his picturesque situations, his shady groves and lofty A lovely lady rode him fair beside, trees,

Upon a lowly ass more white than snow; (Not pierceable by power of any star),

Yet she much whiter, but the same did hide

Under a veil that wimpled was full low, his Masque of Cupid, and Bower of Bliss, and all the And over all a black stole she did throw, witcheries of his gardens and wildernesses, without As one that inly mourn's : so was she sad, the slightest ambiguity or indistinctness. There is and heavy sat upon her palfrey slow; no haze over his finest pictures. We seem to walk Seemed in heart some hidden care she had, in the green alleys of his broad forests, to hear the And by her in a line a milk-white lamb she led. stream tinkle and the fountain fall, to enter his caves of Mammon and Despair, to gaze on his So pure and innocent, as that same lamb, knights and ladies, or to join in his fierce combats And by descent from royal lineage came

She was in life and every virtuous lore, and crowded allegorical processions. There is no of ancient kings and queens, that had of yore perplexity, no intercepted lights, in those fine images Their sceptres stretcht from east to western shore, and personifications. They may be sometimes fan- And all the world in their subjection held; tastic, but they are always brilliant and distinct. Till that infernal fiend with foul uproar When Spenser fails to interest, it is when our coarser Forewasted all their land and them expell’d: taste becomes palled with his sweetness, and when we Whom to avenge, she had this knight from far comfeel that his scenes want the support of common pro

pell’d. bability and human passions. We surrender ourselves up for a time to the power of the enchanter, Behind her far away a dwarf did lag, and witness with wonder and delight his marvellous That lazy seem'd in being ever last, achievements; but we wish to return again to the Or wearied with bearing of her bag world, and to mingle with our fellow-mortals in its Of needments at his back. Thus as they past busy and passionate pursuits. It is here that Shaks- The day with clouds was sudden overcast, peare eclipses Spenser; here that he builds upon his And angry Jove an hideous storm of rain beautiful groundwork of fancy—the high and durable Did pour into his leman's lap so fast, structure of conscious dramatic truth and living That every wight to shroud it did constrain, reality. Spenser's mind was as purely poetical, and And this fair couple eke to shroud themselves were fain. embraced a vast range of imaginary creation. The Enforced to seek some covert nigh at hand, interest of real life alone is wanting. Spenser's is an A shady grove not far away they spied, ideal world, remote and abstract, yet affording, in its That promised aid the tempest to withstand ; multiplied scenes, scope for those nobler feelings and whose lofty trees, yclad with summer's pride, heroic virtues which we love to see even in transient Did spread so broad, that heaven's light did hide, connexion with human nature. The romantic cha- Nor pierceable with power of any star : racter of his poetry is its most essential and per- And all within were paths and alleys wide, manent feature. We may tire of his allegory and with footing worn, and leading inward far :

dark conceit,' but the general impression remains; Fair harbour, that them seems ; so in they entered are.
we never think of the Faery Queen without recalling
its wondrous scenes of enchantment and beauty, and And forth they pass, with pleasure forward led,
feeling ourselves lulled, as it were, by the recol- Joying to hear the birds' sweet harmony,
lected music of the poet's verse, and the endless flow which therein shrouded from the tempest dread,
and profusion of his fancy.

Seem'd in their song to scorn the cruel sky.
Much can they praise the trees so straight and high,

The sailing Pine, the Cedar proud and tall,
[Una and the Redcross Knight.]

The vine-prop Elm, the Poplar never dry,

The builder Oak, sole king of forests all, A gentle knight was pricking on the plain,

The Aspin good for staves, the Cypress funeral.
Y clad in mighty arms and silver shield,

The Laurel, meed of mighty conquerors
Wherein old dints of deep wounds did remain,
The cruel marks of many a bloody field;

And poets sage, the Fir that weepeth still,

The Willow, worn of forlorn paramours, Yet arms till that time did he never wield :

The Yew obedient to the bender's will, His angry steed did chide his foaming bit,

The Birch for shafts, the Sallow for the mill, As much disdaining to the curb to yield:

The Myrrh sweet bleeding in the bitter wound, Full jolly knight he seem’d, and fair did sit,

The warlike Beech, the Ash for nothing ill, As one for knightly jousts and fierce encounters fit.

