University of Virginia Library


245

HYMNE IX. To Flora.

Empresse of flowers, tell where away
Lies your sweet Court this merry May,
In Greenewich Garden allies?
Since there the heauenly powers do play
And haunt no other vallies.
Beautie, vertue, maiestie,
Eloquent Muses, three times three,
The new fresh Houres, and Graces,
Haue pleasure in this place to be,
Aboue all other places.
Roses and lillies did them draw,
Ere they diuine Astrœa saw;
Gay flowers they sought for pleasure:
Instead of gathering crownes of flowers,
Now gather they Astrœa's dowers,
And beare to heauen that treasure.