UNA AND THE LION. ONE day, nigh weary of the irksome way, From her unhasty beast she did alight; And on the grass her dainty limbs did lay In secret shadow, far from all men's sight; From her fair head her fillet she undight, And laid her stole aside: her angel's face, As the great eye of Heaven, shined bright, And made a sunshine in the shady place; Did never mortal eye behold such heavenly grace. It fortunéd, out of the thickest wood corse : But to the prey when as he drew more nigh, His bloody rage assuaged with remorse, And, with the sight amazed, forgot his furious force. Instead thereof he kissed her weary feet, And licked her lily hands with fawning tongue; As he her wrongéd innocence did weet. Still dreading death, when she had marked long, Her heart 'gan melt in great compassion; And drizzling tears did shed for pure affection. "The lion, lord of every beast in field," Quoth she, "his princely puissance doth abate, And mighty proud to humble weak does yield, Forgetful of the hungry rage, which late THE RED CROSS KNIGHT. A GENTLE knight was pricking on the plain, Yclad in mighty arms and silver shield, The cruel marks of many a bloody field; And on his breast a bloody cross he bore, And dead, as living, ever him ador'd: had. Right, faithful, true he was in deed and word: But of his cheer did seem too solemn sad: Yet nothing did he dread, but ever was Upon a great adventure he was bond, To win him worship, and her grace to Which of all earthly things he most did crave. And ever, as he rode, his heart did yearn THE HERMITAGE. Then came the Autumn, all in yellow clad, As though he joyed in his plenteous store, Laden with fruits that made him laugh, full glad That he had banished Hunger, which to Had by the belly oft him pinched sore; Lastly came Winter, clothed all in frize, Chattering his teeth for cold that did him chill, Whilst on his hoary beard his breath did freeze, A LITTLE lowly hermitage it was, alway. And the dull drops that from his purpled bill C With which his feeble steps he stayed still, For he was faint with cold and weak with eld That scarce his loosed limbs he able was to weld. THE TRUE WOMAN. THRICE happy she that is so well assur'à But like a steady ship doth strongly part The raging waves, and keeps her course aright; Ne ought for tempest doth from it depart, Ne ought for fairer weather's false delight. Such self-assurance need not fear the spight Of grudging foes, ne favour seek of friends; But in the stay of her own stedfast might, Neither to one herself or other bends. Most happy she that most assur'd doth rest, But he most happy who such one loves best. LOVE IN ABSENCE. LIKE as the culver on the bared bough Sits mourning for the absence of her mate, And in her songs sends many a wishful VOW For his return, that seems to linger late; Seek with my plaints to match that mournful dove. Ne joy of ought that under heaven doth hove Can comfort me, but her own joyous sight, Whose sweet aspect both god and man can move, In her unspotted pleasance to delight: ASTROPHEL (SIR PHILIP "WOODS, hills, and rivers, now are desolate, Sith he is gone, the which them all did grace; And all the fields do wail their widow state, Hath robbed you, and reft fro me my joy; Both you and me, and all the world, he quite Hath robb'd of joyance, and left sad annoy. Joy of the world, and shepherds' pride, was he; Shepherds, hope never like again to see. "O Death! that hast us of such riches reft, Tell us, at least, what hast thou with it done? What is become of him whose flower here left Is but the shadow of his likeness gone? Sith death their fairest flower did late Scarce like the shadow of that which he deface: "But that immortal spirit, which was deck'd With all the dowries of celestial grace, And lineally deriv'd from angels' race, "Ah! no: it is not dead, ne can it die, But lives for aye in blissful paradise, Where like a new-born babe it soft doth lie In bed of lilies, wrapt in tender wise, And compass'd all about with roses sweet, And dainty violets from head to feet. "There thousand birds, all of celestial brood, To him do sweetly carol day and night, And with strange notes, of him well understood, Lall him asleep in angel-like delight; Whilst in sweet dream to him presented be Immortal beauties, which no eye may see. "But he them sees, and takes exceeding pleasure Of their divine aspects, appearing plain, The choristers the joyous anthems sing, That all the woods may answer, and their echo ring. "Behold whiles she before the altar stands, Hearing the holy priest that to her speaks And blesses her with his two happy hands, How red the roses flush up in her cheeks! And the pure snow, with goodly vermil stain, Like crimson dy'd in grain, That even the angels, which continually The more they on it stare; Are governed with goodly modesty, sound. Why blush ye, Love! to give to me your hand, The pledge of all your band? "Now all is done: bring home the bride again, Bring home the triumph of our victory: Bring home with you the glory of her gain, With joyance bring her, and with jollity. Never had man more joyful day than this, Whom Heaven would heap with bliss. Make feast, therefore, now all this live. long day, This day for ever to me holy is ; Pour out the wine without restraint or stay, Pour not by cups, but by the belly-full: Pour out to all that wull, And sprinkle all the posts and walls with wine, That they may sweat, and drunken be withal: Crown ye god Bacchus with a coronal, And Hymen also crown with wreaths of vine, And let the Graces dance unto the rest, |