Now at the time that was before agreed,
The gods affembled all on Arlo-hill,
And thither alfo came all other creatures,
Whatever life or motion doe retaine,
According to their fundry kinds of features,
That Arlo fcarfly could them all containe,
So full they filled every hill and plaine;
And had not Nature's fergeant (that is Order)
Them well difpofed by his bufie paine,
And raunged farre abroad in every border
They would have caufed much confufion and dif-
order.
Then forth iffewed (great goddeffe) great Dame
Nature,
With goodly port and gracious maicfty,
Being far greater and more tall of ftature
Then any of the gods or powers on hie;
Yet certes, by her face and phyfnomy,
Whether fhe man or woman inly were,
That could not any creature well defcry;
For with a veile that whimpled every where
Her head and face was hid, that mote to nong
That fome doe fay was fo by fkill devized,'
To hide the terror of her uncouth hew
As well thofe that are sprung of heavenly feed, From mortall eyes that should be fore agrized,
As thofe that all the other world doe fill,
And rule both fea and land unto their will;
Onely th' infernall powers might not appeare,
As well for horror of their count'naunce ill,
As for th' unruly fiends which they did feare;
Yet Pluto and Proferpina were present there.
For that her face did like a lion fhew,
That eye of wight could not indure to view :
But others tell that it fo beauteous was,
And round about fuch beames of ipiendor threw,
That it the funne a thoufand times did pafs,
Ne could be feene, but like an image in a glafs.