Englands Parnassus: or the choysest flowers of our moderne poets, with their poeticall comparisons Descriptions of bewties, personages, castles, pallaces, mountaines, groues, seas, springs, riuers, &c. Whereunto are annexed other various discourses, both pleasaunt and profitable.

Discriptions of Beautie & personage.

VVhat tongue can her perfections tell ••n whose each part all pennes may dwell? Her hayre fine threds of finest gold ••n curled knots, mens thoughts to hold, ••ut that her forehead saies, in mee,

A whiter beautie you may see. vvhiter indeed: more white then snow vvhich on cold winters face doth grow: That doth present those euen browes, vvhose equall line their angles bowes Like to the Moone, when after change Her horned head abroade doth range; And arches be to heauenly lids, vvhose wincke each bold attempt forbids. For the black starres those spheres containe The matchlesse paire euen praise doth staine. No lampe whose light by art is got, No sunne which shines and setteth not, Can liken them without all peere Saue one as much as other cleere, vvhich onely thus vnhappy bee, Because themselues they cannot see. Her cheekes which kindly claret spred, Aurora like new out of bed, Or like the fresh Queene apples side, Blushing at sight of Phoebus pride. Her nose her chin, pure Iuory weares No purer then the prety eares: So that therein appeares some blood Like wine and milke that mingled stood: In whose incircles if yee gaze Your eyes may tread a Louers maze: But with such turnes the voyce to stray, No talke vntaught can finde the way, The lippe no iewell needes to weare, The lippe is iewell of the eare.

But who those ruddy lips can misse? which blessed still themselues doe kisse, Rubies, cherries, and roses new, ••n worth, in tast, in perfect hew: which neuer part but that they show Of precious pearles the double row: The second sweetly fenced ward, Her heauenly dewed tongue to gard, whence neuer word in vaine did flow: ••aire vnder these doth stately grow The handle of this precious work, The necke in which strange graces lurke. ••uch be I thinke the sumptuous Towres ••hich skill doth make in Princes bowres: ••o good a say inuites the eye •• little downeward to espie The liuely clusters of her brests, ••f Venus babe the wanton nests. ••ike pommels rounde of marble cleere, ••here azurde vaines well mixt appeare, ••ith dearest tops of Porphirie ••etwixt these two away doe lie: ••way more worthy beauties fame, ••hen that which beares the milkie name, ••his leades vnto the ioyous field ••hich onely still doth Lillies yeeld, ••t Lillies such whose natiue smell ••he Indian odours doth excell: ••ast it is calld, for it doth wast ••ens liues vntill it be imbrast. ••here may one see, and yet not see

Her ribs in white all armed be, More white then Neptunes foamy face vvhen strugling, rocks he would imbrace. In those delights the wandring thought Might of each side astray be brought, But that her nauell doth vnite In curious circle, busie sight: A daintie seale of Virgine waxe, vvhere nothing but impression lacks. Her belly there glad sight doth fill, Iustly intituled Cupids hill: A hill most fit for such a maister, A spotlesse Mine of Alablaster. Like Alablaster fayre and sleeke, But soft and subtile, Satten like: In that sweete sea the boy doth sport, Loth I must leaue his cheefe resort, For such a vse the world hath gotten, The best things still must be forgotten. Yet neuer shall my song omit Her thighes, for Ouids song more fit, Which flanked with two sugred flancks Lift vp theyr stately swelling banks, That Albion cliffes in whitenes passe, vvith hanches smooth as looking-glasse. But bow all knees, now of her knees My tongue doth tell what fancie sees, The knots of ioy, the iems of loue, Whose motion makes all graces moue: vvhose bought incau'd doth yeeld such sight, Like cunning painter shadowing white.

The gartring place with child-like signe Shewes easie print in mettall fine: But then againe the flesh doth rise In her braue calues, like christall skies, vvhose Atlas is a smallest small, More white then whitest bone of all. Thereout steales out that round cleane foote, This noble Cedars precious roote, In shew and sent, pale Violets, Whose steppe on earth all beauty sets. But backe vnto her backe my Muse, vvhere Ledas swan his feathers mewes, Along whose ridge such bones are met Like Comfets round in Marchpane set. Her shoulders be like two white Doues Pearching in square royall rooues, Which leaded are with siluer skin Passing the hate-spot Ermelin. And thence those armes deriued are, The Phenixe wings are not so rare For faultlesse length and stainelesse hue; Ah woe is mee, my woes renew. Now course doth leade me to her hand, Of my first loue the fatall band, vvhere whitenes doth for euer sit, Nature her selfe inameld it: For there, with strange compact doth lie Warme snow, moist pearle, soft Iuorie. There fall those Saphire coloured brookes, Which conduit like with curious crookes Sweete Ilands make in that sweet land.

As for he fingers of the hand, The bloody shafts of Cupids war, vvith Amathists they headed are. Thus hath each part his beauties part. But now the Graces doe impart To all her limms a speciall grace, Becomming euery time and place. vvhich doth euen beauty beautifie, And most bewitch the wretched eye. Now all this is but a faire Inne, Of fayrest guests which dwell therein: Of whose high praise, and praisefull blisse, Goodnes the pen, heauen paper is, The Incke immortall fame doth lend. As I began, so must I end: No tongue can her perfections tell, In whose each part all pens may dwell. S. Phil. Sidney.

