Page:Complete Poems of Richard Barnfield.djvu/158

72 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 lasciviousnes:

Vpon a sudden, wanting goode aduice,

Holde here (quoth he) this golden Ball possesse,

Which Paris giues to thee for meede of worthines.