The fruitful Olive, and the Plantain round, And on his breast a bloody cross he bore,

The carver Holme, the Maple seldom inward sound • The dear remembrance of his dying Lord,

Led with delight, they thus beguile the way,
For whose sweet sake that glorious badge he wore, Until the blustering storm is overblown,
And dead (as living) ever him adored :

When, weening to return, whence they did stray, Upon his shield the like was also scored,

They cannot find that path which first was shown, For sovereign hope, which in his help he had : But wander to and fro in ways unknown, Right faithful true he was in deed and word ; Furthest from end then, when they nearest ween, But of his cheer did seem too solemn sad :

That makes them doubt their wits be not their own : Yet nothing did he dread, but ever was ydrad. So many paths, so many turnings seen,

That which of them to take, in divers doubt they been.
Upon a great adventure he was bound,
That greatest Gloriana to him gave,
(That greatest glorious queen of fairy lond,)

[Adventure of Una with the Lion.]
To win him worship, and her grace to have,
Which of all earthly things he most did crave; Yet she, most faithful lady, all this while
And ever as he rode his heart did yearn

Forsaken, woeful, solitary maid,
To prove his puissance in battle brave

Far from all people's prease, as in exile, Upon his foe, and his new force to learn ;

In wilderness and wasteful deserts strayed, Upon his foe, a dragon horrible and sterii.

To seck her knight ; who, subtily betrayed

Through that late vision which th'enchanter wrought, One would have thought (so cunningly the rude
Had her abandoned ; she of nought afraid

And scorned parts were mingled with the fine)
Through woods and wasteness wide him daily sought; That nature had for wantonness ensued
Yet wished tidings none of him unto her brought. Art, and that art at nature did repine ;

So striving each th' other to undermine,
One day, nigh weary of the irksome way,

Each did the other's work more beautify ;
From her unhasty beast she did alight;

So differing both in wills, agreed in fine:
And on the grass her dainty limbs did lay,
In secret shadow, far from all men's sight;

So all agreed through sweet diversity,
From her fair head her fillet she undight,

This garden to adorn with all varicty. And laid her stole aside : her angel's face,

And in the midst of all a fountain stood As the great eye of Heaven, shined bright,

Of richest substance that on earth might be, And made a sunshine in the shady place;

So pure and shiny, that the silver flood Did never mortal eye behold such heavenly grace.

Through every channel running one might see ;

Most goodly it with curious imagery It fortuned, out of the thickest wood

Was overwrought, and shapes of naked boys, A ramping lion rushed suddenly,

Of which some seem'd with lively jollity Hunting full greedy after savage blood :

To fly about, playing their wanton toys, Soon as the royal virgin he did spy,

While others did embaye themselves in liquid joyo. With gaping mouth at her ran greedily, To have at once devour'd her tender corse :

And over all, of purest gold, was spread

A trail of ivy in his native hue :
But to the prey when as he drew more nigh,

For, the rich metal was so coloured,
His bloody rage assuaged with remorse,
And with the sight amazed forgat his furious

That wight, who did not well advis'd it view,

Would surely deem it to be ivy true : force.

Low his lascivious arms adown did creep, Instead thereof he kiss'd her weary feet,

That themselves dipping in the silver dew And lick'd her lily hands with fawning tongue ;

Their fleecy flowers they fearfully did steep As he her wronged innocence did weet.

Which drops of crystal seem'd for wantonness to weep. O how can beauty master the most strong,

Infinite streams continually did well And simple truth subdue avenging wrong !

Out of this fountain, sweet and fair to see, Whose yielded pride and proud submission,

The which into an ample laver fell, Still dreading death, when she had marked long,

And shortly grew to so great quantity, Her heart gan melt in great compassion,

That like a little lake it seem'd to be ; And drizzling tears did shed for pure affection.

