 | Poetical works (1908) |  |
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A DESCRIPTION OF ENCOLPIUS
It was at evening, & in Aprill mild,Of twelve sonnes of the yeare the fairest child,
When night, & day their strife to peace doe bring,
To have an æquall interest in the Spring,
The Sunne being Arbiter: I walkt to see,
How Nature drew a meddow, & a tree
In orient colors & to smell what sent
Of true perfume the winds the aire had lent.
When with a happy-carelesse glance I spy
One pace a shade; Encolp[i]us cry'd 'tis I;
And soe unmask't his forehead branch't more faire,
Than locks of grasse, our mother Rheas haire.
I had mine eyes soe full of such a freind,
That Flora's pride was dimmd; & in the end
I askt some time, before I could perswade
My senses it was spring; The silken blade
Of Cowslips lost their grace; the speckled Pancie,
Came short to flatter, though he smil'd, my fancie.
If later seasons had the Roses bredd,
I doubt the modest Damaske had turn'd redd,
Stain'd with a parallel: but it was good
They swadled were, like infants, in the bud.
Solsequium, gladd of this excuse, begunne
To close his blushes with the setting sunne.
Thrice chanting Philomel beganne a song,
Thrice had noe audience for Encolp[i]us tongue.
This thorne did touch her brest to be rejected,
And tun'd a moane, not heard, she was neglected.
I thought uncurteous Time would wait; but Night
Appear'd, Orions whelpes had chas'd the light
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How farre a beauty commands reverence.
The neighbour starres in love were waxen clearer,
The farthest shott, me thought, to view him neerer.
My Uranoscopy said, the Moone did cast
Faint beames, & sullen glimpses; when at last
I spy'd in her a new, & uncouth spott,
Doubtles through Envy all the rest she gott.
And then she hidd her palenes in a shrowd,
Borrowing the pleighted curtaines of a clowd.
Flowers, birds, & starres, all to Encolp[i]us yeelds,
As to Adonis doe Adonis feilds.
Oh had some other this describ'd, and seene!
I came a partiall Judge to praise the screene.
G. Fletcher.
| Poetical works (1908) | |