The Works of Michael Drayton Edited by J. William Hebel |
 | I. |
|
|
|
| 1. |
| 2. |
| 3. |
| 4. |
| 5. |
| 6. |
| 7. |
| 8. |
| 9. |
|
| 1. |
| 2. |
| 3. |
| 4. |
| 5. |
| 6. |
| 7. |
| 8. |
| 9. |
| 10. |
| 11. |
| 12. |
| 13. |
| 14. |
| 15. |
| 16. |
| 17. |
| 18. |
| 19. |
| 20. |
| 21. |
| 22. |
| 23. |
| 24. |
| 25. |
| 26. |
| 27. |
| 28. |
| 29. |
| 30. |
| 31. |
| 32. |
| 33. |
| 34. |
| 35. |
| 36. |
| 37. |
| 38. |
| 39. |
| 40. |
| 41. |
| 42. |
| 43. |
| 44. |
| 45. |
| 46. |
| 47. |
| 48. |
| 49. |
| 50. |
| 51. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| II. |
|
|
| 1. |
| 2. |
| 3. |
| 4. |
| 5. |
| 6. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| 1. |
| 2. |
| 3. |
| 4. |
| 5. |
| 6. |
| 7. |
| 8. |
| 9. |
| 10. |
| 11. |
| 12. |
| 13. |
| 14. |
| 15. |
| 16. |
| 17. |
| 18. |
| 19. |
| 20. |
| 21. |
| 22. |
| 23. |
| 24. |
| 25. |
| 26. |
| 27. |
| 28. |
| 29. |
| 30. |
| 31. |
| 32. |
| 33. |
| 34. |
| 35. |
| 36. |
| 37. |
| 38. |
| 39. |
| 40. |
| 41. |
| 42. |
| 43. |
| 44. |
| 45. |
| 46. |
| 47. |
| 48. |
| 49. |
| 50. |
| 51. |
| 52. |
| 53. |
| 54. |
| 55. |
| 56. |
| 57. |
| 58. |
| 59. |
| 60. |
| 61. |
| 62. |
| 63. |
|
|
|
|
| 1. |
| 2. |
| 3. |
| 4. |
| 5. |
| 6. |
| 7. |
| 8. |
| 9. |
| 10. |
| III. |
|
THE QUEST OF CYNTHIA. |
|
|
| 1. |
| 2. |
| 3. |
| 4. |
| 5. |
| 6. |
| 7. |
| 8. |
| 9. |
| 10. |
|
| 1. |
| 2. |
| 3. |
| IV. |
|
|
| 1. |
| 2. |
| 3. |
| 4. |
| 5. |
| 6. |
| 7. |
| 8. |
| 9. |
| 10. |
| 11. |
| 12. |
| 13. |
| 14. |
| 15. |
| 16. |
| 17. |
| 18. |
|
|
| 19. |
| 20. |
| 21. |
| 22. |
| 23. |
| 24. |
| 25. |
| 26. |
| 27. |
| 28. |
| 29. |
| 30. |
 | The Works of Michael Drayton |  |
147
THE QUEST OF CYNTHIA.
What time the groves were clad in greene,
The Fields drest all in flowers,
And that the sleeke-hayr'd Nimphs were seene,
To seeke them Summer Bowers.
The Fields drest all in flowers,
And that the sleeke-hayr'd Nimphs were seene,
To seeke them Summer Bowers.
Forth rov'd I by the sliding Rills,
To finde where Cynthia sat,
Whose name so often from the hills,
The Ecchos wondred at.
To finde where Cynthia sat,
Whose name so often from the hills,
The Ecchos wondred at.
When me upon my Quest to bring,
That pleasure might excell,
The Birds strove which should sweetliest sing,
The Flowers which sweet'st should smell.
That pleasure might excell,
The Birds strove which should sweetliest sing,
The Flowers which sweet'st should smell.
Long wandring in the Woods (said I)
Oh whether's Cynthia gone?
When soone the Eccho doth reply,
To my last word, goe on.
Oh whether's Cynthia gone?
