_Chorus Virginum._ Goddess of pleasure, youth and peace, Give them the blessing of increase: And thou, Lucina, that dost hear The vows of those that children bear: Whenas her April hour draws near, Be thou then propitious there. _Chorus Juvenum._ Far hence be all speech that may anger move: _Sweet words must nourish soft and gentle love_. _Chorus Omnium._ Live in the love of doves, and having told The raven's years, go hence more ripe than old. _Nice_, dainty. _Painful_, painstaking; for the passage cp. Catull. _Nupt. Pel. et Thet._ 311-314. 634. TO HIS LOVELY MISTRESSES. One night i' th' year, my dearest beauties, come And bring those due drink-offerings to my tomb. When thence ye see my reverend ghost to rise, And there to lick th' effused sacrifice: Though paleness be the livery that I wear, Look ye not wan or colourless for fear. Trust me, I will not hurt ye, or once show The least grim look, or cast a frown on you: Nor shall the tapers when I'm there burn blue. This I may do, perhaps, as I glide by, Cast on my girls a glance and loving eye, Or fold mine arms and sigh, because I've lost The world so soon, and in it you the most. Than these, no fears more on your fancies fall, Though then I smile and speak no words at all. _Fold mine arms_, cp. "crossing his arms in this sad knot" (_Tempest_). 635. UPON LOVE. A crystal vial Cupid brought, Which had a juice in it; Of which who drank, he said no thought Of love he should admit. I, greedy of the prize, did drink, And emptied soon the glass; Which burnt me so, that I do think The fire of hell it was. Give me my earthen cups again, The crystal I contemn; Which, though enchas'd with pearls, contain A deadly draught in them. And thou, O Cupid! come not to My threshold, since I see, For all I have, or else can do, Thou still wilt cozen me. 638. THE BEGGAR TO MAB, THE FAIRY QUEEN.