Arthur Quiller-Couch, ed. 1919. The Oxford Book of English Verse: 1250–1900.
SEE where she sits upon the grassie greene, | |
(O seemely sight!) | |
Yclad in Scarlot, like a mayden Queene, | |
And ermines white: | |
Upon her head a Cremosin coronet | 5 |
With Damaske roses and Daffadillies set: | |
Bay leaves betweene, | |
And primroses greene, | |
Embellish the sweete Violet. | |
|
Tell me, have ye seene her angelick face | 10 |
Like Phoebe fayre? | |
Her heavenly haveour, her princely grace, | |
Can you well compare? | |
The Redde rose medled with the White yfere, | |
In either cheeke depeincten lively chere: | 15 |
Her modest eye, | |
Her Majestie, | |
Where have you seene the like but there? | |
|
I see Calliope speede her to the place, | |
Where my Goddesse shines; | 20 |
And after her the other Muses trace | |
With their Violines. | |
Bene they not Bay braunches which they do beare, | |
All for Elisa in her hand to weare? | |
So sweetely they play, | 25 |
And sing all the way, | |
That it a heaven is to heare. | |
|
Lo, how finely the Graces can it foote | |
To the Instrument: | |
They dauncen deffly, and singen soote, | 30 |
In their meriment. | |
Wants not a fourth Grace to make the daunce even? | |
Let that rowme to my Lady be yeven. | |
She shal be a Grace, | |
To fyll the fourth place, | 35 |
And reigne with the rest in heaven. | |
|
Bring hether the Pincke and purple Cullambine, | |
With Gelliflowres; | |
Bring Coronations, and Sops-in-wine | |
Worne of Paramoures: | 40 |
Strowe me the ground with Daffadowndillies, | |
And Cowslips, and Kingcups, and lovèd Lillies: | |
The pretie Pawnce, | |
And the Chevisaunce, | |
Shall match with the fayre flowre Delice. | 45 |
|
Now ryse up, Elisa, deckèd as thou art | |
In royall aray; | |
And now ye daintie Damsells may depart | |
Eche one her way. | |
I feare I have troubled your troupes to longe: | 50 |
Let dame Elisa thanke you for her song: | |
And if you come hether | |
When Damsines I gether, | |
I will part them all you among. | |