Her face so faire, as flesh it seemed not, But heauenly pourtrait of bright Angels hue, Cleere as the skie, withouten blame or blot, Through goodly mixture of complexions due, And in her cheekes the vermell red did show, Like roses in a bed of Lillies shed, The which Ambrosiall odours from her threw, And gazers sence with double pleasure fed, Able to heale the sick, and to reuiue the dead. In her faire eyes two liuing lamps did flame, Kindled aboue, at th'heauenly Makers light, And darted fiery beames about the same So passing persant, and so wondrous bright,

That quite bereau'd the rash beholders sight. In them the blinded God his lustfull fire To kindle oft assaide but had no might, For with dread maiestie and awful ire Shee broke his wanton shafts & quencht his base desire. Her Iuory forhead, ful of bounty braue Like a broade table did it selfe dispread, For loue his loftie tryumphs to ingraue, And write the battailes of his great god-head, All good and honour might therein be read, For there their dwelling was. And when she spake, Sweet words like dropping honney she did shed, And twixt the pearles and Rubies softly broke A siluer sound that heauenly musick seemd to make. Vpon her eye-lids many graces sate Vnder the shadow of her euen browes, Working belgards and amorous retrate, And euery one her with a grace endowes, And euery one with meekenes to her bowes: So glorious mirror of celestiall grace, And soueraigne monument of mortal vowes, How shal fraile pen describe her heauenly face, For feare through want of skil her beauty to disgrace? So faire, and thousand thousand times more faire Shee seem'd, when she presented was to sight, And was yclad for heate of scorching ayre All in a silken Camous, lilly white, Purfled vpon with many a folded plight: Which al aboue besprinckled was throughout vvith golden aygulets that glistered bright Like twinckling starres: and al the skyrt about

vvas hemd about with golden frindge. Below her hamme her weede did somewhat traine, And her straite leggs most brauely were embaild In gilden Buskins of costly Cordwaine, All bard with golden bends which were entaild vvith curious antiques, and full fayre aumaild. Before they fastned were vnder her knee In a rich Iewell, and therein intrailde The ends of all theyr knots, that none might see How they within theyr foldings close enwrapped bee: Like two fayre Marble pillers they were seene, vvhich doe the temple of the Gods support, vvhom all the people deck with garlands greene: Those same with stately grace and princely port Shee taught to tread when she herselfe would grace. But with the wooddy Nimphs when she did play, Or when the flying Libbard she did chace, Shee could then nimbly mooue, and after flie a pace. VVithin her hand a sharp Bore-speare she held, And at her back a bow and quiuer gay, Shaft with steele-headed darts, wherewith she queld The sauage beasts in her victorious play: Knit with a golden bauldrick, which forlay Athwart the snowy breast, and did deuide Her dainty paps, which like young fruite in May Now little gan to swell; and beeing tyde, Through her thin weede theyr places signified. Her yellow locks crisped, like golden wyre, About her shoulders weren loosely shed, And when the winde amongst them did inspyre, They waued like a Penon wide despred,

And low behinde her backe were scattered: And whether art it were, or heedelesse hap, As through the flowring forrest rash she fled, In her rude haires sweete flowers did wrap Such as Diana by the sandy shore Of swift Eurotas, or on Cynthus greene; vvhere all the Nimphs haue her vnwares forlore, Wandreth alone, with bowes and arrowes keene To seeke her game: or as that famous Queene Of Amazons, whom Pyrhus did destroy The day that first of Priam shee was seene, Did shew herselfe in great tryumphant ioy, To succour the weake state of sad-afflicted Troy. Edm. Spencer.

Her yellow locks exceede the beaten gold, Her sparkling eyes in heauen a place deserue, Her forhead high and faire, of comely mold: her words are musicall, of siluer sound, her wit so sharp, as like can scarce be found. Each eye-brow hangs like Iris in the skyes, Her Eagles nose is straite, of stately frame, On eyther cheeke a Rose and Lilly lyes, Her breath is sweet perfume, or holy flame: her lips more red then any Corrall stone, her necke more white then aged Swans that mone. Her breast transparent is, like christall rock, Her fingers long, fit for Apollos Lute, Her slipper such as Momus dare not mock, Her vertues are so great, as make me mute. vvhat other parts she hath, I neede not say, vvhose fairest face alone is my decay. Tho. Watson.

Like to the cleere in highest spheare vvhere al imperious glory shines, Of selfe same colour is her hayre vvhether vnfolded or in twines: Her eyes are Saphyres set in snow, Refyning heauen by euery winke, The Gods doe feare when as they glow, And I doe tremble when I thinke. Her cheekes are like the blushing clowde That beautifies Auroras face, Or like the siluer crimson shrowde That Phoebus smiling locks doe grace: Her lips are like two budded Roses Whom ranks of Lillies neighbour nie, vvhich with bounds she stil incloses, Apt to intice a deitie. Her necke is like a stately towre, vvhere Loue himselfe in pleasure lies, To watch for glaunces euery howre From her diuine and sacred eyes. Her paps are centers of delight, Her paps are rocks of heauenly flame, vvhere Nature moulds the dew of light To feede perfection with the same: With orient pearle, with Rubie red, vvith Marble white, with azure blew, Her body euery way is fed, Yet soft in touch, and sweet in view: Nature herselfe her shape admires, The Gods are wounded in her sight, And Loue forsakes his heauenly fires,

And at her eyes his brands doth light. D. Lodge.

