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.

Description of Seas, waters, Riuers, &c.

I walkt along a streame for purenesse rare, Brighter then sun-shine, for it did acquaint The dullest sight with all the glorious pray, That in the pibble paued chanell lay. No molten Christall, but a Richer mine, Euen natures rarest alchumie ran there, Diamonds resolud, and substance more diuine, Through whose bright gliding current might appeare A thousand naked Nymphes, whose yuorie shine, Enameling the bankes, made them more deare Then euer was that glorious Pallas gate, Where the day-shining sunne in triumph sate. Vpon this brim the Eglantine and Rose, The Tamoriscke, Oliue, and the Almond tree, As kind companions in one vnion growes, Folding their twindring armes as oft we see, Turtle taught louers either other close, Lending to dulnesse, feeling Sympathie. And as a costly vallance ore a bed, So did their garland tops the brooke orespred: Their leaues that differed both in shape and showe, (Though all were greene) yet difference such in greene

Like to the checkered bent of Iris bowe, Prided the running maine as it had beene. Ch. Marlowe.

—In that meade proud making grasse, A Riuer like to liquid glasse, Did with such soundfull murmure passe, That with the same it wanton was. Hard by this brooke a Pine had seat, With goodly furniture compleat: To make the place in state more great, And lesning the the inflaming heat, Which was with leaues so bewtified, And spred his brest so thicke and wide, That all the Sunnes estraunged pride, Sustaind repulse on euery side. G. Chapman.

The well of life, to life can dead restore, And gilt of sinfull crimes cleane wash away: Those that with sicknes were infected sore, It could recure, and ages long decay Renew, as it were borne that very day. Both Silo this and Iordan did excell, And the English Bath, and eke the Germaine Spanie, Ne can Cephise nor Hebrus match this well. Ed. Spencer.

Rich Oranochie though but knowne of late, And that huge Riuer which doth beare his name Of warlike Amazons, which do possesse the same. Idem.

—With the murmuring cadence of the waue, Which made a prettie wrangling as it went:

Chiding the bankes which no more limit gaue, There ioynd their wel-rund throats with such consent, That euen mad griefe at sight thereof grew graue, And as inchanted, staid from languishment. Prouing, then their delight was neuer greater, And griefe how much the more, so much the better. I. Markham.

—Laid at ease a cubit from the ground, Vpon a Iasper fringd with Iuie round. Pu••fled with waues, thick thrumbd with mossie rushes, He falls a sleep fast by a silent riuer, Whose captiue streames through crooked pipes still rushing, Make sweeter musicke with their gentle gushing. Then now at Tiuoli, th'Hydrantike brawle, Of rich Ferraras stately Cardinall, Or C••esibes rare engines, framed there Whereas they made of Ibis, Iupiter. I. Syluester.