses, and their paths spread with butter, others prick their feet with briars and thorns, and stick fast in the muddy sloughs of trouble, and are compelled like Hannibal (upon the Alps) vel viam invenire, vel facere, to find or make way over the hedges and ditches of encumbrance: And as a Pilgrim that steers his unknown course to some remote shrine, when he comes at a cross way, is apt to take the fairest path; Semblably we, when we meet with any thing ambiguous, take our own construction, which is ever such as the pulse of our affections beats after, and we soothe up ourselves that herein we deviate not from truth; for facile credimus quod volumus. Thus Aeacides demanding of the Oracle what event his War with Troy should have, he interpreted the Oracles answer, which was, 
Aio te Aeacides Trojanos vincere posse.  
Aeacideses to vanquish Troy, I able do pronounce.  Thus, I Say thou art able to subdue the Trojans, whereas he should have construed this Amphiboly in this wise, I tell thee the Trojans are able to vanquish thee. And that other Prince who inquired whether or no he should make a prosperous expedition against his enemies, and had this in a scroll, 
Ibis redibis nunquam per bella peribis.  
Thou shalt go thou shalt return never war shall end thee.  Put the second comma where he would have had it meant, viz. next that verb Redibis, whereas he should have placed it next the Adverb nunquam, and thus falsely animated he engaged, and breathed his last, in the Attempt.  
Thus the Ilian Prince Paris having the 3 Goddesses standing before him, and pleading for the prize of beauty conferred it upon Venus, because he conceived, she being the potentest of the three (in that she boasted her Trophies over the chief of the rest) was most able to do him good or hurt, and that he should be so perfectly felicified in what she could confer upon him, as all the scruples of gall that the other two Deities could cast into his sweet mess could not be able to embitter it.  
FINIS.