English Poetry I: From Chaucer to Gray.
The Harvard Classics. 1909–14. |
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| 74. A Ditty |
| | | In praise of Eliza, Queen of the Shepherds |
| | | Edmund Spenser (1552–1599) |
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| 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. | |
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| Tell me, have ye seene her angelick face | 10 |
| Like Phœbe 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? | |
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| 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. | |
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| 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. | |
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| 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 |
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| 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. | |
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