Moderatvs The most delectable & famous Historie of the Blacke Knight [by Robert Parry] |
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[When Flora flourished in her prime] |
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[When Flora flourished in her prime]
When Flora flourished in her prime,
bedeckt with gallant greene:
Had ouerspred the subtill soyle,
most liuely to be seene.
bedeckt with gallant greene:
Had ouerspred the subtill soyle,
most liuely to be seene.
No wit could chuse but wonder much,
to see such gallant Dame,
Attyred so gay with Maiestie,
belonging to the same.
to see such gallant Dame,
Attyred so gay with Maiestie,
belonging to the same.
She trac'd abroad with pompous pace,
and troupes of royall trayne,
Both male and female followed her,
the Prince and Country-swaine.
and troupes of royall trayne,
Both male and female followed her,
the Prince and Country-swaine.
Each one so placed in his degree,
as best did fitte his state,
Some pleased with his happy chance,
some cursed his frowning fate.
as best did fitte his state,
Some pleased with his happy chance,
some cursed his frowning fate.
Before her went, but dare I speake,
what there I did beholde:
A Princely youth, a mighty King,
a God both stout and bolde.
what there I did beholde:
A Princely youth, a mighty King,
a God both stout and bolde.
His amber lookes so gaily twyn'd
like crysped wyers of golde,
His beauty so rauished my wittes,
I can it not vnfold.
like crysped wyers of golde,
His beauty so rauished my wittes,
I can it not vnfold.
In one hand he did beare a bowe,
the other carryed fire:
Which would consume the stubburne sorte,
that seru'd not Queene desire.
the other carryed fire:
Which would consume the stubburne sorte,
that seru'd not Queene desire.
And at his side a quiuer did hang,
wherein was arrowes twaine:
The one with golde full finely typt,
that Louers vse to paine.
wherein was arrowes twaine:
The one with golde full finely typt,
that Louers vse to paine.
The other leaden headed was,
which makes disdayne in heart:
Who so is towch'd with this, of Loue
shall neuer feele the smart.
which makes disdayne in heart:
Who so is towch'd with this, of Loue
shall neuer feele the smart.
He winges did beare, in token that
who did his fauour require:
That he should beare aspyring minde,
and wing'd with high desire.
who did his fauour require:
That he should beare aspyring minde,
and wing'd with high desire.
But last, which doeth not payne me least,
the worlde to him was darke:
He could not see to giue to each,
according to desart.
the worlde to him was darke:
He could not see to giue to each,
according to desart.
Thus marched Flora in her pompe,
chiefe Actrix of the game,
And ministred matter to the rest,
delighting in the same.
chiefe Actrix of the game,
And ministred matter to the rest,
delighting in the same.
She is the frute of pleasant Ver,
most liuely to be seene:
Which glads the hearts of youthfull wyghts,
and beautifies the greene.
most liuely to be seene:
Which glads the hearts of youthfull wyghts,
and beautifies the greene.
She matter yeeldes to Cupids mates,
for to effect their ioy:
And he delightes within her bower,
her company to enioy.
for to effect their ioy:
And he delightes within her bower,
her company to enioy.
This vnitie betweene these twaine,
did boyle the feruent mynde,
And made each liuing thing to cleaue
by Nature to his kynde.
did boyle the feruent mynde,
And made each liuing thing to cleaue
by Nature to his kynde.
The God of Loue did fancy force,
and Flora frute did yeelde,
Conuenient to effect the same,
twixt pleasant groues in fielde.
and Flora frute did yeelde,
Conuenient to effect the same,
twixt pleasant groues in fielde.
Wherefore by heapes the Amorous troupes,
resorted to the place:
And followed still this Princely crew,
their pleasures to embrace.
resorted to the place:
And followed still this Princely crew,
their pleasures to embrace.
Whose Maiesty when I beheld;
and stately countenance,
Not Mars in field seemed so stout,
with warlike bloody launce.
and stately countenance,
Not Mars in field seemed so stout,
with warlike bloody launce.
For presently he vaunc'd him selfe,
vnto a stately throne,
More gorgeously then euer was wrought,
in timber or in stone.
vnto a stately throne,
More gorgeously then euer was wrought,
in timber or in stone.
It was emboss'd with bordering bowes,
and brancht with knots of greene,
No wyght by arte could frame the lyke,
but flourishing Flora Queene.
and brancht with knots of greene,
No wyght by arte could frame the lyke,
but flourishing Flora Queene.
About this seate where Cupid sate,
the chyrping byrdes did sing,
And his Venerian Clyents eke,
a dolefull knell did ring.
the chyrping byrdes did sing,
And his Venerian Clyents eke,
a dolefull knell did ring.
Some merrily did laugh and sport,
possessing heartes desire.
And others cryed for equity,
being skorched with his fire.
possessing heartes desire.
being skorched with his fire.
This Chaos of confused sport,
did make me much to muse,
If that I should this God adore,
or so to doe refuse.
did make me much to muse,
If that I should this God adore,
or so to doe refuse.
As thus I stood, not yet resolu'd
what course therein to take,
I had a summons to his Court,
my fealty to make.
what course therein to take,
I had a summons to his Court,
my fealty to make.
Then did I seeke to wrest by force,
his will for to withstand,
All that I could, I striu'd: yet was
to weake my faynting hand.
his will for to withstand,
All that I could, I striu'd: yet was
to weake my faynting hand.
Loe I which erst their follyes blam'd,
am now perforce constrain'd,
To yeeld obeysance at his barre,
which late the same disdain'd.
am now perforce constrain'd,
To yeeld obeysance at his barre,
which late the same disdain'd.
Wherefore I burne, and so must all
that dallieth with the flame,
Euen as the Flie turning about,
is perished in the same.
that dallieth with the flame,
Euen as the Flie turning about,
is perished in the same.
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