Minor Poems of Michael Drayton Part 23

_Claia._ We know for Physick yours you get, Which thus you heere are sorting, And vpon garlands we are set, With Wreathes and Posyes sporting:

_Lelipa._ The Chaplet and the Anadem, The curled Tresses crowning, We looser Nimphes delight in them, Not in your Wreathes renowning.

_Clarinax._ The Garland long agoe was worne, As Time pleased to bestow it, 50 The Lawrell onely to adorne The Conquerer and the Poet.

The Palme his due, who vncontrould, On danger looking grauely, When Fate had done the worst it could, Who bore his Fortunes brauely.

Most worthy of the Oken Wreath The Ancients him esteemed, Who in a Battle had from death Some man of worth redeemed. 60 About his temples Gra.s.se they tye, Himselfe that so behaued In some strong Seedge by th' Enemy, A City that hath saued.

A Wreath of Vervaine Herhauts weare, Amongst our Garlands named, Being sent that dreadfull newes to beare, Offensiue warre proclaimed.

The Signe of Peace who first displayes, The Oliue Wreath possesses: 70 The Louer with the Myrtle Sprayes Adornes his crisped Tresses.

In Loue the sad forsaken wight The Willow Garland weareth: The Funerall man befitting night, The balefull Cipresse beareth.

To _Pan_ we dedicate the Pine, Whose Slips the Shepherd graceth: Againe the Ivie and the Vine On his, swolne _Bacchus_ placeth. 80

_Claia._ The Boughes and Sprayes, of which you tell, By you are rightly named, But we with those of pretious smell And colours are enflamed; The n.o.ble Ancients to excite Men to doe things worth crowning, Not vnperformed left a Rite, To heighten their renowning: But they that those rewards deuis'd, And those braue wights that wore them 90 By these base times, though poorely priz'd, Yet Hermit we adore them.

The store of euery fruitfull Field We Nimphes at will possessing, From that variety they yeeld Get flowers for euery dressing: Of which a Garland Ile compose, Then busily attend me.

These flowers I for that purpose chose, But where I misse amend me. 100

_Clarinax._ Well _Claia_ on with your intent, Lets see how you will weaue it, Which done, here for a monument I hope with me, you'll leaue it.

_Claia._ Here Damaske Roses, white and red, Out of my lap first take I, Which still shall runne along the thred, My chiefest Flower this make I: Amongst these Roses in a row, Next place I Pinks in plenty, 110 These double Daysyes then for show, And will not this be dainty.

The pretty Pansy then Ile tye Like Stones some Chaine inchasing, And next to them their neere Alye, The purple Violet placing.

The curious choyce, Clove Iuly-flower, Whose kinds hight the Carnation For sweetnesse of most soueraine power Shall helpe my Wreath to fas.h.i.+on. 120 Whose sundry cullers of one kinde First from one Root derived, Them in their seuerall sutes Ile binde, My Garland so contriued; A course of Cowslips then I'll stick, And here and there though sparely The pleasant Primrose downe Ile p.r.i.c.k Like Pearles, which will show rarely: Then with these Marygolds Ile make My Garland somewhat swelling, 130 These Honysuckles then Ile take, Whose sweets shall helpe their smelling: The Lilly and the Flower delice, For colour much contenting, For that, I them doe only prize, They are but pore in senting: The Daffadill most dainty is To match with these in meetnesse; The Columbyne compar'd to this, All much alike for sweetnesse. 140 These in their natures onely are Fit to embosse the border, Therefore Ile take especiall care To place them in their order: Sweet-Williams, Campions, Sops-in-Wine One by another neatly: Thus haue I made this Wreath of mine, And finished it featly.

_Lelipa._ Your Garland thus you finisht haue, Then as we haue attended 150 Your leasure, likewise let me craue I may the like be friended.

Those gaudy garish Flowers you chuse, In which our Nimphes are flaunting, Which they at Feasts and Brydals vse, The sight and smell inchanting: A Chaplet me of Hearbs Ile make Then which though yours be brauer, Yet this of myne I'le vndertake Shall not be short in fauour. 160 With Basill then I will begin, Whose scent is wondrous pleasing, This Eglantine I'le next put in, The sense with sweetnes seasing.