Whose depth exceeded not three cubits height, “The lion, lord of every beast in field,"

That through the waves one might the bottom see, Quoth she, ‘his princely puissance doth abate,

All pav'd beneath with jasper shining bright, And mighty proud to humble weak does yield,

That seem'd the fountain in that sea did sail upright. Forgetful of the hungry rage, which late

And all the margin round about was set Him prick’d, in pity of my sad estate :

With shady laurel trees, thence to defend But he, my lion, and my noble lord,

The sunny beams, which on the billows beat,
How does he find in cruel heart to hate

And those which therein bathed might offend.
Her that him loved, and ever most adored,
As the God of my life! why hath he me abhorred!' Eftsoons they heard a most melodious sound,

Of all that might delight a dainty ear,
Redounding tears did choke th' end of her plaint,

Such as at once might not on living ground, Which softly echoed from the neighbour wood; Save in this paradise, be heard elsewhere : And, sad to see her sorrowful constraint,

Right hard it was for wight which did it hear, The kingly beast upon her gazing stood :

To read what manner music that might be: With pity calm'd down fell his angry mood.

For all that pleasing is to living ear, At last, in close heart shutting up her pain,

Was there consorted in one harmony ; Arose the virgin born of heav'nly brood,

Birds, voices, instruments, winds, waters, all agree. And to her snowy palfrey got again, To seek her strayed champion if she might attain.

The joyous birds, shrouded in cheerful shade,

Their notes unto the voice attemper'd sweet ; The lion would not leave her desolate,

Th' angelical soft trembling voices made But with her went along, as a strong guard

To th' instruments divine respondence meet; Of her chaste person, and a faithful mate

The silver sounding instruments did meet Of her sad troubles and misfortunes hard :

With the base murmur of the water's fall : Still when she slept, he kept both watch and ward ; The water's fall with difference discreet, And when she waked, he waited diligent,

Now soft, now loud, unto the wind did call: With humble service to her will prepared ;

The gentle warbling wind low answered to all. From her fair eyes he took commandément,

The while, some one did chaunt this lovely lay; And ever by her looks conceived her intent.

• Ah see, whoso fair thing thou dost fain to see,

In springing flower the image of thy day; [The Border of Bliss.]

Ah see the virgin rose, how sweetly she

Doth first peep forth with bashful modesty, There the most dainty paradise on ground

That fairer seems, the less ye see her may ; Itself doth offer to his sober eye,

Lo, see soon after, how more bold and free In which all pleasures plenteously abound,

Her bared bosom she doth broad display; And none does others happiness envy ;

Lo, see soon after, how she fades and falls away! The painted flowers, the trees upshooting high, So passeth, in the passing of a day, The dales for shade, the hills for breathing space, Of mortal life, the leaf, the bud, the flower, The trembling groves, the crystal running by ; Nor more doth flourish after first decay, And that which all fair works doth most aggrace, That erst was sought to deck both bed and bower The art, which all that wrought, appeared in no place. Of many a lady, and many a paramour :

Gather therefore the rose, while yet is prime,

But, when as long he looked had in vain,
For snon comes age, that will her pride deflower : Yet saw her forward still to make her flight,
Gathir the rose of love, while yet is time,

His weary eye return'd to him again,
'Whilo loving thou mayst loved be with equal crime.' Full of discomfort and disquiet plight,

That both his jewel he had lost so light,

And eke his dear companion of his care. [The Squire and the Dove.]

