_What, if by often interchange of place, Sometimes the woman gets the upper hand? That is but done for more delightful grace, For on that part, she doth not ever stand; But, as the Measures' law doth her command, She wheels about, and, ere the dance doth end, Into her former place she doth transcend._
_But not alone this correspondence meet And uniform consent doth Dancing praise; For Comeliness, the child of Order sweet, Enamels it with her eye-pleasing rays: Fair Comeliness, ten hundred thousand ways, Through Dancing sheds itself, and makes it shine With glorious beauty, and with grace divine._
_For Comeliness is a disposing fair Of things and actions in fit time and place; Which doth in Dancing shew itself most clear When troops confused, which here and there do trace, Without distinguishment or bounded space, By dancing rule, into such ranks are brought, As glads the eye, and ravisheth the thought._
_Then why should Reason judge that reasonless Which is Wit's Offspring, and the work of Art, Image of Concord, and of Comeliness? Who sees a clock moving in every part, A sailing pinnace, or a wheeling cart, But thinks that Reason, ere it came to pass, The first impulsive cause and mover was?_
_Who sees an army all in rank advance, But deems a wise Commander is in place, Which leadeth on that brave victorious dance? Much more in Dancing's Art, in Dancing's grace, Blindness itself may Reason's footsteps trace; For of Love's Maze it is the curious plot, And of Man's Fellowship the true-love knot._
_But if these eyes of yours (Loadstars of Love! Shewing the world's great Dance to your mind's eye) Cannot, with all their demonstrations, move Kind apprehension in your Phantasy Of Dancing's virtue and nobility; How can my barbarous tongue win you thereto, Which heaven's and earth's fair speech could never do?_
_O LOVE! my King! If all my Wit and power Have done you all the service that they can; O be you present, in this present hour, And help your servant and your true liegeman! End that persuasion, which I erst began! For who in praise of Dancing can persuade With such sweet force, as LOVE, which Dancing made?_
LOVE heard his prayer; and swifter than the wind, (Like to a page in habit, face, and speech), He came; and stood ANTINOUS behind, And many secrets of his thoughts did teach. At last a crystal Mirror he did reach Unto his hands, that he with one rash view All forms therein by LOVE'S revealing knew.