He over him did hold his cruell clawes, That houses forme within was rude and strong, Her cunning web, and spred her subtile nett, Enwrapped in fowle smoke and clouds more black than Jett. Both roofe, and floore, and walls, were all of gold, But overgrowne with dust and old decay, And hid in darkenes, that none could behold The hew thereof; for vew of cherefull day Or as the Moone, cloathed with clowdy night, Does show to him that walkes in feare and sad affright. In all that rowme was nothing to be seene But huge great yron chests, and coffers strong, On every side they placed were along; But all the grownd with sculs was scattered, And dead mens bones, which round about were flong; THE BOWER OF BLISS. Thence passing forth, they shortly doe arryve Goodly it was enclosed rownd about, As well their entred guestes to keep within, Yet was the fence thereof but weake and thin. Yt framed was of precious yvory, That seemd a worke of admirable witt; Of Jason and Medea was ywritt; Her mighty charmes, her furious loving fitt; His falsed fayth, and love too lightly flitt; The wondred Argo, which in venturous peece First through the Euxine seas bore all the flowr of Greece Eftsoones they heard a most melodious sound, Of all that mote delight a daintie eare, Such as attonce might not on living ground, Right hard it was for wight which did it heare, 1 please. To read what manner musicke that mote bee; For all that pleasing is to living eare Was there consorted in one harmonee; Birdes, voices, instruments, windes, waters, all agree: The joyous birdes, shrouded in chearefull shade There, whence that Musick seemed heard to bee, That ever mixt their song with light licentious toyes. The whiles some one did chaunt this lovely lay: Ah! see, whoso fayre thing doest faine to see, In springing flowre the image of thy day. Ah! see the Virgin Rose, how sweetly shee Doth first peepe foorth with bashfull modestee, That fairer seemes the lesse ye see her may. Lo! see soone after how more bold and free Her bared bosome she doth broad display; Lo! see soone after how she fades and falls away. So passeth, in the passing of a day, Of mortall life the leafe, the bud, the flowre; Ne more doth florish after first decay, That earst was sought to deck both bed and bowre Of many a lady', and many a Paramowre. Gather therefore the Rose whilest yet is prime, For soone comes age that will her pride deflowre; Whilest loving thou mayst loved be with equall crime. He ceast; and then gan all the quire of birdes Whose sleepie head she in her lap did soft dispose. [From Book iv. 1595 6.] GARDENS OF VENUS. 'Thus having past all perill, I was come For all that nature by her mother-wit Could frame in earth, and forme of substance base, Was there; and all that nature did omit, Art, playing second natures part, supplyed it. 'No tree, that is of count, in greenewood growes, From lowest Juniper to Ceder tall, No flowre in field, that daintie odour throwes, But there was planted, or grew naturall: Nor sense of man so coy and curious nice, But there it present was, and did fraile sense entice. 'In such luxurious plentie of all pleasure, That in this joyous place they mote have joyance free. 'Fresh shadowes, fit to shroud from sunny ray; Faire lawnds, to take the sunne in season dew; Sweet springs, in which a thousand Nymphs did play; Soft rombling brookes, that gentle slomber drew; High reared mounts, the lands about to view; Low looking dales, disloignd from common gaze; Delightfull bowres, to solace lovers trew; False Labyrinthes, fond runners eyes to daze ; All which by nature made did nature selfe amaze. 'And all without were walkes and alleyes dight With divers trees enrang'd in even rankes; And here and there were pleasant arbors pight, And shadie seates, and sundry flowring bankes, To sit and rest the walkers wearie shankes : And therein thousand payres of lovers walkt, Praysing their god, and yeelding him great thankes, Ne ever ought but of their true loves talkt, Ne ever for rebuke or blame of any balkt. 'All these together by themselves did sport Brave thoughts and noble deedes did evermore aspire. |