The Grecian Story Being an Historical Poem, in Five Books. To which is Annex'd The Grove: Consisting of Divers Shorter Poems upon several Subjects. By J. H. [i.e. John Harington] |
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 | The Grecian Story |  |
Dinner being past, Discourse conjoyn'd to please,
They walk'd about that Pond again with ease,
Where Angle lay; Timondes pray'd them, try,
What Fish there was then Hungry tho not Dry;
Shew'd Baits withal. Orsamnes sitting down,
Clermanthe near, her Sexes choice renown,
He took the Rod; Fishing (did say, conclude)
Was th' Ancient Game o'th' World, t'o're-reach, delude:
Small Prizes caught: whilst, gathering Flowers there,
Some mov'd by gentle Gale did crave (as 'twere)
Clermanthe's Hand, through humble Bow exprest,
Till planted in her Clear, Transcendent Brest.
Pinks, Violets, the Maiden blushing Rose,
Well pleas'd with sight, perfumed smell of those:
Fish tost like mirth, (or chance) did make to fall
I'th' Water, Pond beneath, redeem'd from thrall.
Prisners Captiv'd; so sprucely shew'd (e're Dead)
With their Pearl-Coats and Scales enammeled.
She then should th' Angle take, tho (charmless Brest)
Was loth to learn, since Treachery exprest;
Fail'd there, deceiv'd: how could she choose? for why,
Th' enamour'd Fish (most part) might Gazing lye
On dainty Lips, the worm regard no more:
That Master-Angler caught the Day before.
From thence they pass'd to th' Walk beneath, flat Green;
Where th' Arbour joyn'd to th' Wall, good Space between
That and the Bank; which trod a while, inclos'd
Within that Bow'r they sat them down, Repos'd.
Close by that Fount from Rocky Womb descending,
Which Subject gave for large Disccurse, well tending
To th' Philosophick way, that learned Sphere;
Between Orsamnes and Timondes there:
Natures chief Causes and Effects design'd,
Firm, Constant Course with various Change combin'd:
Such th' Earthly Globe's night, day, four Seasons prove;
Whilst th' Heavenly Orbs their certain Wheels do move
Still round, grand Machine, Frame: Star-Gems on high
(Yet Worlds of Light) adorn that vaulted Skye;
Planets their Rooms; low'st th' Ayry Regions spread,
Strange Volume, Book, where wonders may be read;
Each Character, green blade of Grass that's found
Worthy regard; what then the whole Compound?
They walk'd about that Pond again with ease,
Where Angle lay; Timondes pray'd them, try,
What Fish there was then Hungry tho not Dry;
Shew'd Baits withal. Orsamnes sitting down,
Clermanthe near, her Sexes choice renown,
He took the Rod; Fishing (did say, conclude)
Was th' Ancient Game o'th' World, t'o're-reach, delude:
Small Prizes caught: whilst, gathering Flowers there,
Some mov'd by gentle Gale did crave (as 'twere)
Clermanthe's Hand, through humble Bow exprest,
Till planted in her Clear, Transcendent Brest.
128
Well pleas'd with sight, perfumed smell of those:
Fish tost like mirth, (or chance) did make to fall
I'th' Water, Pond beneath, redeem'd from thrall.
Prisners Captiv'd; so sprucely shew'd (e're Dead)
With their Pearl-Coats and Scales enammeled.
She then should th' Angle take, tho (charmless Brest)
Was loth to learn, since Treachery exprest;
Fail'd there, deceiv'd: how could she choose? for why,
Th' enamour'd Fish (most part) might Gazing lye
On dainty Lips, the worm regard no more:
That Master-Angler caught the Day before.
From thence they pass'd to th' Walk beneath, flat Green;
Where th' Arbour joyn'd to th' Wall, good Space between
That and the Bank; which trod a while, inclos'd
Within that Bow'r they sat them down, Repos'd.
Close by that Fount from Rocky Womb descending,
Which Subject gave for large Disccurse, well tending
To th' Philosophick way, that learned Sphere;
Between Orsamnes and Timondes there:
Natures chief Causes and Effects design'd,
Firm, Constant Course with various Change combin'd:
Such th' Earthly Globe's night, day, four Seasons prove;
Whilst th' Heavenly Orbs their certain Wheels do move
Still round, grand Machine, Frame: Star-Gems on high
(Yet Worlds of Light) adorn that vaulted Skye;
Planets their Rooms; low'st th' Ayry Regions spread,
Strange Volume, Book, where wonders may be read;
Each Character, green blade of Grass that's found
Worthy regard; what then the whole Compound?
| The Grecian Story | |