When soone the Eccho doth reply,
To my last word, goe on.
At length upon a lofty Firre,
It was my chance to finde,
Where that deare name most due to her,
Was carv'd upon the rynde.
It was my chance to finde,
Where that deare name most due to her,
Was carv'd upon the rynde.
Which whilst with wonder I beheld,
The Bees their hony brought,
And up the carved letters fild,
As they with gould were wrought.
The Bees their hony brought,
And up the carved letters fild,
As they with gould were wrought.
And neere that trees more spacious roote,
Then looking on the ground,
The shape of her most dainty foot,
Imprinted there I found.
Then looking on the ground,
The shape of her most dainty foot,
Imprinted there I found.
148
Which stuck there like a curious seale,
As though it should forbid
Us, wretched mortalls, to reveale,
What under it was hid.
As though it should forbid
Us, wretched mortalls, to reveale,
What under it was hid.
Besides the flowers which it had pres'd,
Apeared to my vew,
More fresh and lovely then the rest,
That in the meadowes grew:
Apeared to my vew,
More fresh and lovely then the rest,
That in the meadowes grew:
The cleere drops in the steps that stood,
Of that dilicious Girle,
The Nimphes amongst their dainty food,
Drunke for dissolved pearle.
Of that dilicious Girle,
The Nimphes amongst their dainty food,
Drunke for dissolved pearle.
The yeilding sand, where she had troad,
Untucht yet with the winde,
By the faire posture plainely show'd,
Where I might Cynthia finde.
Untucht yet with the winde,
By the faire posture plainely show'd,
Where I might Cynthia finde.
When on upon my waylesse walke,
As my desires me draw,
I like a madman fell to talke,
With every thing I saw:
As my desires me draw,
I like a madman fell to talke,
With every thing I saw:
I ask'd some Lillyes why so white,
They from their fellowes were;
Who answered me, that Cynthia's sight,
Had made them looke so cleare:
They from their fellowes were;
Who answered me, that Cynthia's sight,
Had made them looke so cleare:
I ask'd a nodding Violet why,
It sadly hung the head,
It told me Cynthia late past by,
Too soone from it that fled:
It sadly hung the head,
It told me Cynthia late past by,
Too soone from it that fled:
A bed of Roses saw I there,
Bewitching with their grace:
Besides so wondrous sweete they were,
That they perfum'd the place,
Bewitching with their grace:
Besides so wondrous sweete they were,
That they perfum'd the place,
149
I of a Shrube of those enquir'd,
From others of that kind,
Who with such vertue them enspuir'd,
It answer'd (to my minde.)
From others of that kind,
Who with such vertue them enspuir'd,
It answer'd (to my minde.)
As the base Hemblocke were we such,
The poysned'st weed that growes,
Till Cynthia by her god-like tuch,
Transform'd us to the Rose:
The poysned'st weed that growes,
Till Cynthia by her god-like tuch,
Transform'd us to the Rose:
Since when those Frosts that winter brings
Which candy every greene,
Renew us like the Teeming Springs,
And we thus Fresh are seene.
Which candy every greene,
Renew us like the Teeming Springs,
And we thus Fresh are seene.
At length I on a Fountaine light,
Whose brim with Pincks was platted;
The Banck with Daffadillies dight,
With grasse like Sleave was matted,
Whose brim with Pincks was platted;
The Banck with Daffadillies dight,
With grasse like Sleave was matted,
When I demanded of that Well,
What Power frequented there;
Desiring, it would please to tell
What name it usde to beare:
What Power frequented there;
Desiring, it would please to tell
What name it usde to beare:
It told me it was Cynthias owne,
Within whose cheerefull brimmes,
That curious Nimph had oft beene knowne
To bath her snowy Limmes.
Within whose cheerefull brimmes,
That curious Nimph had oft beene knowne
To bath her snowy Limmes.
Since when that Water had the power,
Lost Mayden-heads to restore,
And make one Twenty in an howre,
Of Esons Age before.
Lost Mayden-heads to restore,
And make one Twenty in an howre,
Of Esons Age before.