Then in my Lauender I'le lay, Muscado put among it, And here and there a leafe of Bay, Which still shall runne along it.

Germander, Marieram, and Tyme Which vsed are for strewing, 170 With Hisop as an hearbe most pryme Here in my wreath bestowing.

Then Balme and Mynt helps to make vp My Chaplet, and for Tryall, Costmary that so likes the Cup, And next it Penieryall Then Burnet shall beare vp with this Whose leafe I greatly fansy, Some Camomile doth not amisse, With Sauory and some Tansy, 180 Then heere and there I'le put a sprig Of Rosemary into it Thus not too little or too big Tis done if I can doe it.

_Clarinax._ _Claia_ your Garland is most gaye, Compos'd of curious Flowers, And so most louely _Lelipa_, This Chaplet is of yours, In goodly Gardens yours you get Where you your laps haue laded; 190 My symples are by Nature set, In Groues and Fields vntraded.

Your Flowers most curiously you twyne, Each one his place supplying.

But these rough harsher Hearbs of mine, About me rudely lying, Of which some dwarfish Weeds there be, Some of a larger stature, Some by experience as we see, Whose names expresse their nature, 200 Heere is my Moly of much fame, In Magicks often vsed, Mugwort and Night-shade for the same But not by me abused; Here Henbane, Popy, Hemblock here, Procuring Deadly sleeping, Which I doe minister with Feare, Not fit for each mans keeping.

Heere holy Veruayne, and heere Dill, Against witchcraft much auailing. 210 Here Horhound gainst the Mad dogs ill By biting, neuer failing.

Here Mandrake that procureth loue, In poysning philters mixed, And makes the Barren fruitfull proue, The Root about them fixed.

Inchaunting Lunary here lyes In Sorceries excelling, And this is Dictam, which we prize Shot shafts and Darts expelling, 220 Here Saxifrage against the stone That Powerfull is approued, Here Dodder by whose helpe alone, Ould Agues are remoued Here Mercury, here Helibore, Ould Vlcers mundifying, And Shepheards-Purse the Flux most sore, That helpes by the applying; Here wholsome Plantane, that the payne Of Eyes and Eares appeases; 230 Here cooling Sorrell that againe We vse in hot diseases: The medcinable Mallow here, a.s.swaging sudaine Tumors, The iagged Polypodium there, To purge ould rotten humors, Next these here Egremony is, That helpes the Serpents byting, The blessed Betony by this, Whose cures deseruen writing: 240 This All-heale, and so nam'd of right, New wounds so quickly healing, A thousand more I could recyte, Most worthy of Reuealing, But that I hindred am by Fate, And busnesse doth preuent me, To cure a mad man, which of late Is from Felicia sent me.

_Claia._ Nay then thou hast inough to doe, We pity thy enduring, 250 For they are there infected soe, That they are past thy curing.

The sixt Nimphall

SILVIVS, HALCIVS, MELANTHVS.

_A Woodman, Fisher, and a Swaine This Nimphall through with mirth maintaine, Whose pleadings so the Nimphes doe please, That presently they giue them Bayes._

Cleere had the day bin from the dawne, All chequerd was the Skye, Thin Clouds like Scarfs of Cobweb Lawne Vayld Heauen's most glorious eye.

The Winde had no more strength then this, That leasurely it blew, To make one leafe the next to kisse, That closly by it grew.

The Rils that on the Pebbles playd, Might now be heard at will; 10 This world they onely Musick made, Else euerything was still.

The Flowers like braue embraudred Gerles, Lookt as they much desired, To see whose head with orient Pearles, Most curiously was tyred; And to it selfe the subtle Ayre, Such souerainty a.s.sumes, That it receiu'd too large a share From natures rich perfumes. 20 When the Elizian Youth were met, That were of most account, And to disport themselues were set Vpon an easy Mount: Neare which, of stately Firre and Pine There grew abundant store, The Tree that weepeth Turpentine, And shady Sicamore.

Amongst this merry youthfull trayne A Forrester they had, 30 A Fisher, and a Shepheards swayne A liuely Countrey Lad: Betwixt which three a question grew, Who should the worthiest be, Which violently they pursue, Nor stickled would they be.

