The woods and waters left their sound, The winged people perch'd above; Her wonted plaints unto the Morn, That seem'd indeed her state to rue By shedding tears upon the thorn. When I, as other, taking rest Was show'd, methought, a goodly plain, With all the store of Nature blest, And situate within the main ; With rocks about environ'd quite, But inward round in rows there stood, As well for profit as delight, The trees of orchard and the wood. The builder acorn, long ago To Dodonæan Jove adjoin'd; Nor wanting was, nor that same tree 1 That bears the stain in fruit and seeds Of Thisbe's woful tragedy. "The mulberry." Th' unblasted bay, to conquests due, With cherries, known no long time since; 2 The philibert, that loves the vale, And red queen-apple, so envìed Of schoolboys passing by the pale. Within there was a circlet round, For roses by did blush for shame, In robe of woven silver fine, And deepest crimson she was clad; "Erasmus-affirmeth cherries to have been known to "these parts of Europe little above two or three hundred 66 years, being first brought from Cerasuntis, a city of Pon 66 tus, whence they have their name." 2" The filbert, so named of Philibert, a king of France, "who caused by art sundry kinds to be brought forth." Then, diaper'd with golden twine, Aloft a mantle green she had, Wherein were wrought, with rarest skill, And here and there emboss'd a hill, With fountains, and the Nymphs of floods. A massy collar, set with stones, A crown imperial on her head; One hand a bright drawn sword did hold; The other (most that made her dread) Three sceptres of the finest gold. While proudly under foot she trod Rich trophies and victorious spoils, Atchieved by her might abroad, Her name is EMPRESS OF THE ILES. There chariots were, that once she wan From Cæsar, ere she was betray'd, With standards, got from Pagans whan She lent the Holy land her aid. Here saw I many a shiver'd lance, Swords, battle-axes, cannons, slings; With th' arms of Portugal and France, And crownets of her petty kings: High feather'd helmets for the tilt, Bows, steely targets cleft in twain; Coats, cornets, armours richly gilt, With tatter'd ensigns out of Spain. About her now, on every tree Whereon full oft she cast her eye, Hung silver shields, by three and three, With pencil limned curiously; Wherein were drawn, with skilful touch, Impresas, and devices rare, Of all her gallant knights, and such * Great Edward Third you might see there, With that victorious prince, his son; Next valiant John of Lancaster, That Spain with English over-run: And those brave spirits marshalled, All soldiers, none to carpet bred, Fourth Henry's sunbeams on the cloud, Fifth Henry's beacon flaming bright; York's lock, that did the falcon shroud, Yet living in great Howard's blood, By whom, the Beauchamps worn away, The loyal Vere, and Clifford stout, Great Strongbow's heir, with Bourchier, Gray, Brave Falconbridge, and Montacute, Couragious Ormond, Lisle, and Say. With other, numberless, beside, That to have seen each one's devise, How lively limn'd, how well applied, You were the while in Paradise. Another side she did ordain To some late dead, some living yet, Who serv'd Eliza in her reign, And worthily had honour'd it.* *❝ Charles, earl of Nottingham, lord admiral: Thomas "earl of Suffolk, and lord chamberlain: George, earl of |