ROL. I am by birth a Belgic, whence I fled To Germany for fear of Roman arms: But when their bridge bridled the stately Rhine, I soon return'd, and thought to hide my head In this soft halcyon's nest, this Britain isle. And now, behold, Mars is a-nursing here, And 'gins to speak aloud. Is no nook safe from Rome? Do they still haunt me? Some peaceful god transport me through the air, Beyond cold Thule[272] or the sun's bedchamber, Where only swine or goats do live and reign. Yet these may fight. Place me where quiet peace Hushes all storms; where sleep and silence dwell, Where never man nor beast did wrong the soil, Or crop the first-fruits, or made so much noise As with their breath. But, foolish thoughts, adieu: Now catch I must, or stand or fall with you. [_Exit._ SCENE IV. EULINUS, HIRILDAS. EUL. The court a wardrobe is of living shapes: And ladies are the tissue-spangled suits, Which Nature wears on festival high days. The Court a spring: each madam is a rose. The Court is heaven, fair ladies are the stars.[273] HIR. Ay, falling stars. EUL. False echo, don't blaspheme that glorious sex, Whose beauteous rays can strike rash gazers blind. HIR. Love should be blind. EUL. Pray leave this cynic humour, whilst I sigh My mistress' praise. Her beauty's past compare: O, would she were more kind, or not so fair! Her modest smiles both curb and kindle love. The court is dark without her: when she rises, The morning is her handmaid, strewing roses. About love's hemisphere. The lamps above Eclipse themselves for shame to see her eyes, Outshine their chrysolites, and more bless the skies Than they the earth. HIR. Give me her name. EUL. Her body is a crystal cage, whose pure Transparent mould, not of gross elements Compacted, but th' extracted quintessence Of sweetest forms distill'd; whose graces bright Do live immur'd, but not exempt from sight. HIR. I prythee, speak her [name]. EUL. Her model is beyond all poets' brains And painters' pencils: all the lively nymphs, Syrens, and Dryads are but kitchen-maids, If you compare. To frame the like Pandore,[274] The gods repine, and nature would grow poor. HIR. By love, who is't? hath she no mortal name? EUL. For here you find great Juno's stately front, Pallas' grey eye, Venus her dimpled chin, Aurora's rosy fingers, the small waist Of Ceres' daughter, and Medusa's hair, Before it hiss'd. HIR. O love, as deaf as thou art blind! Good Eulinus, Call home thy soul, and tell thy mistress' name. EUL. O strange! what, ignorant still! when as so plainly These attributes describe her? Why, she is A rhapsody of goddesses; the elixir Of all their several perfections. She is (Now bless your ears!) by mortals call'd Landora.