The Works in Verse and Prose of Nicholas Breton For the First Time Collected and Edited: With Memorial-Introduction, Notes and Illustrations, Glossarial Index, Facsimilies, &c. By the Rev. Alexander B. Grosart. In Two Volumes |
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| 1. | 1. [Elizabeth Regina.] |
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 | The Works in Verse and Prose of Nicholas Breton |  |
13
1. [Elizabeth Regina.]
When nature fell to studie firste to frame a daintie peeceThat might put downe those painted toyes Appelles wrought in Greece;
When heavnelie powres were happlie mett, and did in counsell stande
To finishe vp a peece of wurke that Phisis had in hande;
The Sunne withhelde his wonnted course, the planettes made a staie,
The clowdes were gone, the windes were downe, time durst not steale away:
The Muses tunde their instrumentes, the Nightingale her throate,
The litle windes amidde the leaves did yeelde a heavnelie note,
The lambes and Rabbottes ranne at base, the fishes fell to playe,
Bothe Sainctes and men, beastes, fishe, and fowle, did ioye to see ye daye;
The dewes did giue so sweete an aire, the Sunne did shine so bright
That reason sawe that nature wrought the highest heavnes delight.
E The earthe whereon she shewde her art, was vertues (E) Excellence,
L The laboure that she layde thereon, was (L) loue with diligence,
I The compas of her heade conceite, was (I) Judgment of the wise,
Z Her harte she made of heavnely (Z) zeale, that hath no hollowe eyes:
A (A) Authoritie she made the marke, to shewe a Princesse face
B And (B) Beawtie was the heavnelie hue that gave the favor grace;
E (E) Entire good will that sawe this wurke whereon highe fancies fedd,
T Brought naked (T) Truthe to make the werke vnto this happie hedd.
H Her armes were bothe of (H) Honnors wrought, her handes were Natures Arte,
Whose fingers like the Spinners threddes will holde the strongest harte.
RE By (R) reason and (E) Endeuor then did nature drawe a breste
G That shewde an Angell for her shape, a (G) Goddesse for the rest.
I Her lower limmes were (I) Justice staies, that shuld dishonor hate,
N Her feete were (N) notes of vertues steppes, that doe vpholde her state.
A When these were (A) all in order plast, and finely putt togither,
The Aungells, and the heavnelie powres on heapes ran pressing thither;
And nature when she veiwde her wurke, did stande as in amaze,
The Sunne, the moone, and all the starres stood euerie one at gaze;
But as they stood was harde a voyce from out the loftie skie,
Bad haste awaie, for higher powres were cum̄ing by and by;
For happie fame throughe heavne and earth had it so far com̄ended
That Jove himselfe badd nature leave, itt colde not be amended.
And therewithall the Sunne and moone shone both at once so faire,
The starres did shoote, and made alofte such fier wurkes in the Aire,
The lightninges flashèd to and fro, throughe heavens was such a thunder
As if the gods came downe from heaven to see this Earthely wunder;
But thunder ceast, I harde a sounde singe Sola sancta cara,
The name of Natures finest wurke is Excellenza rara.
Who further seekes in plainer sence this blessèd Aungell's name
The substance wheron nature wrought will easelie shewe the same.
Thus with a sweete consort at length awaie the Muses goe
And lefte the wurke, before my face that did awake me so.
| The Works in Verse and Prose of Nicholas Breton | |