The story is as follows. Three shepherds, or rather woodmen,
are in love with three of the nymphs of Ceres, but meet with little
success, one of the maidens proving obdurate, another proud, and the third
fickle. The lovers make complaint to Cupid, who consents at their request
to transform the disdainful fair ones into a rock, a rose, and a bird
respectively. Hereupon Ceres in her turn complains to the God of Love, who
promises that the three shall regain their proper shapes if Ceres will
undertake that they shall thereupon consent to the love of the swains. She
does so, and her nymphs are duly restored to their own forms, but at first
flatly refuse to comply with the conditions. After a while they yield:
_Nisa._ I am content, so as Ramis, when hee finds me cold in love, or
hard in beliefe, hee attribute it to his owne folly; in that I retaine
some nature of the Rocke he chaunged me into....
_Celia._ I consent, so as Montanus, when in the midst of his sweete
delight, shall find some bitter overthwarts, impute it to his folly,
in that he suffered me to be a Rose, that hath prickles with her
pleasantnes, as hee is like to have with my love shrewdnes....
_Niobe._ I yeelded first in mind though it bee my course last to
speake: but if Silvestris find me not ever at home, let him curse
himselfe that gave me wings to flie abroad, whose feathers if his
jealousie shall breake, my policie shall imp.
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