That it the Company doth please This ciuill strife to stay, Freely to heare what each of these For his braue selfe could say: 40 When first this Forrester (of all) That _Silvius_ had to name, To whom the Lot being cast doth fall, Doth thus begin the Game.

_Silvius._ For my profession then, and for the life I lead, All others to excell, thus for my selfe I plead; I am the Prince of sports, the Forrest is my Fee, He's not vpon the Earth for pleasure liues like me; The Morne no sooner puts her rosye Mantle on, But from my quyet Lodge I instantly am gone, 50 When the melodious Birds from euery Bush and Bryer, Of the wilde s.p.a.cious Wasts, make a continuall quire; The motlied Meadowes then, new vernisht with the Sunne Shute vp their spicy sweets vpon the winds that runne, In easly ambling Gales, and softly seeme to pace, That it the longer might their lus.h.i.+ousnesse imbrace: I am clad in youthfull Greene, I other colour, scorne, My silken Bauldrick beares my Beugle, or my Horne, Which setting to my Lips, I winde so lowd and shrill, As makes the Ecchoes showte from euery neighbouring Hill: 60 My Doghooke at my Belt, to which my Lyam's tyde, My Sheafe of Arrowes by, my Woodknife at my Syde, My Crosse-bow in my Hand, my Gaffle or my Rack To bend it when I please, or it I list to slack, My Hound then in my Lyam, I by the Woodmans art Forecast, where I may lodge the goodly Hie-palm'd Hart, To viewe the grazing Heards, so sundry times I vse, Where by the loftiest Head I know my Deare to chuse, And to vnheard him then, I gallop o'r the ground Vpon my wel-breath'd Nag, to cheere my earning Hound. 70 Sometime I pitch my Toyles the Deare aliue to take, Sometime I like the Cry, the deep-mouth'd Kennell make, Then vnderneath my Horse, I staulke my game to strike, And with a single Dog to hunt him hurt, I like.

The Siluians are to me true subiects, I their King, The stately Hart, his Hind doth to my presence bring, The Buck his loued Doe, the Roe his tripping Mate, Before me to my Bower, whereas I sit in State.

The Dryads, Hamadryads, the Satyres and the Fawnes Oft play at Hyde and Seeke before me on the Lawnes, 80 The frisking Fayry oft when horned Cinthia s.h.i.+nes Before me as I walke dance wanton Matachynes, The numerous feathered flocks that the wild Forrests haunt Their Siluan songs to me, in cheerefull dittyes chaunte, The Shades like ample Sheelds, defend me from the Sunne, Through which me to refresh the gentle Riuelets runne, No little bubling Brook from any Spring that falls But on the Pebbles playes me pretty Madrigals.

I' th' morne I clime the Hills, where wholsome winds do blow, At Noone-tyde to the Vales, and shady Groues below, 90 T'wards Euening I againe the Chrystall Floods frequent, In pleasure thus my life continually is spent.

As Princes and great Lords haue Pallaces, so I Haue in the Forrests here, my Hall and Gallery The tall and stately Woods, which vnderneath are Plaine, The Groues my Gardens are, the Heath and Downes againe My wide and s.p.a.cious walkes, then say all what ye can, The Forrester is still your only gallant man.

He of his speech scarce made an end, But him they load with prayse, 100 The Nimphes most highly him commend, And vow to giue him Bayes: He's now cryde vp of euery one, And who but onely he, The Forrester's the man alone, The worthyest of the three.

When some then th' other farre more stayd, Wil'd them a while to pause, For there was more yet to be sayd, That might deserve applause, 110 When _Halcius_ his turne next plyes, And silence hauing wonne, Roome for the fisher man he cryes, And thus his Plea begunne.

