- A DITTY
- In praise of Eliza, Queen
of the Shepherds
by: Edmund Spenser (1552-1599)
- EE where she sits upon the grassie
greene,
- (O seemly sight!)
- Yclad in Scarlot, like a mayden Queene,
- And ermines white:
- Upon her head a Cremosin coronet
- With Damaske roses and Daffadillies set:
- Bay leaves betweene,
- And primroses greene,
- Embellish the sweete Violet.
-
- Tell me, have ye seene her angelick face
- Like Phbe 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:
- Her modest eye,
- Her Majestie,
- Where have you seene the like but there?
-
- I see Calliope speede her to the place,
- Where my Goddesse shines;
- And after her the other Muses trace
- With their Violines.
- Bene they not Bay braunches which they do beare,
- All for Eliza in her hand to weare?
- So sweetely they play,
- And sing all the way,
- That it a heaven is to heare.
-
- Lo, how finely the Graces can it foote
- To the Instrument:
- They dauncen deffly, and singen soote,
- In their meriment.
- Wants not a fourth Grace to make the daunce even?
- Let that rowne to my Lady be yeven.
- She shal be a Grace,
- To fyll the fourth place,
- And reigne with the rest in heaven.
-
- Bring hether the Pincke and purple Cullambine,
- With Gelliflowers;
- Bring Coronations, and Sops-in-wine
- Worne of Paramoures:
- 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.
-
- 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:
- Let dame Elisa thanke you for her song:
- And if you come hether
- When Damsines I gether,
- I will part them all you among.
MORE
POEMS BY EDMUND SPENSER |
|