| |
| THOU 1 divinest, fairest, brightest, | |
| Thou most powerful maid, and whitest, | |
| Thou most virtuous and most blessèd, | |
| Eyes of stars, and golden-tressèd | |
| Like Apollo! tell me, sweetest, | 5 |
| What new service now is meetest | |
| For the Satyr? Shall I stray | |
| In the middle air, and stay | |
| The sailing rack, or nimbly take | |
| Hold by the moon, and gently make | 10 |
| Suit to the pale queen of night | |
| For a beam to give thee light? | |
| Shall I dive into the sea, | |
| And bring thee coral, making way | |
| Through the rising waves that fall | 15 |
| In snowy fleeces? Dearest, shall | |
| I catch thee wanton fawns, or flies | |
| Whose woven wings the summer dyes | |
| Of many colours? get thee fruit, | |
| Or steal from Heaven old Orpheus’ lute? | 20 |
| All these I’ll venture for, and more, | |
| To do her service all these woods adore. | |
| |
| Holy Virgin, I will dance | |
| Round about these woods as quick | |
| As the breaking light, and prick | 25 |
| Down the lawns and down the vales | |
| Faster than the wind-mill sails. | |
| So I take my leave, and pray | |
| All the comforts of the day, | |
| Such as Phœbus’ heat doth send | 30 |
| On the earth, may still befriend | |
| Thee, and this arbour! | |