But that sweet bird departing, flew forth right
Well said the wise man, now prov'd true by this,

Through the wide region of the wasteful air,
Which to this gentle squire did happen late;

Until she came where wonned his Belphoebe fair.
That the displeasure of the mighty is

There found she her (as then it did betide)
Than death itself more dread and desperate :

Sitting in covert shade of arbors sweet,
For nought the same may calm, nor mitigate,

After late weary toil, which she had tried
Till time the tempest do thereof allay

In savage chace, to rest as seem'd her meet.
With sufferance soft, which rigour can abate,

There she alighting, fell before her feet,
And have the stern remembrance wip'd away

And gan to her, her mournful plaint to make,
Of bitter thoughts, which deep therein infixed lay. As was her wont: thinking to let her weet
Like as it fell to this unhappy boy,

The great tormenting grief, that for her sake
Whose tender heart the fair Belphoebe had

Her gentle squire through her displeasure did partake
With one stern look so daunted, that no joy

She, her beholding with attentive eye,
In all his life, which afterwards he lad,

At length did mark about her purple breast
He ever tasted; but with penance sad,

That precious jewel, which she formerly
And pensive sorrow, pin'd and wore away,

Had known right well, with colour'd ribbon drest;
Nor ever laugh’d, nor once show'd countenance glad; Therewith she rose in haste, and her addrest
But always wept and wailed night and day,

With ready hand it to have reft away.
As blasted blossom, through heat, doth languish and But the swift bird obey'd not her behest,
decay ;

But swerv'd aside, and there again did stay;

She follow'd her, and thought again it to assay.
Till on a day (as in his wonted wise
His dole he made) there chanc'd a turtle-dove And ever when she nigh approach'd, the dove
To come, where he his dolours did devise,

Would flit a little forward, and then stay
That likewise late had lost her dearest love;

Till she drew near, and then again remove;
Which loss her made like passion also prove. So tempting her still to pursue the prey,
Who seeing his sad plight, her tender heart

And still from her escaping soft away:
With dear compassion deeply did emmove,

Till that at length, into that forest wide
That she gan moan his underserved smart,

She drew her far, and led with slow delay.
And with her doleful accent, bear with him a part. In the end, she her unto that place did guide,

Whereas that woful man in languor did abide.
She, sitting by him, as on ground he lay,
Her mournful notes full piteously did frame,

He her beholding, at her feet down fell,
And thereof made a lamentable lay,

And kiss'd the ground on which her sole did tread,
So sensibly compiled, that in the same

And wash'd the same with water, which did well
Him seemed oft he heard his own right name. From his moist eyes, and like two streams proceed;
With that, he forth would pour so plenteous tears, Yet spake no word, whereby she might aread
And beat his breast unworthy of such blame, What mister wight he was, or what he meant;
And knock his head, and rend his rugged hairs, But as one daunted with her presence dread,
That could have pierc'd the hearts of tigers and of Only few rueful looks unto her sent,
bears.

As messengers of his true meaning and intent.
Thus long this gentle bird to him did use,

Yet nathemore his meaning she ared,
Withouten dread of peril to repair

But wondered much at his so uncouth case;
Unto his wonne; and with her mournful muse

And by his person's secret seemlihed
Him to recomfort in his greatest care,

Well ween'd, that he had been some man of place,
That much did ease his mourning and misfare : Before misfortune did his hue deface:
And every day, for guerdon of her song,

That being woved with ruth she thus bespake.
He part of his small feast to her would share; Ah! woful man, what heaven's hard disgrace,
That, at the last, of all his woe and wrong,

Or wrath of cruel wight on thee ywrake,
Companion she became, and so continued long. Or self-disliked life, doth thee thus wretched make ?
Upon a day, as she him sate beside,

If heaven, then none may it redress or blame,
By chance he certain miniments forth drew,

Since to his power we all are subject born :
Which yet with him as relics did abide

If wrathful wight, then foul rebuke and shame
Of all the bounty which Belphebe threw

Be theirs, that have so cruel thee forlorn;
On him, while goodly grace she did him shew : But if through inward grief, or wilful scorn
Amongst the rest, a jewel rich he found,

Of life it be, then better do avise.
That was a ruby of right perfect hue,

For, he whose days in wilful woe are worn,
Shap'd like a heart, yet bleeding of the wound, The grace of his Creator doth despise,
And with a little golden chain about it bound. That will not use his gifts for thankless niggardise.
The same he took, and with a ribbon new

When so he heard her say, eftsoons he brake
(In which his lady's colours were) did bind

His sudden silence, which he long had pent,
About the turtle's neck, that with the view

And sighing inly deep, her thus bespake;
Did greatly solace his engrieved mind.