And told me that the bottome cleere,
Now layd with many a fett
Of seed-pearle, ere shee bath'd her there:
Was knowne as blacke as Jet,
Now layd with many a fett
Of seed-pearle, ere shee bath'd her there:
Was knowne as blacke as Jet,
150
As when she from the water came,
Where first she touch'd the molde,
In balls the people made the same
For Pomander, and solde.
Where first she touch'd the molde,
In balls the people made the same
For Pomander, and solde.
When chance me to an Arbour led,
Whereas I might behold:
Two blest Elizeums in one sted,
The lesse the great enfold.
Whereas I might behold:
Two blest Elizeums in one sted,
The lesse the great enfold.
The place which she had chosen out,
Her selfe in to repose;
Had they com'n downe, the gods no doubt
The very same had chose.
Her selfe in to repose;
Had they com'n downe, the gods no doubt
The very same had chose.
The wealthy Spring yet never bore
That sweet, nor dainty flower
That damask'd not, the chequer'd flore
Of Cynthias Summer Bower.
That sweet, nor dainty flower
That damask'd not, the chequer'd flore
Of Cynthias Summer Bower.
The Birch, the Mirtle, and the Bay,
Like friends did all embrace;
And their large branches did display,
To Canapy the place.
Like friends did all embrace;
And their large branches did display,
To Canapy the place.
Where she like Venus doth appeare,
Upon a Rosie bed;
As Lillyes the soft pillowes weare,
Whereon she layd her head.
Upon a Rosie bed;
As Lillyes the soft pillowes weare,
Whereon she layd her head.
Heav'n on her shape such cost bestow'd,
And with such bounties blest:
No lim of hers but might have made
A Goddesse at the least.
And with such bounties blest:
No lim of hers but might have made
A Goddesse at the least.
The Flyes by chance mesht in her hayre,
By the bright Radience throwne
From her cleare eyes, rich Jewels weare,
They so like Diamonds shone.
By the bright Radience throwne
From her cleare eyes, rich Jewels weare,
They so like Diamonds shone.
151
The meanest weede the soyle there bare,
Her breath did so refine,
That it with Woodbynd durst compare,
And beard the Eglantine.
Her breath did so refine,
That it with Woodbynd durst compare,
And beard the Eglantine.
The dewe which on the tender grasse,
The Evening had distill'd,
To pure Rose-water turned was,
The shades with sweets that fill'd.
The Evening had distill'd,
To pure Rose-water turned was,
The shades with sweets that fill'd.
The windes were husht, no leafe so small
At all was seene to stirre:
Whilst tuning to the waters fall,
The small Birds sang to her.
At all was seene to stirre:
Whilst tuning to the waters fall,
The small Birds sang to her.
Where she too quickly me espies,
When I might plainely see
A thousand Cupids from her eyes
Shoote all at once at me.
When I might plainely see
A thousand Cupids from her eyes
Shoote all at once at me.
Into these secret shades (quoth she)
How dar'st thou be so bold
To enter, consecrate to me,
Or touch this hallowed mold.
How dar'st thou be so bold
To enter, consecrate to me,
Or touch this hallowed mold.
Those words (quoth she) I can pronounce,
Which to that shape can bring
Thee, which the Hunter had who once
Sawe Dian in the Spring.
Which to that shape can bring
Thee, which the Hunter had who once
Sawe Dian in the Spring.
Bright Nimph againe I thus replie,
This cannot me affright:
I had rather in thy presence die,
Then live out of thy sight.
This cannot me affright:
I had rather in thy presence die,
Then live out of thy sight.
I first upon the Mountaines hie,
Built Altars to thy name;
And grav'd it on the Rocks thereby,
To propogate thy fame.
Built Altars to thy name;
And grav'd it on the Rocks thereby,
To propogate thy fame.
152
I taught the Shepheards on the Downes,
Of thee to frame their Layes:
T'was I that fill'd the neighbouring Townes,
With Ditties of thy praise.
Of thee to frame their Layes:
T'was I that fill'd the neighbouring Townes,
With Ditties of thy praise.
