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 Becomes more fierce and feruent in his gate, And breaking foorth as laſt, thus dearnelie plained.

What man henceforth, that breatheth vitall ayre, Will honour heauen, or heauenlie powers adore? Which ſo vniuſtlie doe their iudgments ſhare; Mongſt earthlie wightes, as to afflict ſo ſore The inocent, as thoſe which do tranſgreſſe, And do not ſpare the beſt or fayreſt more, Than worſt or fowleſt, but doe both oppreſſe.

If this be right, why did they then create The world ſo fayre, ſith faireneſſe is neglected? Or while be they themſelues immaculate, If pureſt thing be not by them reſpected? She faire, ſhee pure, moſt fair moſt pure ſhee was, Yet was by them as thing impure reiected: Yet ſhee in pureneſſe, heauen itſelfe did pas.

In pureneſſe and in all celeſtiall grace, That men admire in goodlie womankinde; Shee did excell and ſeem’d of Angels race Liuing on earth like Angell new diuinde, Adorn’d with wiſedome and with chaſtitie: And all the dowries of a noble mind, Which did her beautie much more beautifie.

No age hath bred (ſince fayre Aſtræa left The ſinfull world) more vertue in a wight, And when ſhe parted hence, with her ſhe reſt Great hope; and robd her race of bountie quight: Well may the ſhepheard laſſes now lament, For dubble loſſe by her hath on the light; To looſe both her and bounties ornament. Ne