University of Virginia Library

[Caliope assist my quill]

Caliope assist my quill,
With Sisters three lend me the skill,
Your ayde I craue, I want the same,
For to describe this pearelesse Dame:
Who is the flower of beautyes trayne,
Which Nature made her selfe to stayne,
Her azure veynes on forehead hie,
Doe shine so bright as Christall skie.
Her Amber hayres with wyers of golde,
Trim'd in good order to beholde.
Her eyes beneath her browes doe shyne,
Which doe intrap the gazers eyne.
Her Visage shewes like Roses cleere,
Where redde on white seemes to appeare.
Her nose so comely set betweene,
Where excellencie may well be seene.
Her cherry lippes so soft and sweete,
Her teeth within so whyte and meete.
Her dimpled chinne so round and bryght,
Might well entice a mort-fied wyght,
Her necke the piller of this Peere,
With skinne so whyte, and veynes so cleere,
Vpholdes a wonder to the eye,
Excelling natures puritie.
Her Armes, two branches of the vine,
Where nothing els but beautie shine.
Her shoulders bene the roote, I trowe,
Whereof these braunches fine doe growe.
Two bosses shine in siluer breast,
Nothing inferiour to the rest.
They be the hilles which doe inuite,
Gaye Venus darlings to delite.
On eyther side is finely dight,
Like armored scales shining bright.
Two rowes of Ribbes so euen and iust,
That when one mooues, the other must.
Next vnto this, the Waste so small,
Beneath her stately breast doeth fall,
That with a spanne might there be found,
The compasse of her middle round.
Beneath the hill, fayre Adons hill,
Whereof in Ida he did swill.
The pleasure sweete of loues desire,
Too rare to be a mould of myre.
Next vnto this the summe of all,
Which as I ought, I dare not call.
A seale of Virgin waxe at hand,
Without impression there doeth stand:
Then thyghes so fine, and smoothe as Iett,
Betweene the which a way is set,
Of eyther side as soft as downe,
The readie path to high renowne.
Her knee so knitting legge and thigh,
Like Scalap-shell of Azure skie,
Doeth double beautie ioyne we see,
Which Venus mooues to ielousie.
The Kaulfe euen rising iust betweene,
The gartering place and small is seene,
As pointed Diamond Anckle bright,
Like droppes of dewe on Roses white.
Her presse so soft with foote so fine,
That where she goeth scant grasse do twine,
Thus haue I framed her partes in kinde,
And yet the chiefe is left behinde.
Which last I left, though it be least,
Yet for memoriall to the rest.
Her hand is it, her hand in sight,
The glistering glasse of beautie bright.
Her lillie handes eche looker paines,
Embroydered with azure veynes,
By arte such workes did neuer passe,
Vnlesse her hand a sample was.
Her peble fingers long and small,
Tipte with yuorie beauties call,
Shin'd so bright as Titans rayes,
My penne wants skill to paint her praise,
The beautie of this pearelesse peece,
Surpasseth farre the Queene of Greece.
Whose countenace and Maiestie,
Doeth rule the sterne aboue the skie.
Yet curteous, modest with distaine,
That euerie rowling eye doeth paine.
Her loftie thoughtes and high desire,
Are neuer mou'd with fancies fire.
Who so hath seene, let him repent,
Who neuer her view'd, may well preuent.
For hope deceiues each one that proues,
In such a soyle to plant their loues.