The complete works of John Lyly :: :: University of Virginia Library

The complete works of John Lyly

now for the first time collected and edited from the earliest quartos with life, bibliography, essays, notes and index by R. Warwick Bond

Lyly, John (1554?-1606)

III.

CERTAINE ENGLISHE Verses, presented vnto the Queenes most excellent Maiestie, by a Courtier: In ioy of the most happie disclosing, of the most dangerous conspiracies pretended by the late executed Traitours, against her royall person, and the whole Estate.

POEMS

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449

The speech of the Fairy Queene to her Maiestie.

I that abide in places vnder ground,
Aureola, the Queene of Fairy land,
That euery night in rings of painted flowers
Turne round, and carroll out Elisaes name:
Hearing, that Nereus and the Syluane Gods
Haue lately welcomde your Imperiall Grace,
Oapend the earth with this enchanting wand,
To doe my duety to your Maiestie.

450

And humbly to salute you with this Chaplet,
Giuen me by Auberon the Fairy King.
Bright shining Phœbe, that in humaine shape,
Hid'st heauens perfection, vouchsafe t'accept it:
And I Aureola, belou'd in heauen,
(For amorous starres fall nightly in my lap)
Will cause that heauens enlarge thy goulden dayes,
And cut them short, that enuy at thy praise.