She lay and seemd a flood of Diamant Bounded in flesh: as stil as Ʋespers haire When not an Aspen leafe is stird with ayre: She lay at length, like an immortal soule At endlesse rest in blest Elizium, And then did true felicitie inroule So faire a Lady, figure of her kingdom. Now as she lay attirde in nakednes His eye did carue him on that feast of feasts, Sweet fieldes of life which deaths foote dare not presse, Flowrd with th'vnbroken waues of my loues breasts, See wherewith bent of gold curld into knots. In her heads groue the spring-bird Lameat nests, Her body doth present those fields of peace vvhere soules are feasted with the soule of ease. To proue which Paradice that nurseth these, See see the golden riuers that renowne it, Rich Gyhon, Tigris, Phison, Euphrates, Two from her bright Pelopian shoulders crowne it, And two out of her snowy hills doe glide, That with a deluge of delight doe drowne it: These highest two their precious streames deuide To tenne pure floods that do the body dutie, Bounding themselues in length, but not in beauty. These wind theyr courses through the paynted bowers, And raise such sounds in theyr inflection As ceaselesse start from earth fresh sorts of flowers, And bound that booke of life with euery section. In these the Muses dare not swim for drowning,

Theyr sweetnes poysons with such sweet infection, And leaues the onely lookers on them swouning, These formes and colour makes them so to shine, That Gods for them, would cease to be diuine. G. Chapman.

Her Lilly hand her rosie cheekes lie vnder, Coosning the pillow of a lawfull kisse, Who therefore angry, seemes to part in sunder, Swelling on eyther side to want his blisse, Betweene whose hills her head entombed is; Where, like a vertuous monument she lyes, To be admirde of lewd vnhallowed eyes. VVithout the bed her other fayre hand was On the greene Couerlet, whose perfect white Shewd like an Aprill daisie on the grasse, vvith pearlie sweat, resembling dewe of night; Her eyes like Marigolds had sheath'd theyr light: And canopied in darknes, sweetly lay, Till they might open to adorne the day. Her haire like golden threds, playd with her breath, (O modest wantons, wanton modestie) Shewing lifes tryumph in the Map of death, And deaths dim lookes in lifes mortalitie: Each in her sleepe themselues so beautifie As if betweene them twaine there were no strife, But that life liu'd in death, and death in life. Her breasts like Iuory globes circled with blew, A payre of mayden worlds vnconquered, Saue of theyr Lord, no bearing yoke they knew, And him by oath they truly honoured: These worlds in Tarquin new ambition bred:

vvho like a foule vsurper went about From this faire throne to heaue the owner out. W. Shakespeare.

Starres fall to fetch fresh light from her rich eyes, Her bright brow driues the sunne to clowdes beneath, Her haires reflexe, with red strakes paint the skies, Sweet morne and euening dew falls from her breath. T. Nash.

Fayrer then Isaacks louer at the vvell, Brighter then inside barke of new hewen Cedar, Sweeter then flames of fire-perfumed Mirrhe, And comlier then the siluer clowdes that daunce On Zephyrus wings before the King of heauen. G. Peele.

Her lookes were like beames of the morning sunne Forth-looking through the windowes of the East, When first the fleecie cattell haue begunne Vpon the pearled grasse to make theyr feast: Her thoughts are like the fume of Francensence, Which from a golden Censor forth did rise: And throwing forth sweet odours, mounts from thence In rolling globes vp to the vaulted skies: There she beholds with hie aspyring thought, The cradle of her owne creation: Among the seates of Angels, heauenly wrought, Much like an Angell in all forme and fashion. S. Daniell.

Her locks are pleighted like the fleece of wooll That Iason with his Grecian mates atchiu'd, As pure as gold, yet not from gold deriu'd, As full of sweets, as sweet of sweetes is full:

Her browes are prety tables of conceate, Where Loue his records of delight doth quote, On them her dallying locks doe daily floate, As loue ful oft doth feede vpon the baite▪ Her eyes, faire eyes, like to the purest lights That animate the sunne, or cheere the day, In whom the shining sun-beames brightly play vvhilst fancie doth on them deuine delights. Her cheekes like ripened Lillies steept in wine, Or fayre Pomegranate kirnels washt in milke, Or snow-white threds in nets of Crimson silke, Or gorgeous clowdes vpon the sunnes decline. Her lips like Roses ouer-washt with dew, Or like the Purple of Narcissus flowre, No frost theyr faire, no wind doth wrest theyr powre, But by her breath theyr beauties do renew. Her christal chin like to the purest mould Enchast with dainties, Daisies soft and white, Where Fairies faire pauilion once is pight, Whereas embrasd his beauties he doth hold. Her necke like to an Iuory shining towre, Where through with azure vaines sweet Nectar runnes, Or like the downe of swanns, Or like delight that doth it selfe deuoure. Her paps are like fayre apples in the prime, As round as orient pearles, as soft as downe, They neuer vaile theyr faire through winters frowne, But from these sweets Loue suckt his sommer time: Her bodies beauties best esteemed bowre, Delicious, comely, dainty, without staine, The thought whereof (not toucht) hath wrought my paine.

