_Hermes_ forbeare, _Juno_ will chide and strike; Is great _Jove_ jealous that I am imploy'd On her love errands? she did never yet Claspe weake mortalitie in her white armes, As he hath often done: I onely come To celebrate the long wisht Nuptials, Heere in _Olympia_, which are now perform'd Betwixt two goodly Rivers, which have mixt Their gentle rising waves, and are to grow Into a thousand streames, great as themselves; I need not name them, for the sound is lowde In heaven and earth, and I am sent from her The Queene of Mariage, that was present heere, And smil'd to see them joyne, and hath not chid Since it was done: good _Hermes_ let me go. MERCURIE. Nay you must stay, _Joves_ message is the same, Whose eies are lightning, and whose voice is thunder, Whose breath is any winde, he will, who knowes How to be first on earth as well as heaven. IRIS. But what hath he to doe with Nuptiall rights? Let him keepe state upon his starry throne, And fright poore mortals with his thunderbolts, Leaving to us the mutuall darts of eyes. MERCURIE. Alas, when ever offer'd he t'abridge Your Ladies power, but onely now in these, Whose match concernes his generall government? Hath not each god a part in these high joyes? And shall not he the King of gods presume Without proud _Junoes_ licence? let her know That when enamor'd _Jove_ first gave her power To linke soft hearts in Undissolved bonds, He then foresaw, and to himselfe reserv'd The honor of this Mariage: thou shalt stand Still as a Rocke, while I to blesse this feast Will summon up with my all charming rod, The Nymphes of fountains, from whose watry locks Hung with the dew of blessing and encrease, The greedie Rivers take their nourishment. You Nymphes, who bathing in your loved springs, Beheld these Rivers in their infancie, And joy'd to see them, when their circled heads Refresht' the aire, and spread the ground with flowers: Rise from your Wells, and with your nimble feete Performe that office to this happie paire; Which in these plaines, you to _Alpheus_ did; When passing hence through many seas unmixt, He gained the favour of his _Arethuse_.