| |
| CALME 1 was the day, and through the trembling ayre | |
| Sweet-breathing Zephyrus did softly play— | |
| A gentle spirit, that lightly did delay | |
| Hot Titans beams, which then did glyster fayre: | |
| When I 2 (whom sullen care, | 5 |
| Through discontent of my long fruitless stay | |
| In Princes court, and expectation vayne | |
| Of idle hopes, which still do fly away, | |
| Like empty shadows, did afflict my brayne,) | |
| Walkt forth to ease my payne | 10 |
| Along the shore of silver-streaming Themmes; | |
| Whose rutty Bank, the which his river hemmes, | |
| Was painted all with variable flowers, | |
| And all the meads adornd with dainty gemmes, | |
| Fit to deck maidens bowers, | 15 |
| And crown their Paramours | |
| Against the Bridale day, which is not long: | |
| Sweet Themmes! run softly, till I end my Song … | |
| |
| At length they all to mery London came, | |
| To mery London, my most kindly nurse, | 20 |
| That to me gave this lifes first native source, | |
| Tho’ from another place I take my name, | |
| An house of ancient fame: | |
| There when they came, whereas those bricky towers | |
| The which on Themmes broad aged back do ride, | 25 |
| Where now the studious Lawyers have their bowers, | |
| There whylom wont the Templer Knights to bide, | |
| Till they decayd through pride; | |
| Next whereunto there stands a stately place, | |
| Where oft I gained gifts and goodly grace | 30 |
| Of that great lord, which therein wont to dwell: | |
| Whose want too well now feels my friendless case; | |
| But ah! here fits not well | |
| Old woes, but joys to tell | |
| Against the Bridale day, which is not long: | 35 |
| Sweet Themmes! run softly, till I end my song … | |