Whose face so faire all beauties doth distaine, Her maiden wombe the dwelling house of pleasure, Not like, for why no like surpasseth wonder: O blest is he may bring such beauties vnder, Or search by suite the secrets of that treasure. R. Greene.

Like to Diana in her sommer weede Girt with a Crimson robe of brightest die goes fayre Samela, As fayre Aurora in her morning gray, Deckt with the ruddy lustre of her loue is fayre Samela, Like louely Thetis on a calmed day, When as her brightnes Neptunes fancie moues, Shines faire Samela. Her tresses gold, her eyes like glassie streames, Her teeth are pearle, the breasts are Iuory of faire Samela. Her cheekes like rosie-lillies yeeld forth gleames, Her browes bright arches, framde of Ebonie, thus faire Samela. Passeth faire Ʋenus in her brauest hue, And Iuno in the shew of maiestie, for she is Samela. Pallas in wit, all three if you will view, For beauty wit, and matchlesse dignitie, yeeldes faire Samela. D. Lodge.

Their soft young cheeke-balls to the eye, Are of the fresh vermilion die, So Lillies out of Scarlet peere,

So Roses bloomd in Lady Vere: So shot two wanton starres yfere, In the eternall burning Sphere. G. Chapman.

Her eyes like Gemini attend on Ioue, Her stately front was figured from aboue: Her dainty nose of Iuory faire and sheene, Bepurfurate with ruddy Roses beene. Her cherry lips doth daunt the morning dew, From whence a breath so pleasant doth ensue As that which layd fayre Psyches in the vale, Whom Cupid woed, and woed to his auaile: Within the compasse of which hollow sweet, Those orient rancks of siluer perles do meet, Prefixing like prefixion to the eye, As siluer clowd amidst the sommers skie, From whence such words in wisedome couched be, As Gods from thence fetch theyr Phylosophie. Her dimpled chin of Alablaster white, Her stately necke, where nature did acquite Her selfe so well, as that at suddaine sight Shee wisht the worke were spent vpon herselfe, Her cunning thus was showed vpon the shelfe; For in this hand was fancie painted faire▪ In eyther hand an azure hand she bare. By one, repeating many a sweete consent, By th'other, comfort to the hart she sent: From which a seemely passage there doth flow To strangers pleasures that are placst below; Like to the furrow Phaeton did leaue Amidst the Welkin, when he did receaue

His Fathers charge, and set the world on fire. In this fayre path oft paced sweet desire, At euery turne beholding with delight That marble mount that did affect the sight. Of Virgine waxe the sweet impression was, The cunning compasse thereof did surpasse, For arte concluding all perfections there, Writ this report, all graces dwelleth heere. Which Cupid spying, built his mansion so, As scorning those sweet graces to bestow On mortall man, with bow ybent doth waite Least Ioue should steale impressions by deceit, And wondring at the crisped Comet faire, In thought concludes it meeter for the ayre Then mortall mould: next with the stately thighes, Like two fayre compast marble pillars rise, Whose white doth staine the dainty driuen snow; Next which the knees with lustie bent below Conioynd with nerues and cordes of Amber sweet, These stately piles with gladsome honour greet: Such stately knees as when they bend alite, All knees doe bend and bow with strange delight. Her calues with stranger compasse doe succeede, In which the azure streames a wonder breede, Both arte and nature therein laboured haue To paint perfection in her colours braue. Next which, the prety ground-worke of the pyle Doth show it selfe, and wonder doth beguile; The ioynts whereof combinde of Amber sweet, With Corrall cords yeeld bent to seemely feete, From which who list to lift his gazing eye,

Shall greater cause of wonder soone espy: When on the backe he bends his wauering looke In which the worke and taske Diana tooke vvhen with Arachne for the prize she straue, Both arte and nature there excellence haue; Where from Pigmalions image seemelie white, vvhose close conueyance passing Gordians plight, vvhere louely Nectar, drinke for all the Gods, vvhere euery Grace is stained there by ods, vvill not content which gazing looke for more, And spy those armes that stand his sight before vvhich for their mould th'Egyptian wonders passe, Which for their beauty staine the christall glasse, vvhich in theyr bosome couer natures sweet, vvhere blushing streames present a secret meet, vvill now amazde, conclude at last of this, That in the hands all grace concluded is: vvhere nature limits euer fatall time, vvhere fortune figures pleasure in her prime, vvhence spread those fingers typt with Iuory, vvhose touch Medusas turne may well supply: vvhere to conclude, now all the shepheards deeme All grace, all beauty, all perfections seeme. D. Lodge.

Yet neuer eye to Cupids seruice vowde Beheld a face of such a louely pride: A Tynsill vale her golden locks did shrowde, That stroue to couer what it could not hide: The golden sunne behind a siluer clowde, So streameth out his beames on euery side, The marble goddesse set at Cnidos naked

Shee seemd; were she vncloth'd, or that awaked. The gamesome winde among her tresses plaies, And curleth vp those growing riches short, Her sparefull eye to spread his beames denaies, But keepes his shot where Cupid keepes his fort. F. G.

Shee was a woman in her freshest age Of wondrous beauty, and of bounty rare, vvith goodly grace and comly personage That was on earth not easie to compare, Full of great loue, but Cupids wanton snare As hell she hated: chast in word and will, Her necke and breasts were euer open bare, That aye thereof her babes might suck theyr fill, The rest was all in yellow robes araied still. Edm. Spencer.

