| Eftsoones they heard a most melodious
sound, |
| Of all that mote delight a
daintie eare, |
| Such as attonce might not on living
ground, |
| Save in this Paradise, be
heard elswhere : |
| Right hard it was, for
wight which did it heare, |
| To read what manner musicke that mote
bee : |
| For all that pleasing is
to living eare, |
| Was there consorted in one harmonee, |
Birdes, voyces, instruments, windes,
waters, all agree.
|
| The joyous birdes shrouded in
chearefull shade, |
| Their notes unto the voyce
attempred sweet ; |
| Th’Angelicall soft trembling voyces
made |
| To th’instruments divine
respondence meet : |
| The silver sounding
instruments did meet |
| With the base murmure of the waters
fall : |
| The waters fall with
difference discreet, |
| Now soft, now loud, unto the wind did
call : |
The gentle warbling wind low answered
to all.
|
| There, whence that Musick seemed heard
to bee, |
| Was the faire Witch her
selfe now solacing, |
| With a new Lover, whom through sorceree |
| And witchcraft she from
farre did thither bring : |
| There she had him now layd
a slombering, |
| In secret shade, after long wanton
joyes : |
| Whilst round about them
pleasauntly did sing |
| Many faire Ladies, and lascivious boyes, |
That ever mixt their song with light
licentious toyes.
|
| And all that while, right over him she
hong, |
| With her false eyes fast
fixed in his sight, |
| As seeking medicine, whence she was
stong, |
| Or greedily depasturing
delight : |
| And oft inclining downe
with kisses light, |
| For feare of waking him, his lips
bedewd, |
| And through his humid eyes
did sucke his spright, |
| Quite molten into lust and pleasure
lewd ; |
Wherewith she sighed soft, as if his
case she rewd.
|
| The whiles some one did chaunt this
lovely lay ; |
| ‘Ah see, who so faire
thing doest faine to see, |
| In springing flowre the image of thy
day ; |
| Ah see the Virgin Rose,
how sweetly shee |
| Doth first peepe forth
with bashfull modestee, |
| That fairer seemes, the lesse ye see
her may ; |
| Lo, see soone after, how
more bold and free |
| Her bared bosome she doth broad display
; |
Loe, see soone after, how she fades,
and falles away.
|
| "So passeth, in the passing of a day, |
| Of mortall life the leafe,
the bud, the flowre, |
| Ne more doth flourish after first
decay, |
| That earst was sought to
decke both bed and bowre, |
| Of many a Ladie, and many
a Paramowre ; |
| Gather therefore the Rose, whilest yet
is prime, |
| For soone comes age, that
will her pride deflowre : |
| Gather the Rose of love, whilest yet is
time, |
Whilest loving thou mayest loved be
with equall crime.’
|
| Edmund Spenser
| Classic Poems
|
| |
|
[ The Bower of Bliss ] [ Prothalamion ] [ Whilst it is Prime ] |
