Then couples three be straight allotted there;
they of both ends the middle two do fly.
The two that in mid place (“hell” callèd were)
must strive with waiting foot and watching eye
to catch of them, and them to hell to bear
that they, as well as they, hell may supply,
like some which seek to salve their blotted name
with others’ blot, till all do taste of shame.
There may you see, soon as the middle two
do (coupled) towards either couple make,
the false and fearful do their hands undo,
brother his brother, friend doth his friend forsake,
heeding himself—cares not how fellow do,
but of a stranger mutual help doth take,
as perjured cowards in adversity
with sight of fear from friends to fremd98 do fly.
First Round
Geron & Cosma Nous & Pas Urania & Strephon
These sports shephérds devised such faults to show.
Geron, though old, yet gamesome kept one end
with Cosma, for whose love Pas passed in woe.
Fair Nous with Pas the lot to hell did send.
Pas thought it hell, while he was Cosma fro.99
At other end, Urán did Strephon lend
her happy-making hand, of whom one look
from Nous and Cosma all their beauty took.
The play began: Pas dared not Cosma chase,
but did intend next bout with her to meet,
so he with Nous to Geron turned their race,
with whom to join fast ran Urania sweet.100
But light-legged Pas had got the middle space.
Geron strove hard, but agèd were his feet,
and therefore, finding force now faint to be,
he thought grey hairs afforded subtlety.
And so when Pas hand-reachèd him to take,
the fox on knees and elbows tumbled down.
Pas could not stay, but over him did rake
and crowned the earth with his first-touching crown.
His heels grown proud did seem at heaven to shake,
but Nous, who slipped from Pas, did catch the clown.101
So laughing all, yet Pas to ease some dell,
Geron and Uran were condemned to hell.
Second Round
Cosma & Strephon Geron & Urania Pas & Nous
Cosma this while to Strephon safely came,
and all to second Barley-Break are bent.
The two in hell did toward Cosma frame,
who should to Pas, but they would her prevent.
Pas, mad with fall, and madder with the shame,
most mad from beams that he thought Cosma sent,
with such mad haste he did to Cosma go,
that to her breast he gave a noisome blow.
She, quick and proud, and who did Pas despise,
up with her fist, and took him on the face.
Another time, quoth she, become more wise.
Thus Pas did kiss her hand with little grace,
and each way luckless, yet in humble guise,
did hold her fast for fear of more disgrace,
while Strephon might with pretty Nous have met,
but all this while another course he set.102
For as Urania after Cosma ran,
he, ravishèd with sight how gracefully
she moved her limbs and drew the agèd man,
left Nous, to coast the lovèd beauty nigh.
Nous cried and chased, but he no other can
till Uran, seeing Pas to Cosma fly,
and Strephon single, turnèd after him.
Strephon, so chased, did seem in milk to swim.
He ran, but ran with eye o’er shoulder cast,
more marking her than how himself did go,
like Numid lions by the hunters chased—
though they do fly, yet backwardly they glow103
with proud aspect, disdaining greatest haste:
What rage in them, that love in him did show.
But God gives them instinct the man to shun,
and he by law of Barley-Break must run.
But as his heat with running did augment,
much more his sight increased his hot desire.
So is in her the best of nature spent;
the air her sweet race moved doth blow the fire.
Her feet be pursuivants104 from Cupid sent
with whose fine steps all loves and joys conspire.
The hidden beauties seemed in wait to lie
to down proud hearts that would not willing die.
Thus fast he fled from her he followed sore,
still shunning Nous to lengthen pleasing race,
till that he spied old Geron could no more.
Then
