That late did shine like crystal stars,

Alas, their light it dies:

Her prettye lilly hands,

With fingers long and small, In colour like the earthly claye,

Yea, cold and stiff withall.

When as the morning-star

Her golden gates had spred,

And that the glittering sun arose

Forth from fair Thetis' bed;

Then did my love awake,

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25

Like one of bright Diana's nymphs,
So look'd my loving bride.

And as fair Helens face

Did Grecian dames besmirche, So did my dear exceed in sight

All virgins in the church.

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40 When

When we had knitt the knott

Of holy wedlock-band, Like alabaster joyn'd to jett,

So stood we hand in hand;

Then lo! a chilling cold

Strucke every vital part,

And griping grief, like pangs of death,
Seiz'd on my true love's heart.

Down in a swoon she fell,

As cold as any stone;

Like Venus picture lacking life,

So was my love brought home.

At length her rosye red,

Throughout her comely face,

As Phoebus beames with watry cloudes

Was cover'd for a space.

When with a grievous groane,

And voice both hoarse and drye,

Farewell, quoth she, my loving friend,
For I this daye must dye;

The messenger of God

With golden trumpe I see,

With manye other angels more,

Which sound and call for mee.

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Instead

Instead of musicke sweet,

Go toll my passing-bell;

And with sweet flowers strow my grave,

That in my chamber smell.

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70

As tho' his heart would burst in twaine,

Whose bride was brought unto the grave

A maiden and a wife.

A garland fresh and faire
Of lillies there was made,
In sign of her virginitye,

And on her coffin laid.

Six maidens all in white,

Did beare her to the ground:

The bells did ring in solemn sort,

And made a dolefull sound.

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In earth they laid her then,

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For hungry wormes a preye;

So shall the fairest face alive

At length be brought to claye.