A shape whose like in waxe was hard to frame, Or to expresse by skill of Painters rare; Her hayre was long and yellow to the same, As might with wyer of beaten gold compare: Her louely cheekes with shew of modest shame, vvith Roses and with Lillyes painted are. Her forhead faire, and full of seemely cheere, As smooth as pollisht Iuory doth appeare: Vnder two arches of most curious fashion Stand two black eyes, that like two cleere suns shind. Steddy in looke, but apt to take compassion, Amid which lights the naked boy and blind Casteth his darts that cause so many a passion, Leauing a sweet and curelesse wound behind, From whence the nose in such good sort descended▪

As enuy knowes not how it may be mended. Vnder the which, in due and comly space Standeth the mouth, stainde with vermilion hew, Two rowes of pearles serue in theyr place, Hence come the courteous words and full of grace That mollifie hard harts and make them new: From hence proceed those smilings sweet and nice, That seeme to make an earthly Paradice. Her brests as milke, her necke as white as snow, Round was her necke, most plum and large her breast, Two Iuory apples seemed there to grow, Tender and smooth, and fittest to be prest, Wauing like seas when wind most calme doth blow. Argos himselfe might not discerne the rest, Yet by presumption well it might be gest That that which was concealed was the best. Her armes due measure of proportion bare, Her fayre white hand was to be viewed plaine, The fingers long, the ioynts so curious are As neyther knot appeard nor swelling vaine, And full to perfect all those features rare, The foote that to be seene doth sole remaine, Slender and short, little it was and round, A finer foote might no where well be found. S. I. Harr.

Apollo when my mistris first was borne Cut off his locks, and left them on her head, And sayd, I plant these wyres in natures scorne, Whose lustre shall appeare when time is dead: From forth the christall heauen when she was made, The puritie thereof did taint her brow,

On which the glistering that sought the shade Gan set, and there his glories doth avow. Those eyes, fayre eyes, too faire to be describ'd, Were those that erst the Chaos did reforme, To whom the heauens theyr beauties haue ascribd, That fashion life in man, in beast, in worme, When first her fayre delicious cheekes were wrought, Aurora brought her blush, the Moone her white, Both so combinde as passed natures thought, Compild those prety orbes of sweet delight: When loue and nature once were proud with play, From forth theyr lips, her lips their colour drew, On them doth fancie sleepe, and euery day Doth swallow ioy such sweet delights to view. While one while Venus sonne did seeke a bowre To sport with Psyches his desired deere, He chose her chin, and from that happy stowre He neuer stints in glory to appeare. Desires and ioyes that long had serued loue, Besought a hold where prety eyes might wooe them, Loue made her neck, and for her best behoue Hath shut them there where no man can vndoe them. Once Ʋenus dreamd vpon two prety things, Her thoughts, they were affections cheefest nests, She suckt and sigh'd, and bath'd her in the springs, And when she wakt, they were my mistres breasts. Once Cupid sought a hold to couch his kisses, And found the body of my best belou'd, Wherein he cloyd the beauty of his blisses, And from that bower can neuer be remou'd. The Graces erst when Acidalian springs

vvere wexen dry, perhaps did finde her fountaine Within the bale of blisse, where Cupids wings Doe shield the Nectar fleeting from the fountaine. R. Greene.

Her curious locks of gold like Tagus sands, Her forhead smooth and white as Iuory, vvhere glory, state, and bashfulnes held hands: Her eyes, one making peace, the other wars, By Ʋenus one, the other ruld by Mars. Her Eagles nose, her scarlet cheeke halfe white, Her teeth of orient pearle, her gracious smile, Her dimpled chin, her breast as cleere as light, Her hand like hers whom Titan did beguile. Tho. Watson.

Queene Vertues caue which some call Stellas face Repaird by natures cheefest furniture, Hath his forfront of Alablaster pure, Gold is the couering of that stately place: The doore by which sometimes runnes forth her grace, Red Porphirie which lock of pearle makes sure, Whose porches rich which name of cheekes endure, Marble-mixt red and white doe interlace. The windowes now through which this heauenly gues•• Lookes on the world, and can finde nothing such vvhich dare claime from those sights the name of best, Of touch they are that without touch do touch, vvhich Cupids selfe from beauties mine did draw, Of touch they are, and poore I, am theyr straw. S. Phil. Sidney.

Two sunnes at once from one faire heauen there shind, Ten branches from two boughes tipt all with roses, Pure locks, more golden then is gold refinde, Two pearled rowes that natures pride incloses; Two mounts faire marble, white downe, soft & dainty, Full wofull makes my hart, and body fainty. D. Lodge.

O shee doth teach the torches to burne bright, It seemes she hangs vpon the cheeke of night As a rich Iewell in an Ethiops eare, Beauty too rich for vse, for earth too deare: So showes a snowy Doue trooping with crowes, As yonder Lady ore her fellowes showes. W. Shakespeare.

To make the wondrous power of heauen appeare In nothing more then her perfections found, Close to her nauill she her mantle wrests, Slacking it vpwards, and the folds vnwound, Showing Latonas twins, her plenteous brests: The Sunne and Cynthia in their tryumph robes Of Lady skin more rich then both theyr globes. G. Chapman.

