SAMELA. Like to Diana in her summer weed, Girt with a crimson robe of brightest dyc, Whiter than be the flocks that straggling feed When washed by Arethusa faint they lie, As fair Aurora in her morning grey, Decked with the ruddy glister of her love, Like lovely Thetis on a calmèd day, When as her brightness Neptune's fancy move, Shines fair Samela; Her tresses gold, her eyes like glassy streams, Her teeth are pearl, the breasts are ivory Of fair Samela; Her cheeks, like rose and lily yield forth gleams, Her brow's bright arches framed of ebony; Thus fair Samela Passeth fair Venus in her bravest hue, And Juno in the show of majesty, For she's Samela, Pallas in wit; all three, if you well view, Yield to Samela. FAWNIA. Ah, were she pitiful as she is fair. Or but as mild as she is seeming so, Then were my hopes greater than my despair, Then all the world were heaven, nothing woe. Ah, were her heart relenting as her hand, That seems to melt even with the mildest touch, Then knew I where to seat me in a land, Under wide heavens, but yet [I know] not such. So as she shows, she seems the budding rose, Ah, when she sings, all music else be still, She comforts all the world, as doth the sun, Shine in my arms, and set thou in my breast! THE PALMER'S ODE IN NEVER TOO LATE.' Old Menalcas, on a day, As in field this shepherd lay, Which he hit with many a stripc, Said to Coridon that he Once was young and full of glee. As I lay and kept my sheep, Hand in hand with queen Desire, And with a dart that wounded nigh, With her face to feed mine eye; There I saw Desire sit, That my heart with love had hit, Pray and sigh; all would not do: Coy she was, and I 'gan court; Told me flat, that Desire Was a brond of love's fire, Beat Desire from my heart, Shook off Love, and made an oath Old I was when thus I fled Such fond toys as cloyed my head, SONG. Sweet are the thoughts that savour of content ; The homely house that harbours quiet rest; The cottage that affords no pride nor care; The mean that 'grees with country music best; The sweet consort of mirth and music's fare; Obscured life sets down a type of bliss: A mind content both crown and kingdom is. PHILOMELA'S ODE. Sitting by a river's side, Where a silent stream did glide, That to man in life is lent. For by the breath the soul fleeteth, If love be so sweet a thing, That such happy bliss doth bring, But unhappy maidens all. Who esteem your virgin blisses, As true Love with kisses kind: ORPHEUS' SONG. Ile that did sing the motions of the stars, Of Hesper, henchman to the day and night; I loved Eurydice, the brightest lass, More fond to like so fair a nymph as she; In Thessaly so bright none ever was, But fair and constant hardly may agree: False-hearted wife to him that loved thee well, To leave thy love, and choose the prince of hell! Theseus did help, and I in haste did hie To Pluto, for the lass I loved so: The god made grant, and who so glad as I? She slipped aside, back to her latest love, To change and fleet, and every way to shrink, |