_Halcius._ No Forrester, it so must not be borne away, But heare what for himselfe the Fisher first can say, The Chrystall current Streames continually I keepe, Where euery Pearle-pau'd Foard, and euery Blew-eyd deepe With me familiar are; when in my Boate being set, My Oare I take in hand, my Augle and my Net 120 About me; like a Prince my selfe in state I steer, Now vp, now downe the Streame, now am I here, now ther, The Pilot and the Fraught my selfe; and at my ease Can land me where I list, or in what place I please, The Siluer-scaled Sholes, about me in the Streames, As thick as ye discerne the Atoms in the Beames, Neare to the shady Banck where slender Sallowes grow, And Willows their s.h.a.g'd tops downe t'wards the waters bow I shove in with my Boat to sheeld me from the heat, Where chusing from my Bag, some prou'd especiall bayt, 130 The goodly well growne Trout I with my Angle strike, And with my bearded Wyer I take the rauenous Pike, Of whom when I haue hould, he seldome breakes away Though at my Lynes full length, soe long I let him play Till by my hand I finde he well-nere wearyed be, When softly by degrees I drawe him vp to me.

The l.u.s.ty Samon to, I oft with Angling take, Which me aboue the rest most Lordly sport doth make, Who feeling he is caught, such Frisks and bounds doth fetch, And by his very strength my Line soe farre doth stretch, 140 As draws my floating Corcke downe to the very ground, And wresting at my Rod, doth make my Boat turne round.

I neuer idle am, some tyme I bayt my Weeles, With which by night I take the dainty siluer Eeles, And with my Draughtnet then, I sweepe the streaming Flood, And to my Tramell next, and Cast-net from the Mud, I beate the Scaly brood, noe hower I idely spend, But wearied with my worke I bring the day to end: The Naijdes and Nymphes that in the Riuers keepe, Which take into their care, the store of euery deepe, 150 Amongst the Flowery flags, the Bullrushes and Reed, That of the Sp.a.w.ne haue charge (abundantly to breed) Well mounted vpon Swans, their naked bodys lend To my discerning eye, and on my Boate attend, And dance vpon the Waues, before me (for my sake) To th' Musick the soft wynd vpon the Reeds doth make And for my pleasure more, the rougher G.o.ds of Seas From _Neptune's_ Court send in the blew Neriades, Which from his bracky Realme vpon the Billowes ride And beare the Riuers backe with euery streaming Tyde, 160 Those Billowes gainst my Boate, borne with delightfull Gales, Oft seeming as I rowe to tell me pretty tales, Whilst Ropes of liquid Pearle still load my laboring Oares, As streacht vpon the Streame they stryke me to the Sh.o.r.es: The silent medowes seeme delighted with my Layes, As sitting in my Boate I sing my La.s.ses praise, Then let them that like, the Forrester vp cry, Your n.o.ble Fisher is your only man say I.

This speech of _Halcius_ turn'd the Tyde, And brought it so about, 170 That all vpon the Fisher cryde, That he would beare it out; Him for the speech he made, to clap Who lent him not a hand, And said t'would be the Waters hap, Quite to put downe the Land.

This while _Melanthus_ silent sits, (For so the Shepheard hight) And hauing heard these dainty wits, Each pleading for his right; 180 To heare them honor'd in this wise, His patience doth prouoke, When for a Shepheard roome he cryes, And for himselfe thus spoke.

