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IS the principall of Ro∣ses, because the prime and first in her prece∣dence; as the Herbinger of Flora, the Queene of flowers. Shee is the true and proper rose of the Wildernesse, where shee is in her element the earth, as fishes in the sea, and fowles in the ayre. Shee is the lowly and humble flower, and if shee want the sweet perfumes and Civits the other Roses have, shee is supplied with a sweeter odour of meeke∣nesse,
which they want through the churlish guard about them. Shee is very courteous, and disdaines not the lappe of the Forrest Nymphs that greedily seeke after her, as the Primitias of the Spring. They make a dainty shew with them, when they sit familiarly together with their hand∣maids the leaves: But when they take their sister Violets into their compa∣ny, then they make an ad∣mirable enamell. Shee is a common Prostitute to eyes, but no Strumper, because thereby she loseth no Virginity shee hath,
but still remaineth hum∣bly chaste in her mothers lap, till shee bee violently snatcht away, and ravi∣shed thence, keeping her integrity still, so long as forced against her will. Shee keepes willingly in the wildernesse, to shunne the company of men, but yet is no Anchoresse, be∣cause no recluse, but a right Hermitresse, inhabi∣ting in the deserts. Their habit and dressing is suta∣ble to the Spring, and the summers approach. In fine, I could wish the Primrose were restored to her former state againe; for then I should hope
the golden age wherein shee flourished in times past, would happily re∣turne againe.