In the Hymne of Heavenly Love we find

a thousand graces.

Sometimes upon her forehead they behold
A thousand graces masking in delight.

But the thought of the graces sitting under the shade of her eyebrows, is more exactly like what Tasso says of Cupid.

It is remarkable, that Spenser's females, both in the Faerie Queene and in his other

VOL. II.

Aminta, att. iii. sc. 1.

poems, are all described with yellow hair. And in his general description of the influence of beauty over the bravest men, he particularises golden tresses.

And mighty hands forgett their manlinesse,
Drawn with the power of an hart-robbing eye,
And wrapt in fetters of a golden tresse.

5. 8. 1.

This is said in compliment to his mistress*, or to Queen Elizabeth, who had both yellow hair; or perhaps in imitation of the Italian poets, who give most of their women tresses of this colour. With regard to the Queen, Melvil, a minute and critical observer, informs us, that "She delighted to shew her golden-colored hair, wearing a caul and bonnet, as they do in Italy. Her hair was more reddish than yellow, curled in appearance naturally †.” In the Pastoral, April, we

have the following verses.

* See 6. 10. 12. 16. Sonn. xv. and Epith. v. 154.

+ Melvil's Memoirs, pag. 49.

The red-rose meddled with the white yfere
In either cheek depeinten lively chere.

This is said of Syrinx, or Queen Elizabeth, the daughter of Pan, or Henry VIII. E. K. observes, that Spenser here alludes to the union of the houses of Lancaster and York, the white and red rose: the two families being united in Henry VIII. the Queen's father. This was partly meant; but his chief intention was, at the same time, to pay a compliment to the Queen's complexion, which was remarkably delicate, though rather inclining to pale. There is a Sonnet of Lord Brooke, to this purpose.

Under a throne I saw a virgin sit,

The red and white rose quarter'd in her face *.

How susceptible this admired heroine was of the most absurd flattery paid to her person, may be seen from many curious proofs,

Sonnet lxxi. pag. 228. Workes, &c. 1633. 4to.

And throw into the well sweet rosemaries,
And fragrant violets and pancies trim,

And ever with sweet nectar she did sprinkle him.

Thus in his Prothalamion,

Then forth they all out of their basketts drew
Great store of flowres the honour of the field,
That to the sence did fragrant odours yield;
All which upon those goodlie birds they threw,
And all the waves did strew;

'That like old Peneus waters they did seeme,
When down along by Tempe's pleasant shore,
Scatter'd with flowres thro' Thessaly they streame.

* Royal and Noble Authors. ed. 2. Lond. 1759 vol. i. pag. 141. See more compliments to the Queen's beauty, in the pastoral cited above. She was then forty-five This, however, was more allowable in a

years old.

poem.

1

To these we may add,

And ever as the crew

About her daunst, swett flowres that far did smell,
And fragrant odours they upon her threw.

6. 10. 14.

The circumstance of throwing flowers into the water, is not unlike what Milton says of Sabrina's stream.

The shepherds, at their festivals,
Carol her goodness lowd in rustic layes,

And throw sweet garland-wreaths into her streame,
Of pancies, pinks, and gaudy daffadils *.

Statius introduces Love and the Graces sprinkling Stella and Violantilla, on their wedding-night, with flowers and odours.

Nec blandus Amor, nec Gratia cessat,

Amplexum virides optatæ conjugis artus,
Floribus innumeris, & olenti spargere thymbrat.

* Comus, v. 848.

+ Epithalam. Sylv. b. i. ii. v. 19.