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The woods and waters left their sound,
No tenderest twig was seen to move;
The beast lay couched on the ground,

The winged people perch'd above;
Save Philomel, who did renew

Her wonted plaints unto the Morn, That seem'd indeed her state to rue By shedding tears upon the thorn.

When I, as other, taking rest

Was show'd, methought, a goodly plain, With all the store of Nature blest,

And situate within the main ;

With rocks about environ'd quite,

But inward round in rows there stood,

As well for profit as delight,

The trees of orchard and the wood.

The builder acorn, long ago

To Dodonæan Jove adjoin'd;

And there the lofty pine did grow,
That winged flies before the wind;
Leucothoe, that wounded bleeds,

Nor wanting was, nor that same tree 1 That bears the stain in fruit and seeds Of Thisbe's woful tragedy.

*

I

"The mulberry."

Th' unblasted bay, to conquests due,
The Persian peach, and fruitful quince,
And there the forward almond grew,

I

With cherries, known no long time since; The winter-warden, orchard's pride,

2

The philibert, that loves the vale,

And red queen-apple, so envied
Of schoolboys passing by the pale.

*

Within there was a circlet round,
That rais'd itself, of softest grass;
No velvet smoother spread on ground,
Or emerald greener ever was.
In midst there sat a beauteous dame,
(Not Paphos' queen so fair a wight,)

For roses by did blush for shame,
To see a purer red and white.

In robe of woven silver fine,

And deepest crimson she was clad;

"Erasmus-affirmeth cherries to have been known to "these parts of Europe little above two or three hundred years, being first brought from Cerasuntis, a city of Pontus, whence they have their name."

66

66

2 "The filbert, so named of Philibert, a king of France, "who caused by art sundry kinds to be brought forth,"

Then, diaper'd with golden twine,
Aloft a mantle green she had,

Wherein were wrought, with rarest skill,
Fair cities, castles, rivers, woods,

And here and there emboss'd a hill,

With fountains, and the Nymphs of floods.

A massy collar, set with stones,
Did over all itself extend,
Whereon, in sparkling diamonds,
Saint George, her patron, did depend.

A crown imperial on her head;

One hand a bright drawn sword did hold; The other (most that made her dread) Three sceptres of the finest gold.

While proudly under foot she trod
Rich trophies and victorious spoils,
Atchieved by her might abroad,

Her name is EMPRESS OF the Iles.
There chariots were, that once she wan
From Cæsar, ere she was betray'd,
With standards, got from Pagans whan
She lent the Holy land her aid.

Here saw I many a shiver'd lance,

Swords, battle-axes, cannons, slings;

With th' arms of Portugal and France,
And crownets of her petty kings:
High feather'd helmets for the tilt,
Bows, steely targets cleft in twain;
Coats, cornets, armours richly gilt,
With tatter'd ensigns out of Spain.

About her now, on every tree

Whereon full oft she cast her eye, Hung silver shields, by three and three, With pencil limned curiously; Wherein were drawn, with skilful touch, Impresas, and devices rare,

Of all her gallant knights, and such
As actors in her conquests were.

Great Edward Third you might see there, With that victorious prince, his son ; Next valiant John of Lancaster,

That Spain with English over-run: And those brave spirits marshalled, The first that of the garter were; All soldiers, none to carpet bred, Whose names to tell I must forbear.

Fourth Henry's sunbeams on the cloud, Fifth Henry's beacon flaming bright ;

York's lock, that did the falcon shroud,
Was here, so were his roses white :
The Marshal Mowbray, Norfolk's duke,

Yet living in great Howard's blood,
With valiant Bedford, symbols took,
As pleas'd them to adorn the wood.

By whom, the Beauchamps worn away,
And noblest Talbot, scourge of France,
With Nevilles, whom could nought dismay,
Left reliques of their puisance;

The loyal Vere, and Clifford stout,

Great Strongbow's heir, with Bourchier, Gray, Brave Falconbridge, and Montacute,

Couragious Ormond, Lisle, and Say.

With other, numberless, beside,

That to have seen each one's devise, How lively limn'd, how well applied, You were the while in Paradise. Another side she did ordain

To some late dead, some living yet,

Who serv'd Eliza in her reign,
And worthily had honour'd it.*

*❝ Charles, earl of Nottingham, lord admiral: Thomas "earl of Suffolk, and lord chamberlain: George, earl of

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