Ex otio Negotium Or, Martiall his epigrams Translated. With Sundry Poems and Fancies, By R. Fletcher |
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The Myrtle Grove.
|
 | Ex otio Negotium |  |
The Myrtle Grove.
Just as the reeling Sun came sliding down
Among the Moors and Tethys in a Gown
Of sea-green watchet settled to embrace
Her great Apollo from his circled race,
And ye streak'd heavens did themselves digest
Into a larger Iris, to invest
And canopie th'illustrious lovely pair
In a Diaphanous Robe of costly ayre:
Among the Moors and Tethys in a Gown
Of sea-green watchet settled to embrace
Her great Apollo from his circled race,
And ye streak'd heavens did themselves digest
Into a larger Iris, to invest
And canopie th'illustrious lovely pair
In a Diaphanous Robe of costly ayre:
Clarinda rose amidst the Myrtle Grove,
Like the Queen-mother of the stars above.
But that Clarinda's was no borrow'd Light,
Nor could it, where she was be deemd a night.
Such was the natural glories she put on
They ow'd no being to reflection.
Whiles the inspir'd Musicians of the wood,
Ravish'd at the new day, powr'd out a floud
Of quavering melody in honied strains
To court the glittering Diety of the plains.
Those pretty flow'ry beds of sweets that now
Had clos'd their heads up in an amber dew
Of tears, to mourn the drowsy Sun's good night,
Warm'd with a nobler ardor sprung up right,
And threw the mantles of dull sleep aside
In a displaid and meritorious pride,
To strew with rich perfumes her balmy way,
Which grew more fragrant by her active ray.
Like the Queen-mother of the stars above.
But that Clarinda's was no borrow'd Light,
Nor could it, where she was be deemd a night.
Such was the natural glories she put on
They ow'd no being to reflection.
Whiles the inspir'd Musicians of the wood,
Ravish'd at the new day, powr'd out a floud
Of quavering melody in honied strains
To court the glittering Diety of the plains.
Those pretty flow'ry beds of sweets that now
Had clos'd their heads up in an amber dew
253
Warm'd with a nobler ardor sprung up right,
And threw the mantles of dull sleep aside
In a displaid and meritorious pride,
To strew with rich perfumes her balmy way,
Which grew more fragrant by her active ray.
Thus sweetly woo'd Clarinda laid her down
On a curl'd quilt of roses, fondly grown
Proud of their own oppression, whiles they may
Kiss the dear burden wch upon them lay.
Then skreen'd with harmony, she stretch'd a long
Upon her Damask Couch, where a bright throng
Of Graces hover'd ore the firmament
Of her pure orbs drawn to a full extent.
Whiles a soft gale of wanton wind that blew
Did sport her willing glories into view.
But I poor dazled I, not daring here
T'attempt the splendor of each naked sphear,
Stood peeping through the Opticks of ye shade,
Which to my sight a kind reflection made.
On a curl'd quilt of roses, fondly grown
Proud of their own oppression, whiles they may
Kiss the dear burden wch upon them lay.
Then skreen'd with harmony, she stretch'd a long
Upon her Damask Couch, where a bright throng
Of Graces hover'd ore the firmament
Of her pure orbs drawn to a full extent.
Whiles a soft gale of wanton wind that blew
Did sport her willing glories into view.
But I poor dazled I, not daring here
T'attempt the splendor of each naked sphear,
Stood peeping through the Opticks of ye shade,
Which to my sight a kind reflection made.
Her eyes half shut up in their christal case
Stood twinckling Centinels upon her face;
Or else to take the prospect of those fields
Of beauty which that flowing Tempe yields.
Her coral lips ten thousand smiles enthron'd,
Like clustred grapes which for a vintage groan'd.
The Ivory palace of her stately neck
Cloth'd with majestick aw, did seem to check
The looser pastime of her gamesome hair,
Which in wilde rings ran trick about the ayre.
Her amorous brests swell'd to a lovely rise
Of dripping plenty a twinn'd Paradise
Of milk and honey, exhal'd my roving eye
Into a soul-ensnaring extasie.
And had I not recoil'd without delay
I there had wandred in the milky way.
Her belly like the Ace of Clubs, so white,
So black, the struting pillow of delight,
So fired the catching tinder of my sense,
That I no longer Student could commence,
But streight weigh'd anchor & tack'd up ye sail
To the main yard, waiting a stiffer gale
To pass me through those ticklish streights of Man
Into the full Mediterranean.
At last I plung'd into th'Elysian charms,
Fast claspp'd by th'arched Zodiack of her arms
Those closer clings of love, where I pertaked
Strong hopes of bliss; but so, ô so I waked!
Stood twinckling Centinels upon her face;
Or else to take the prospect of those fields
Of beauty which that flowing Tempe yields.
Her coral lips ten thousand smiles enthron'd,
Like clustred grapes which for a vintage groan'd.
254
Cloth'd with majestick aw, did seem to check
The looser pastime of her gamesome hair,
Which in wilde rings ran trick about the ayre.
Her amorous brests swell'd to a lovely rise
Of dripping plenty a twinn'd Paradise
Of milk and honey, exhal'd my roving eye
Into a soul-ensnaring extasie.
And had I not recoil'd without delay
I there had wandred in the milky way.
Her belly like the Ace of Clubs, so white,
So black, the struting pillow of delight,
So fired the catching tinder of my sense,
That I no longer Student could commence,
But streight weigh'd anchor & tack'd up ye sail
To the main yard, waiting a stiffer gale
To pass me through those ticklish streights of Man
Into the full Mediterranean.
At last I plung'd into th'Elysian charms,
Fast claspp'd by th'arched Zodiack of her arms
Those closer clings of love, where I pertaked
Strong hopes of bliss; but so, ô so I waked!
| Ex otio Negotium | |