I deemed so; nor was I much deceau'd, For poured forth in sensuall Delight, There might I see of Sences quite bereau'd King _Priams_ Sonne, that _Alexander_ hight (Wrapt in the Mantle of eternall Night.) And vnder him, awaiting for his fall, Sate Shame, here Death, and there sat fel Despight, That with their Horrour did his heart appall: Thus was his Blisse to Bale, his Hony turn'd to gall. In which delight feeding mine hungry eye, Of two great Goddesses a sight I had, And after them in wondrous Iollity, (As one that inly ioy'd, so was she glad) The Queene of Loue full royallie yclad, In glistring Gold, and peerelesse precious stone, There might I spie: and her Companion had, Proud _Paris_, Nephew to _Laomedon_, That afterward did cause the Death of many a one. By this the formost melting all in teares, And rayning downe resolued Pearls in showers, Gan to approach the place of heauenly Pheares, And with her weeping, watring all their Bowers, Throwing sweet Odors on those fading flowers, At length, she them bespake thus mournfullie. High _Ioue_ (quoth she) and yee Cœlestiall powers, That here in Iudgement sit twixt her and mee, Now listen (for a while) and iudge with equitie. Sporting our selues to day, as wee were woont (I meane, I, _Pallas_, and the Queene of Loue.) Intending with _Diana_ for to hunt, On _Ida_ Mountaine top our skill to proue, A golden Ball was trindled from aboue, And on the Rinde was writ this Poesie, PVLCHERIMÆ for which a while we stroue, Each saying shee was fairest of the three, When loe a shepheards Swaine not far away we see. I spi'd him first, and spying thus bespake, Shall yonder Swaine vnfolde the mysterie? Agreed (quoth _Venus_) and by _Stygian_ Lake, To whom he giues the ball so shall it bee: Nor from his censure will I flie, quoth shee, (Poynting to _Pallas_) though I loose the gole. Thus euery one yplac'd in her degree, The Shepheard comes, whose partial eies gan role, And on our beuties look't, and of our beuties stole. I promis'd wealth, _Minerua_ promised wit, (Shee promis'd wit to him that was vnwise,) But he (fond foole) had soone refused it, And minding to bestow that glorious Prize, On _Venus_, that with pleasure might suffize His greedie minde in loose lasciuiousnes: Vpon a sudden, wanting goode aduice, Holde heere (quoth he) this golden Ball possesse, Which _Paris_ giues to thee for meede of worthines,