_Melanthus._ Well Fisher you haue done, and Forrester for you Your Tale is neatly tould, s'are both's to giue you due, And now my turne comes next, then heare a Shepherd speak: My watchfulnesse and care giues day scarce leaue to break, But to the Fields I haste, my folded flock to see, Where when I finde, nor Woolfe, nor Fox, hath iniur'd me, 190 I to my Bottle straight, and soundly baste my Throat, Which done, some Country Song or Roundelay I roate So merrily; that to the musick that I make, I Force the Larke to sing ere she be well awake; Then _Baull_ my cut-tayld Curre and I begin to play, He o'r my Shephooke leapes, now th'one, now th'other way, Then on his hinder feet he doth himselfe aduance, I tune, and to my note, my liuely Dog doth dance, Then whistle in my Fist, my fellow Swaynes to call, Downe goe our Hooks and Scrips, and we to Nine-holes fall, 200 At Dust-point, or at Quoyts, else are we at it hard, All false and cheating Games, we Shepheards are debard; Suruaying of my sheepe if Ewe or Wether looke As though it were amisse, or with my Curre, or Crooke I take it, and when once I finde what it doth ayle, It hardly hath that hurt, but that my skill can heale; And when my carefull eye, I cast vpon my sheepe I sort them in my Pens, and sorted soe I keepe: Those that are bigst of Boane, I still reserue for breed, My Cullings I put off, or for the Chapman feed. 210 When the Euening doth approach I to my Bagpipe take, And to my Grazing flocks such Musick then I make, That they forbeare to feed; then me a King you see, I playing goe before, my Subiects followe me, My Bell-weather most braue, before the rest doth stalke, The Father of the flocke, and after him doth walke My writhen-headed Ram, with Posyes crowned in pride Fast to his crooked hornes with Rybands neatly ty'd And at our Shepheards Board that's cut out of the ground, My fellow Swaynes and I together at it round, 220 With Greencheese, clouted Cream, with Flawns, and Custards, stord, Whig, Sider, and with Whey, I domineer a Lord, When shering time is come I to the Riuer driue, My goodly well-fleec'd Flocks: (by pleasure thus I thriue) Which being washt at will; vpon the shering day, My wooll I foorth in Loaks, fit for the wynder lay, Which vpon l.u.s.ty heapes into my Coate I heaue, That in the Handling feeles as soft as any Sleaue, When euery Ewe two Lambes, that yeaned hath that yeare, About her new shorne neck a Chaplet then doth weare; 230 My Tarboxe, and my Scrip, my Bagpipe, at my back, My Sheephooke in my hand, what can I say I lacke; He that a Scepter swayd, a sheephooke in his hand, Hath not disdaind to haue, for Shepheards then I stand; Then Forester and you my Fisher cease your strife I say your Shepheard leads your onely merry life,

They had not cryd the Forester, And Fisher vp before, So much: but now the Nimphes preferre, The Shephard ten tymes more, 240 And all the Ging goes on his side, Their Minion him they make, To him themselues they all apply'd, And all his partie take; Till some in their discretion cast, Since first the strife begunne, In all that from them there had past None absolutly wonne; That equall honour they should share; And their deserts to showe, 250 For each a Garland they prepare, Which they on them bestowe, Of all the choisest flowers that weare, Which purposly they gather, With which they Crowne them, parting there, As they came first together.

The seuenth Nimphall

FLORIMEL, LELIPA, NAIJS, CODRVS a Feriman.

_The Nimphes, the Queene of loue pursue, Which oft doth hide her from their view: But lastly from th' Elizian Nation, She banisht is by Proclamation_.

_Florimel._ Deare _Lelipa_, where hast thou bin so long, Was't not enough for thee to doe me wrong; To rob me of thy selfe, but with more spight To take my _Naijs_ from me, my delight?

Yee lazie Girles, your heads where haue ye layd, Whil'st _Venus_ here her anticke prankes hath playd?

_Lelipa._ Nay _Florimel_, we should of you enquire, The onely Mayden, whom we all admire For Beauty, Wit, and Chast.i.ty, that you Amongst the rest of all our Virgin crue, 10 In quest of her, that you so slacke should be, And leaue the charge to Naijs and to me.

_Florimel._ Y'are much mistaken _Lelipa_, 'twas I, Of all the Nimphes, that first did her descry, At our great Hunting, when as in the Chase Amongst the rest, me thought I saw one face So exceeding faire, and curious, yet vnknowne That I that face not possibly could owne.

And in the course, so G.o.ddesse like a gate, Each step so full of maiesty and state; 20 That with my selfe, I thus resolu'd that she Lesse then a G.o.ddesse (surely) could not be: Thus as _Idalia_, stedfastly I ey'd, A little Nimphe that kept close by her side I noted, as vnknowne as was the other, Which _Cupid_ was disguis'd so by his mother.

The little purblinde Rogue, if you had seene, You would haue thought he verily had beene One of _Diana's_ Votaries so clad, He euery thing so like a Huntresse had: 30 And she had put false eyes into his head, That very well he might vs all haue sped.