Vpon a bed of Roses she was layd, As faint through heate, or dight to pleasant sin, And was araide, or rather disaraid All in a vaile of silke and siluer thin, That hid no whit her Alablaster skin, But rather showd more white, if more might be; More subtile web Arachne cannot spin, Nor the fine nets which oft we wouen see Of scorched dew, do not in th'ayre more lightly flie.

Her snowy breast was bare to ready spoyle Of hungry eyes, which not therewith be fild, And yet through languor of her late sweet toyle, Few drops more cleere then Nectar forth distild, That like pure orient pearles adowne it thrild, Fraile harts yet quenched not, like starry light, which sparkling on the silent waues, doe seeme more bright. Edm. Spen.

Her Iuory necke, her Alablaster breast, Her paps, which like white silken pillowes were, For loue in soft delight thereon to rest: Her tender sides, her belly white and cleere, Which like an Altar did it selfe vpreare, To offer sacrifice deuine thereon: Her goodly thighes, whose glory did appeare Like a triumphall arch, and thereupon The spoiles of Princes hangd, which were in battaile wone. Idem.

— Her sparkling eyes Doe lighten forth sweet loues alluring fire, And in her tresses she doth fold the lookes Of such as gaze vpon her golden hayre. Her bashfull white, mixt with the mornings red, Luna doth boast vpon her louely cheekes: Her front is Beauties table, where she paints The glories of her gorgeous excellence: Her teeth are shelues of precious Margarite, Richly inclosd with ruddy Currall cleeues. R. Greene.

My mistres is a paragon, the fayrest fayre aliue, Alcides and Aeacides for fairelesse faire did striue,

Her colour fresh as damaske rose, her breath as violet, Her body white as Iuory, as smooth as pollisht Iet, As soft as down, & were she downe, Ioue might com down & kisse A loue so fresh, so sweet, so white, so smooth, so soft as this. W. Warner.

Then cast she off her roabe and stoode vpright, As lightning breakes out of the labouring clowde, Or as the morning heauen casts off her night, Or as that heauen cast off it selfe, and showde Heauens vpper light, to which the brightest day Is but a black and melancholy shrowde: Or as when Venus striu'd for soueraigne sway Of choisefull beauty in young Troyes desire, So stoode Corinna varnishing her tyre. G. Chapman.

Herewith she rose, like the Autumnall starre Fresh burnisht in the lofty Ocean flood, That darts his glorious influence more farre Then any lampe of bright Olympus broode: Shee lifts her lightning armes aboue her head And stretcheth a Meridian, from her blood That slept awakt in her Elizian bed: Then knit shee vp, least loosd, her glowing haire Should scorch the centre, and incense the ayre. Idem.

Sweete mouth that sendst a muskie-rosied breath Fountaine of Nectar and delightfull balme, Eyes clowdy-cleere, smile-frowning, stormie-calme, Whose euery glaunce darts me a lyuing death: Browes, bending quaintly, your round Eben arkes, Smile, that then Ʋenus sooner Mars besets,

Locks more then golden, curld in curious knots, vvhere in close ambush wanton Cupid lurkes, Grace Angel-like, faire forhead, smooth and hie, Pure white that dimst the Lillies of the vale, Vermilion rose that mak'st Aurora pale. I. Siluester.

Such colour had her face as when the sunne Shines in a watry clowde in pleasant spring; And euen as when the Sommer is begunne The Nightingales in boughes doe sit and sing, So the blind God, whose force can no man shunne Sits in her eyes, and thence his darts doth fling: Bathing his wings in her bright christal streames, And sunning them in her rare beauties beames. In these he heads his golden-headed dart, In those he cooleth it, and tempereth so, He leuels thence at good Obertos hart, And to the head he drawes it in his bow. S. I. Harr.

— Olympias beauty was so rare As well might moue a man the same to note: Her hayre, her cheekes, her eyes, most amorous are, Her nose, her mouth, her shoulders, and her throat, As for her other parts that then were bare, Which she was wont to couer with her coate, Were made in such a mould as might haue moued The chast Hippolitus her to haue loued: A man would thinke them framd by Phidias arts, Theyr colour and proportion good was such: And vnto them her shamefastnes imparts A greater grace to that before was much.

I cease to praise those other secret parts, Nothing so fit to talke of as to touch: In generall, all was as white as milk, As smooth as Iuory, and as soft as silke. Had shee in vally of Idea beene vvhen Pastor Paris hap did so befall To be a Iudge three goddesses betweene, She should haue got, and they forgone the ball: Had she but once of him beene naked seene, For Helena he had not card at all, Nor broke the bonds of sacred hospitalitie, That bred his country wars and great mortalitie. Had she but then been in Crotona towne, When Zeuxis for the Goddesse Iunos sake To paint a picture of most rare renowne Did many of the fayrest damsels make To stand before him bare from foote to crowne, A patterne of theyr perfect parts to take, No doubt he would haue all the rest refused, And her alone in sted of all haue chused. S. I. Harr.

Faire is my loue for Aprill in her face, Her louely breasts September claimes his part, And lordly Iuly in her eyes hath place, But cold December dwelleth in her hart, Blest be the months that sets my hart on fire, Accurst that month that hindreth my desire. Like Phaebus fire, so sparkles both her eyes, As ayre perfum'd with Amber is her breath, Like swelling waues her louely teates doe rise, As earth her hart cold, dateth me to death.

In pompe sits mercy seated in her face, Loue twixt her breasts his trophies doth imprint, Her eyes shines fauour, curtesie, and grace, But touch her hart, oh that is made of flint. R. Greene.

