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Home  »  The Oxford Book of English Verse  »  87. Beauty Bathing

Arthur Quiller-Couch, ed. 1919. The Oxford Book of English Verse: 1250–1900.

Anthony Munday. 1553–1633

87. Beauty Bathing

BEAUTY sat bathing by a spring, 
  Where fairest shades did hide her; 
The winds blew calm, the birds did sing, 
  The cool streams ran beside her. 
My wanton thoughts enticed mine eye         5
  To see what was forbidden: 
But better memory said Fie; 
  So vain desire was chidden— 
          Hey nonny nonny O! 
          Hey nonny nonny!  10
 
Into a slumber then I fell, 
  And fond imagination 
Seemèd to see, but could not tell, 
  Her feature or her fashion: 
But ev’n as babes in dreams do smile,  15
  And sometimes fall a-weeping, 
So I awaked as wise that while 
  As when I fell a-sleeping.