And still they kept together in the Reare, But as the Boy should haue shot at the Deare, He shot amongst the Nimphes, which when I saw, Closer vp to them I began to draw; And fell to hearken, when they naught suspecting, Because I seem'd them vtterly neglecting, I heard her say, my little _Cupid_ too't, Now Boy or neuer, at the Beuie shoot, 40 Haue at them _Venus_ quoth the Boy anon, I'le pierce the proud'st, had she a heart of stone: With that I cryde out, Treason, Treason, when The Nimphes that were before, turning agen To vnderstand the meaning of this cry, They out of sight were vanish't presently.

Thus but for me, the Mother and the Sonne, Here in Elizium, had vs all vndone.

_Naijs._ Beleeue me, gentle Maide, 'twas very well, But now heare me my beauteous _Florimel_, 50 Great _Mars_ his Lemman being cryde out here, She to _Felicia_ goes, still to be neare Th' Elizian Nimphes, for at vs is her ayme, The fond _Felicians_ are her common game.

I vpon pleasure idly wandring thither, Something worth laughter from those fooles to gather, Found her, who thus had lately beene surpriz'd, Fearing the like, had her faire selfe disguis'd Like an old Witch, and gaue out to haue skill In telling Fortunes either good or ill; 60 And that more nearly she with them might close, She cut the Cornes, of dainty Ladies Toes: She gaue them Phisicke, either to coole or mooue them, And powders too to make their sweet Hearts loue them: And her sonne _Cupid_, as her Zany went, Carrying her boxes, whom she often sent To know of her faire Patients how they slept.

By which meanes she, and the blinde Archer crept Into their fauours, who would often Toy, And tooke delight in sporting with the Boy; 70 Which many times amongst his waggish tricks, These wanton Wenches in the bosome p.r.i.c.kes; That they before which had some franticke fits, Were by his Witchcraft quite out of their wits.

Watching this Wisard, my minde gaue me still She some Impostor was, and that this skill Was counterfeit, and had some other end.

For which discouery, as I did attend, Her wrinckled vizard being very thin, My piercing eye perceiu'd her cleerer skin 80 Through the thicke Riuels perfectly to s.h.i.+ne; When I perceiu'd a beauty so diuine, As that so clouded, I began to pry A little nearer, when I chanc't to spye That pretty Mole vpon her Cheeke, which when I saw; suruaying euery part agen, Vpon her left hand, I perceiu'd the skarre Which she receiued in the Troian warre; Which when I found, I could not chuse but smile.

She, who againe had noted me the while, 90 And, by my carriage, found I had descry'd her, Slipt out of sight, and presently doth hide her.

_Lelipa._ Nay then my dainty Girles, I make no doubt But I my selfe as strangely found her out As either of you both; in Field and Towne, When like a Pedlar she went vp and downe: For she had got a pretty handsome Packe, Which she had fardled neatly at her backe: And opening it, she had the perfect cry, Come my faire Girles, let's see, what will you buy. 100 Here be fine night Maskes, plastred well within, To supple wrinckles, and to smooth the skin: Heer's Christall, Corall, Bugle, Iet, in Beads, Cornelian Bracelets for my dainty Maids: Then Periwigs and Searcloth-Gloues doth show, To make their hands as white as Swan or Snow: Then takes she forth a curious gilded boxe, Which was not opened but by double locks; Takes them aside, and doth a Paper spred, In which was painting both for white and red: 110 And next a piece of Silke, wherein there lyes For the decay'd, false b.r.e.a.s.t.s, false Teeth, false Eyes And all the while shee's opening of her Packe, _Cupid_ with's wings bound close downe to his backe: Playing the Tumbler on a Table gets, And shewes the Ladies many pretty feats.

I seeing behinde him that he had such things, For well I knew no boy but he had wings, I view'd his Mothers beauty, which to me Lesse then a G.o.ddesse said, she could not be: 120 With that quoth I to her, this other day, As you doe now, so one that came this way, Shew'd me a neate piece, with the needle wrought, How _Mars_ and _Venus_ were together caught By polt-foot _Vulcan_ in an Iron net; It grieu'd me after that I chanc't to let, It to goe from me: whereat waxing red, Into her Hamper she hung downe her head, As she had stoup't some noueltie to seeke, But 'twas indeed to hide her blus.h.i.+ng Cheeke: 130 When she her Trinkets trusseth vp anon, E'r we were 'ware, and instantly was gone.