Then have they all themselves against me bent:
All unawares the bird, when she did find

For heaven (first author of my languishment)
Herself so deck's, her nimble wings display'd, Envying my too great felicity,
And flew away, as lightly as the wind :

Did closely with a cruel one consent,
Which sudden accident him much dismay'd, To cloud my days in doleful misery,
And looking after long, did mark which way she etray'd. And make me loath this life, still longing for to die.

Nor any but yourself, O dearest dread,

And after him the famous rivers came Hath done this wrong; to wreak on worthless wight Which do the earth enrich and beautify; Your high displeasure, through misdeeming bred : The fertile Nile, which creatures now doth frame; That when your pleasure is to deem aright,

Long Rhodanus, whose course springs from the sky; Ye may redress, and me restore to light.

Fair Ister, flowing from the mountains high ; Which sorry words, her mighty heart did mate Divine Scamander, purpled yet with blood With mild regard, to see his rueful plight,

Of Greeks and Trojans, which therein did die; That her in-burning wrath she gan abate,

Pactolus, glistering with his golden flood, And him received again to former favour's state. And Tigris fierce, whose streams of none may be with

stood.

Great Ganges, and immortal Euphrates ; [Wedding of the Medway and the Thames.] Deep Indus, and Meander intricate ;

Slow Peneus, and tempestuous Phasides ; [This piece is a remarkable specimen of the allegorical man- Swift Rhine and Alpheus still immaculate ; ner of the poet. Natural objects are here personified in an abun: Ooraxes, feared for great Cyrus' fate ; dance, and with a facility which almost bewilders the reader.) Tybris, renowned for the Roman's fame; It fortun'd then a solemn feast was there,

Rich Oranochy, though but knowen late ; To all the sea-gods and their fruitful seed,

And that huge river which doth bear his name In honour of the spousals which then were

Of warlike Amazons, which do possess the same. Betwixt the Medway and the Thames agreed. Then was there heard a most celestial sound Long had the Thames (as we in records read) Of dainty music, which did next ensue Before that day her wooed to his bed,

Before the spouse, that was Arion crown'd, But the proud nymph would for no wordly meed, Who playing on his harp, unto him drew Nor no entreaty, to his love be led,

The ears and hearts of all that godly crew : Till now at last relenting, she to him was wed. That even yet the dolphin which him bore So both agreed that this, their bridal feast,

Through the Egean seas from pirate's view,

Stood still by him, astonish'd at his lore,
Should for the gods in Proteus' house be made,

And all the raging seas for joy forgot to roar.
To which they all repair'd, both most and least,
As well which in the mighty ocean trade

So went he playing on the watery plain ;
As that in rivers swim, or brooks do wade ;

Soon after whom the lovely bridegroom came, All which not if an hundred tongues to tell,

The noble Thames, with all his goodly train ; And hundred mouths, and voice of brass, I had.

But him before there went, as best became, And endless memory, that mote excell,

His ancient parents, namely th' ancient Thame; In order as they came could I recount them well. But much more aged was his wife than he,

The Ouse, whom men do Isis rightly name; Help, therefore, O thou sacred imp of Jove !

Full weak, and crooked creature seemed she, The nursling of dame memory, his dear,

And almost blind through eld, that scarce her way To whom those rolls, laid up in heaven above,

could see. And records of antiquity appear, To which no wit of man may comen near ;

Therefore on either side she was sustain'd Help me to tell the names of all those floods, Of two small grooms, which by their names were hight And all those nymphs, which then assembled were

The Churn and Charwell, two small streams which To that great banquet of the watery gods,

Themselves her footing to direct aright,

[pain's And all their sundry kinds, and all their hid Which failed oft through faint and feeble plight; abodes.

