_Asca_. Ah, _Ioculo_, before I leaue my Boy, Of this worlds comfort now my only ioy. Seest thou this place? vpon this grassie bed, With summers gawdie dyaper bespred, (_He lyes downe_.) Vnder these shadowes shall my dwelling be, Till thou returne, sweet _Ioculo_, to me. _Io_. And, if my conuoy be not cut off by the way, it shall not be long before I be with you. (_He speakes to the people_.) Well, I pray you looke to my maister, for here I leaue him amongst you; and if I chaunce to light vpon the wench, you shall heare of me by the next winde. [_Exit Ioculo_. _Ascanio solus_. _Asca_. In vaine I feare, I beate my braines about, Proouing by search to finde my mistresse out. _Eurymine, Eurymine_, retorne, And with thy presence guild the beautious morne! And yet I feare to call vpon thy name: The pratling Eccho, should she learne the same, The last words accent shiele no more prolong But beare that sound vpon her airie tong. Adorned with the presence of my loue The woods, I feare, such secret power shal proue As they'll shut vp each path, hide euery way, Because they still would haue her go astray, And in that place would alwaies haue her seene Only because they would be euer greene, And keepe the wingged Quiristers still there To banish winter cleane out of the yeare. But why persist I to bemone my state, When she is gone and my complaint too late? A drowsie dulnes closeth vp my sight; O powerfull sleepe, I yeeld vnto thy might. (_He falls asleepe_.) _Enter Iuno and Iris_. _Iuno_. Come hither, _Iris_. _Iris_. _Iris_ is at hand, To attend _Ioues_ wife, great _Iunos_ hie command. _Iuno_. _Iris_, I know I do thy seruice proue, And euer since I was the wife of _Ioue_ Thou hast bene readie when I called still, And alwayes most obedient to my will: Thou seest how that imperiall Queene of loue With all the Gods how she preuailes aboue, And still against great _Iunos_ hests doth stand To haue all stoupe and bowe at her command; Her Doues and Swannes and Sparrowes must be graced And on Loues Aultar must be highly placed; My starry Peacocks which doth beare my state, Scaresly alowd within his pallace gate. And since herselfe she doth preferd doth see, Now the proud huswife will contend with mee, And practiseth her wanton pranckes to play With this _Ascanio_ and _Eurymine_. But Loue shall know, in spight of all his skill, _Iuno_'s a woman and will haue her will. _Iris_. What is my Goddesse will? may _Iris_ aske? _Iuno_. _Iris_, on thee I do impose this taske To crosse proud _Venus_ and her purblind Lad Vntill the mother and her brat be mad; And with each other set them so at ods Till to their teeth they curse and ban the Gods. _Iris_. Goddes, the graunt consists alone in you.