Cum Privilegio

NATURE

First cometh in Mundus, and sitteth down, and saith nothing; and with him Worldly Affection, bearing a gown and cap and a girdle for Man.

Then cometh in Nature, Man, Reason, and Innocency; and Nature sitteth down and saith.

Nature. Th' almighty God that made each creature,
As well in heaven as other place earthly,
By His wise ordinance hath purveyed me, Nature,
To be as minister, under Him immediately,
For th' encheson that I should, perpetually,
His creatures in such degree maintain
As it hath pleased His grace for them to ordain.

To me it longeth, by natural engendure,
Thing to continue that hath spirit of life;
Which, nor were my help, should never endure,
But suddenly perish and wax all caitiff.
Atwixt th' elements, that whilom were at strife,
I have suaged the old repugnance
And knit them together, in manner of alliance.

Eke, I have ordained the goddess Diane,
Lady of the sea and every fresh fountain,
Which commonly decreaseth when she ginneth wane,
And waxeth abundant when she creaseth again.
Of ebb and flood she is cause certain;
And reigneth, as princess, in every isle and town
That with the sea is compassed environ.