Thy colours I devis'd with care,
Which were unknowne before:
Which since that, in their braded hayre
The Nimphes and Silvans wore.
Which were unknowne before:
Which since that, in their braded hayre
The Nimphes and Silvans wore.
Transforme me to what shape you can,
I passe not what it be:
Yea what most hatefull is to man,
So I may follow thee.
I passe not what it be:
Yea what most hatefull is to man,
So I may follow thee.
Which when she heard full pearly floods,
I in her eyes might view:
(Quoth she) most welcome to these Woods,
To meane for one so true.
I in her eyes might view:
(Quoth she) most welcome to these Woods,
To meane for one so true.
Here from the hatefull world wee'll live,
A den of mere dispight:
To Ideots onely that doth give,
Which be her sole delight.
A den of mere dispight:
To Ideots onely that doth give,
Which be her sole delight.
To people the infernall pit,
That more and more doth strive;
Where onely villany is wit,
And Divels onely thrive.
That more and more doth strive;
Where onely villany is wit,
And Divels onely thrive.
Whose vilenesse us shall never awe:
But here our sports shall be:
Such as the golden world first sawe,
Most innocent and free.
But here our sports shall be:
Such as the golden world first sawe,
Most innocent and free.
Of Simples in these Groves that growe,
Wee'll learne the perfect skill;
The nature of each Herbe to knowe
Which cures, and which can kill.
Wee'll learne the perfect skill;
The nature of each Herbe to knowe
Which cures, and which can kill.
153
The waxen Pallace of the Bee,
We seeking will surprise
The curious workmanship to see,
Of her full laden thighes.
We seeking will surprise
The curious workmanship to see,
Of her full laden thighes.
Wee'll suck the sweets out of the Combe,
And make the gods repine:
As they doe feast in Joves great roome,
To see with what we dine.
And make the gods repine:
As they doe feast in Joves great roome,
To see with what we dine.
Yet when there haps a honey fall,
Wee'll lick the sirupt leaves:
And tell the Bees that their's is gall,
To this upon the Greaves.
Wee'll lick the sirupt leaves:
And tell the Bees that their's is gall,
To this upon the Greaves.
The nimble Squirrell noting here,
Her mossy Dray that makes,
And laugh to see the lusty Deere
Come bounding ore the brakes.
Her mossy Dray that makes,
And laugh to see the lusty Deere
Come bounding ore the brakes.
The Spiders Webb to watch weele stand,
And when it takes the Bee,
Weele helpe out of the Tyrants hand,
The Innocent to free.
And when it takes the Bee,
Weele helpe out of the Tyrants hand,
The Innocent to free.
Sometime weele angle at the Brooke,
The freckled Trout to take,
With silken Wormes, and bayte the hooke,
Which him our prey shall make.
The freckled Trout to take,
With silken Wormes, and bayte the hooke,
Which him our prey shall make.
Of medling with such subtile tooles,
Such dangers that enclose,
The Morrall is that painted Fooles,
Are caught with silken showes.
Such dangers that enclose,
The Morrall is that painted Fooles,
Are caught with silken showes.
And when the Moone doth once appeare,
Weele trace the lower grounds,
When Fayries in their Ringlets there
Doe daunce their nightly Rounds
Weele trace the lower grounds,
When Fayries in their Ringlets there
Doe daunce their nightly Rounds
154
And have a Flocke of Turtle Doves,
A guard on us to keepe,
As witnesse of our honest loves,
To watch us till we sleepe.
A guard on us to keepe,
As witnesse of our honest loves,
To watch us till we sleepe.
Which spoke I felt such holy fires
To overspred my breast,
As lent life to my Chast desires
And gave me endlesse rest.
To overspred my breast,
As lent life to my Chast desires
And gave me endlesse rest.
By Cynthia thus doe I subsist,
On earth Heavens onely pride,
Let her be mine, and let who list,
Take all the world beside.
On earth Heavens onely pride,
Let her be mine, and let who list,
Take all the world beside.
FINIS.
| The Works of Michael Drayton | |