But Thame was stronger, and of better stay,

Yet seem'd full aged by his outward sight, First came great Neptune, with his threeforkt mace, With head all hoary and his beard all gray, That rules the seas, and makes them rise or fall ; Dewed with silver drops that trickled down alway: His dewy locks did drop with brine apace Under his diadem imperial ;

And eke somewhat seemed to stoop afore And by his side his queen with coronal,

With bowed back, by reason of the load Fair Amphitrite, most divinely fair,

And ancient heavy burden which he bore Whose ivory shoulders weren cover'd all,

Of that fair city, wherein make abode As with a robe, with her own silver hair,

So many learned imps, that shoot abroad, And deck'd with pearls which the Indian seas for her and with their branches spread all Britany,

No less than do her elder sister's brood : prepare.

Joy to you both, ye double nursery These marched far afore the other crew,

Of arts, but Oxford ! thine doth shame most glorify And all the way before them, as they went,

But he their son full fresh and jolly was, Triton his trumpet shrill before them blew,

All decked in a robe of watchet hue, For goodly triumph and great jollyment,

On which the waves, glittering like crystal glass, That made the rocks to roar as they were rent ;

So cunningly inwoven were, that few And after them the royal issue came,

Could weenen whether they were false or true ; Which of them sprung by lineal descent;

And on his head like to a coronet First the sea-gods, which to themselves do claim

He wore, that seemed strange to common view, The power to rule the billows, and the waves to In which were many towers and castles set, tame.

That it encompass'd round as with a golden fret. Next came the aged ocean and his dame,

Like as the mother of the gods they say, Old Tethys, th' oldest two of all the rest,

In her great iron chariot wonts to ride, For all the rest of those two parents came,

When to love's palace she doth take her way, Which afterward both sea and land possest.

Old Cybele, array'd with pompous pride,
Of all which Nereus, th' eldest and the best,

Wearing a diadem embattled wide
Did first proceed, than which none more upright, With hundred turrets, like a turribant ;
Ne more sincere in word and deed profest,

With such an one was Thamis beautified,
Most void of guile, most free from foul despite, That was to weet the famous Troynovant,
Doing himself, and teaching others to do right. In which her kingdom's throne is chiefly resiant.

And round about him many a pretty page

In the above extracts from the Faery Queen, we Attended duly, ready to obey ;

have, for the sake of perspicuity, modernised the All little rivers which owe vassalage

spelling, without changing a word of the original. To him, as to their lord, and tribute pay ;

The following two highly poetical descriptions are The chalky Kennet, and the Thetis gray ;

given in the poet's own orthography :-
The moorish Cole, and the soft-sliding Breane ;
The wanton Lee, that oft doth lose his way,

[The House of Sleep.]
And the still Darent in whose waters clean,
Ten thousand fishes play, and deck his pleasant stream. He making speedy way through spersed ayre,
Then came his neighbour floods which nigh him dwell, To Morpheus' house doth hastily repaire.

And through the world of waters wide and deepe, And water all the English soil throughout;

Amid the bowels of the earth full steepe, They all on him this day attended well,

And low, where dawning day doth never peepe, And with meet service waited him about,

His dwelling is, there Tethys his wet bed Ne none disdained low to him to lout;

Doth ever wash, and Cynthia still doth steepe, No, not the stately Severn grudg'd at all,

In silver deaw, his ever drouping hed, Ne storming Humber, though he looked stout,

Whiles sad Night over him her mantle black dotb But both him honor'd as their principal,

spred. And let their swelling waters low before him fall.

Whose double gates he findeth locked fast, There was the speedy Tamar, which divides

The one fayre fram'd of burnisht yvory, The Cornish and the Devonish confines,

The other all with silver overcast;
Through both whose borders swiftly down it glides,

And wakeful dogges before them farre doe lye,
And meeting Plim, to Plymouth thence declines ;
And Dart, nigh chok'd with sands of tinny mines ;

Watching to banish Care their enimy,

Who oft is wont to trouble gentle sleepe. But Avon marched in more stately path,

By them the sprite doth passe in quietly, Proud of his adamants with which he shines

And unto Morpheus comes, whom drowned deepe
And glisters wide, as als' of wondrous Bath,
And Bristow fair, which on his waves he builded hath. In drowsie fit he findes ; of nothing he takes keepe.