Her hayre not trust, but scattered on her brow, Surpassing Hyblaes honney for the view, Or softened golden wyers. Within these snares first was my hart intrapped, Till through those golden shrouds mine eye did see An Iuory shadowed front, wherein was wrapped Those prety bowers where graces couched be: Next which, her cheekes appeard like Crimson silke, Or ruddy rose bespred in whitest milke. Twixt which, the nose in louely tenor bends Two traces prety for a louers view: Next which her lips like violets commends By true proportion that which doth ensue; Which when they smile, present vnto the eyes The Oceans pride, and Iuory paradize. Her pollisht necke of milke, where snows doe shine As when the Moone in winter night beholds them, Her breast of Alablaster cleere and fine, vvhereon two rising apples fayre vnfold them, Like Cynthias face when in her full she shineth, And blushing, to her loue-mates bower declineth. From whence in length her armes doe sweetly spread, Like two rare branchie Saples in the spring, Yeelding fiue louely sprigs from euery head, Proportioned alike in euery thing;

which featly sprout in length like spring borne friends vvhose prety tops, with fiue sweet roses ends. But why alas should I that marble hide That doth adorne that one and other flanck, From whence a mount of quickned snow doth glide, Or else the vaile that bounds this milk-white banke, vvhere Ʋenus and her sisters hide the fount, vvhose louely Nectar doth all sweetes surmount. D. Lodge.

Whilst thus she meant vnseene away to slide, Her pearles and iewels causde her to be spide, The muske and ciuet amber as she past, Long after her a sweet perfume did cast: A Carbuncle on her christall brow she pight, vvhose fierie gleames expeld the shady night: Vpon her head a siluer crispe she pind, Loose wauing on her shoulders with the wind. Gold band her golden hayre, her Iuory neck, The Rubies rich, and Saphires blew did deck, And at her eare, a pearle of greater valew There hung, then that the Egyptian Queene did swal∣low And through her coller showd her snowy brest, Her vtmost robe was colour blew celest, Benetted all with twist of perfect gold, Beseeming well her comly corps t'enfold. What els she ware, might wel be seene vpon That Queene who built the towers of Babylon. Her wauering hayre disparpling flew apart, In seemely shed, the rest with recklesse art, vvith many a curling ring decord her face, And gaue her ghastly browes a greater grace.

Two bending bowes of Eben coupled right, Two lucent starres that were of heauenly light, Two ietty sparks where Cupid chastly hides His subtile shafts that from his quiuer glides: Tweene those two sunnes and front of equall size, A comly figure formally did rise, vvhich draught vnleuell to her lip descend, vvhere Momus selfe could nothing discommend. Her pittid cheekes appeard to bee depaint vvith mixed rose and lillies, sweet and saint: Her dulcet mouth with precious breath repleat, Exceld the Saben Queene in sauour sweet: Her corrall lips discouered as it were Two ranks of orient pearles with smyling cheere: Her Iuory necke, and breast of Alablaster, Made heathen men of her more Idolastre. Vpon her hand no wrinckled knot was seene, But as each nayle of Mother of pearle had beene: In short, this Iudith was so passing faire, As if the learned Zeuxis had beene there And seene this dame when he with pensill drew The Croton dames, to forme the picture true Of her for whom both Greece and Asia fought, This onely patterne chiefe he would haue sought. Tho. Hudson.

Her words were like a streame of honny fleeting, The which doth softly trickle from the hiue, Able to melt the hearers hart vnweeting, And eke to make the dead againe to liue: Her deedes were like great clusters of ripe grapes Which loade the bunches of the fruitfull Vine,

Offering to fall into each mouth that gapes, And fill the same with store of timely wine. Her breast two hills ore-spread with purest snow, Sweet, smooth, and supple, soft and gently swelling Betweene them lyes a milkie dale below, vvhere loue, youth, gladnes, whitenes make their dwel∣ling, Her enuious vesture greedy sight expelling: So was the wanton clad, as if thus much Should please the eye, the rest vnseene they touch: As when the sunne-beames diue through Tagus waue To spy the store-house of his springing gold, Loue persing thought so through her mantle draue, And in their gentle bosome wandred bold: It viewd the wondrous beautie Virgins haue, And all to finde desire (with vantage) bold. Alas what hope is left to quench this fire, That kindled is by sight, blowne by desire. D. Lodge.

Fayrer then was the Nymph of Mercurie, Who when bright Phaebus mounteth vp his coach, And tracks Aurora in her siluer steps, And sprinckling from the folding of her lap, White Lillies, Roses, and sweet Violets. R. Greene.

— Her Angels face As the great eye of heauen shined bright, And made a sunshine in the shady place, Did neuer mortall eye behold such heauenly grace. Edm. Spencer.

Not that night-wandring pale and watry starre, (vvhen yawning dragons draw her thirsting carre From Latmus mount vp to the gloomie skie, vvhere crownd with blazing light and maiestie She proudly sits) more ouer-rules the flood, Then she the harts of those that neere her stood. Ch. Marlow.

— O Daphne is more fayre Then Angels swimming in the fluxiuyce ayre. Could Loues rich bed-chamber her two bright eyes, Lodge but two guests at once, Beautie and Mercy▪ Beauty lyes alwayes there, did Mercy too Phaebus were then Daphne should be Transformd into a stately dignitie. Th. Dekkar.

