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“Vul. Rise, Aged Thames, and by the hand

Receive the nymphs, within the land,

And in those curious squares and rounds

Wherewith thou flow’st betwixt the grounds

Of fruitful Kent and Essex fair

That lends the garlands for thy hair;

Instruct their silver feet to tread,

Whilst we, again, to sea are fled.

“With which the Winds departed; and the river received them into the land, by couples and fours, their Cupids coming before them.

“These dancing forth a most curious dance, full of excellent device and change, ended it in the figure of a diamond, and so, standing still, were by the musicians with a second Song, sung by a loud tenor, celebrated.

“So Beauty on the waters stood,

When Love had severed earth from flood!

So when he parted air from fire,

He did with concord all inspire!

And then a motion he them taught,

The elder than himself was thought.

Which thought was, yet, the child of earth,

For Love is elder than his birth.

“The song ended; they danced forth their second dance, more subtle and full of change than the former; and so exquisitely performed, as the king’s majesty (incited first by his own liking to that which all others there present wished) required them both again after some time of dancing with the lords. Which time, to give them respite, was intermitted with a song.