And more to lulle him in his slumber soft,
Next there came Tyne, along whose stony bank
That Roman monarch built a brazen wall,

A trickling streaine from high rock tumbling downe, Which mote the feebled Britons strongly flank

And ever-drizling raine upon the loft,

Mixt with a murmuring winde, much like the sowne Against the Picts, that swarmed over all,

Of swarming bees, did cast him in a swowne. Which yet thereof Gualsever they do call ;

No other noyse, nor peoples troublous cryes, And Tweed, the liinit betwixt Logris' land

As still are wont t'annoy the walled towne, And Albany ; and Eden, though but small,

Might there be heard ; but careless Quiet lyeg
Yet often stain'd with blood of many a band

Wrapt in eternal silence farre from enimyes.
Of Scots and English both, that tyned on his strand.
These after came the stony shallow Lone,

[Description of Bulphabe.] That to old Loncaster his name doth lend,

In her faire eyes two living lamps did flame, And following Dce, which Britons long ygone, Kindled above at th' heavenly Maker's light, Did call divine, that doth by Chester tend;

And darted fyrie beames out of the same, And Conway, which out of his stream doth send

So passing persant, and so wondrous bright, Plenty of pearls to deck his dames withal;

That quite bereav'd the rash beholders sight: And Lindus, that his pikes doth most commend,

In them the blinded god his lustfull fyre Of which the ancient Lincoln men do call :

To kindle oft assayd, but had no might; All these together marched toward Proteus' hall.

For, with dredd majestie and awfull yre, Then came the bride, the lovely Medua came,

She broke his wanton darts, and quenched base desyre. Clad in a vesture of unknowen gear, And uncouth fashion, yet her well became,

Her yvorie forhead, full of bountie brave,

Like a broad table did itselfe dispred, That seein'd like silver sprinkled here and there,

For Love his loftie triumphes to engrave,
With glittering spangs that did like stars appear,

And write the battailes of his great godhed :
And wav'd upon like water chamelot,
To hide the metal, which yet everywhere

All good and honour might therein be red;
Bewray'd itself, to let men plainly wot,

For there their dwelling was. And, when she spake, It was no mortal work, that seem'd and yet was not.

Sweete wordes, like dropping honey, she did shed ;

And 'twixt the perles and rubins softly brake Her goodly locks adown her back did flow

A silver sound, that heavenly musicke seemd to make. Unto her waist, with flowers bescattered, The which ambrosial odours forth did throw

Upon her eyelids many Graces sate, To all about, and all her shoulders spread,

Under the shadow of her even browes, As a new spring; and likewise on her head

Working belgardes and amorous retrate ;

And everie one her with a grace endowes,
A chapelet of sundry flowers she wore,
From under which the dewy humour shed

And everie one with meekenesse to her bowes :
Did trickle down her hair, like to the hoar

So glorious mirrhour of celestiall grace, Congealed little drops, which do the morn adore. And soveraine moniment of mortall vowes,

How shall frayle pen descrive her heavenly face, On her two pretty handmaids did attend,

For feare, through want of skill, her beauty to disgrace ! One call'd the Theise, the other call’d the Crane, Which on her waited, things amiss to mend,

So faire, and thousand thousand times more faire, And both behind upheld her spreading train,

She seemd, when she presented was to sight; Under the which her feet appeared plain,

And was yclad, for heat of scorching aire, Her silver feet, fair wash'd against this day :

All in a silken Camus lily white, And her before there paced pages twain,

Purfled upon with many a folded plight, Both clad in colours like, and like array

Which all above besprinckled was throughout The Doun and eke the Frith, both which prepared her With golden aygulets. way.