HYMNE V.

TO THE LARKE.

EARLEY, cheerfull, mounting Larke,
Light's gentle vsher, Morning's clark,

In merry notes delighting;

Stint awhile thy song, and harke, and learne my new inditing.

Beare vp this hymne, to heau'n it beare, E uen vp to heau'n, and sing it there, To heau'n each morning beare it ; haue it set to some sweet sphere, and let the Angels heare it.

Renownd Astræa, that great name,
Exceeding great in worth and fame,
Great worth hath so renownd it;

tis Astræa's name I praise,

ow then, sweet Larke, do thou it raise,

and in high Heauen resound it.

HYMNE VI.

TO THE NIGHTINGALE.

EUERY night from euen till morne, Loue's Quirister amidde the thorne s now so sweet a singer ;

So sweet, as for her song I scorne apollo's voice, and finger.

But Nightingale, sith you delight
Euer to watch the starry night;
Tell all the starres of heauen,

heauen neuer had a starre so bright,

a s now to Earth is giuen.

Royall Astræa makes our day Eternall with her beames, nor may rosse darknesse ouercome her; now perceiue why some doe write, 20 countrey hath so short a night, as England hath in Summer.

HYMNE VII.

TO THE ROSE.

EYE of the Garden, Queene of flowres, Love's cup wherein he nectar powres, ngendered first of nectar;

Sweet nurse-child of the Spring's young howres, and Beautie's faire character.

Best iewell that the Earth doth weare,

Euen when the braue young sunne draws neare,

To her hot Loue pretending ;1

himselfe likewise like forme doth beare,

at rising and descending.

Rose of the Queene of Loue belou'd ; England's great Kings diuinely mou'd, ave Roses in their banner;

t shewed that Beautie's Rose indeed, ow in this age should them succeed, and raigne in more sweet manner.

1 =reaching forward. G.

HYMNE VIII.

TO ALL THE PRINCES OF EUROPE.

EUROPE, the earth's sweet Paradise, Let all thy kings that would be wise, 3n politique deuotion;

Sayle hither to obserue her eyes, and marke her heaunly motion.

Braue Princes of this ciui!l age,
Enter into this pilgrimage;
This saint's tongue is an oracle,
her eye hath made a Prince a page,
and works each day a miracle.

Raise but your lookes to her, and see Euen the true beames of maiestie, Great Princes, marke her duly ;

f all the world you doe suruey,

o forehead spreades so bright a ray, and notes a Prince so truly.

HYMNE IX.

TO FLORA.

EMPRESSE of flowers, tell where away
Lies your sweet Court this merry1 May,
Jn Greenewich Garden allies ?2

Since there the heauenly powers do play
and haunt no other vallies.

Beautie, vertue, maiestie,

Eloquent Muses, three times three,
The new fresh Houres and Graces,

aue pleasure in this place to be,

a boue all other places.

Roses and lillies did them draw,
Ere they diuine Astræa saw;

ay flowers they sought for pleasure:
Instead of gathering crownes of flowers,
ow gather they Astræa's dowers,
and beare to heauen that treasure,

1 Thomas Davies, as before, drops 'merry.' 2 =alleys. G.