The Maydes Metamorphosis.

Actus Primus.

    Enter Phylander, Orestes, Eurymine.

Eurymine. Phylander and Orestes, what conceyt
Troubles your silent mindes?  Let me intreat,
Since we are come thus farre, as we do walke
You would deuise some prettie pleasant talke;
The aire is coole, the euening high and faire: 
Why should your cloudie lookes then shew dispaire?

Phy.  Beleeue me, faire Eurimine, my skill Is simple in discourse, and vtterance ill; Orestes, if he we were disposde to trie, Can better manage such affaires than I.

Eu.  Why then, Orestes, let me crave of you
Some olde or late done story to renew: 
Another time you shall request of me
As good, if not a greater, curtesie.

Or.  Trust me, as now (nor can I shew a reason)
All mirth vnto my mind comes out of season;
For inward I am troubled in such sort
As all vnfit I am to make report
Of any thing may breed the least delight;
Rather in teares I wish the day were night,
For neither can myself be merry now
Nor treat of ought that may be likte of you.

Eu.  Thats but your melancholike old disease, That neuer are disposde but when ye please.

Phy.  Nay, mistresse, then, since he denies the taske,
My selfe will strait complish what ye aske;
And, though the pleasure of my tale be small,
Yet may it serue to passe the time withall.

Eu.  Thanks, good Phylander; when you please, say on:  Better I deeme a bad discourse then none.

Phy.  Sometime there liu’d a Duke not far from hence,
Mightie in fame and vertues excellence;
Subiects he had as readie to obey
As he to rule, beloued eueryway;
But that which most of all he gloried in
(Hope of his age and comfort of his kin)
Was the fruition of one onely sonne,
A gallant youth, inferior vnto none
For vertue shape or excellence of wit,
That after him vpon his throne might sit. 
This youth, when once he came to perfect age,
The Duke would faine have linckt in marriage
With diuers dames of honourable blood
But stil his fathers purpose he withstood.

Eu.  How? was he not of mettal apt to loue?

Phy.  Yes, apt enough as wil the sequel proue;
But so the streame of his affection lay
As he did leane a quite contrary way,
Disprouing still the choice his father made,
And oftentimes the matter had delaid;
Now giuing hope he would at length consent,
And then again excusing his intent.

Eu.  What made him so repugnant in his deeds?

Phy.  Another loue, which this disorder breeds;
For euen at home, within his father’s Court,
The Saint was shrinde whom he did honor most;
A louely dame, a virgin pure and chaste,
And worthy of a Prince to be embrac’te,
Had but her birth (which was obscure, they said)
Answerd her beautie; this their opinion staid. 
Yet did this wilful youth affect her still
And none but she was mistres of his will: 
Full often did his father him disswade
From liking such a mean and low-born mayde;
The more his father stroue to change his minde
The more the sonne became with fancy blinde.