Her stature comly tall, her gate well graced, and her wit, To maruaile at, not medle with, as matchlesse I omit: A globe-like head, a gold-like haire, a forhead smooth & hie•• An euen nose, on eyther side stoode out a grayish eye, Two rosie cheeks, round ruddy lips, white iust set teeth within A mouth in mean, & vnderdeath, a round & dimpled chin: Her snowish neck with blewish vaines stood bolt vpright vpon Her portly shoulders, beating balls her vained brests anon Ad more to beauty: wand-like was her middle, falling still, And rising whereas women rise, imagine nothing ill, And more, her long & limber arms had white and azurd wrist▪ And slender fingers answer to her smooth & lilly fists, A leg in print, a prety foote, coniecture of the rest, For amorous eyes obseruing forme, think parts obscured best W. Warner.

See where she issues in her beauties pompe, As Flora to salute the morning sunne: vvho when she shakes her tresses in the ayre, Raines on the earth dissolued pearle in showres, vvhich with his beames the sunne exhales to heauen: She holdes the spring and sommer in her armes, And euery plant puts on his freshest robes To dannce attendance on her princely steps, Springing and fading as she comes and goes. G. Chapman.

Her hayre was loose, & bout her shoulders hung, Vpon her browes did Ʋenus naked lye, And in her eyes did all the Graces swim. Her cheekes that showd the temper of the mind, Were beauties mornings where she euer rose, Her lyps were loues rich altars where she makes Her hart a neuer-ceasing sacrifice: Her teeth stoode like a ranke of Dians maydes vvhen naked in a secrete bower they bathe; Her long round necke was Cupids quiuer calld, And her sweet words that flew from her, his shafts, Her soft round brests were his sole trauaild Alpes, vvhere snow that thawed with sunne did euer lye, Her fingers bounds to her rich deitie. Idem.

••n Paradise of late a Dame begun To peepe out of her bed with such a grace, As matcht the rising of the morning sunne, ••vith drops of honney falling from her face, Brighter then Phaebus fierie-pointed beames, Or ycie crust of christall frozen streames.

Her hayre like Amber twisted vp in gold, Passing the pride or riches of the East, With curious knots were into trammels rould, As snary nettings for a wandring guest; The feathers deckt her with a quaint disdaine Like Iunos byrd in pompe of spotted traine. Her shining forhead doth suppresse the starres, New lightning sparkles from her louely cheekes, Her percing sight the stroake of beauties warres, Wherewith the conquest of the world she seekes: Braue be the darts that from her eyes she throwes, When Cupid lurkes betweene her louely browes, Arabian odours breathe out of her talke, Which she betweene the pearle and Ruby breaketh, So smooth a compasse hath her tongue to walke, As makes both heauen & earth blush whē she speaketh No singing bird in all the ayre but doates, And lay theyr eares attentiue to her notes. Her necke, her shoulders, and her breasts were bare, Diana-like aboue the water smiling: No snow, Iuory, or Alablaster there, No statue of white Marble, me beguiling, But the sweet season of the yeere I found When Lillies peepe out of the grassie ground. Her other parts vnto my view denide, Much like the lampe that burnt at Psyches bed, Made such a fire into my hart to glide That loue awaked, and my body bled: O had she not so great a force to please, Desire had slept, and I had liu'd at ease. S. G.

Astronomers the heauens doe deuide Into eyght houses, where the Gods remaine, All which in thy perfections doe abide, For in thy feete the Queene of silence raignes, About thy wast Ioues messenger doth dwell, Inchaunting me, as I thereat admire, And on thy duggs the Queene of loue doth tell Her godheads power in scroules of my desire: Thy beautie is the worlds eternall sunne, Thy fauours force a cowards hart to darres, And in thy hayres, Ioue and his riches wonne, Thy frownes hold Saturne, thine eyes the fixed starres. H. C.

What length of verse braue Mopsus good to show? ••hose vertues strange, & beauties such, as no man may them know. Thus shrewdly burdned thē, how can my Muse escape? The gods must help, & precious things must serue to show her shape Like great god Saturne faire, & like faire Venus chast, As smooth as Pan as Iuno mild, like goddesse Iris gracst, With Cupid she foresees, and goes Gods Vulcans pace, And for a tast of all these gifts, she steales god Momus grace Her forhead Iacinth like, her cheekes of opall hue, Her twinckling eyes bedeckt with pearle, her lyps as Saphires blew, Her haire like crapal stone, her mouth ô heauenly wide, Her skin like burnisht gold, her hands like siluer-ore vntride: As for her parts vnknowne, which hidden sure are best, Happy be they which wil beleeue, and neuer seeke the rest. S. Phil. Sidney.

O words which fall like Sommer dew on me, O breath more sweet then is the growing beane, O tongue in which all honnied licours be,

O voyce that doth the Thrush in shrilnes staine, Gay haire, more gay then straw when haruest lies, Lips red and plum, as cherries ruddy side, Eyes fayre and great, like fayre great Oxes eyes, O breasts in which two white sheepe swell in pride. But thou white skin, as white as curds well prest, So smooth as Sleeke-stone like, it smooths each part, And thou deere flesh, as soft as wooll new drest, And yet as hard as Brawne made hard by art. S. Phil. Sidney.