IX.
[The Marigold so likes the louely Sunne]
Clytia (as Perottus witnesseth) was a glorious Nimph,
and thereof had her name: for κλεος in greeke signifieth
glorie: and therfore she aspired to be the
loue of Sol him selfe, who præferring Leucothoe before
her, she was in short space ouergonne with
suche extremitie of care, that by compassion of
the Gods shee was transformed into a Marigolde;
which is significantlie called Heliotropium, because
euen nowe after change of forme shee still
obserueth the rising and going downe of hir beloued
the sunne, as Ouid mentioneth,
Jlla suum, quamuis radice tenetur,
Vertitur ad Solem, mutataque seruat amorem.
And by this it maie easilie bee ghessed, whie in this
passion the Authour compareth him selfe with
the Marigold, and his loue vnto the Sunne.
The
Marigold so likes the louely Sunne,
That when he settes the other hides her face,
And whē he ginnes his morning course to rūne,
She spreades abroad, & showes her greatest grace;
so shuts or sprouts my ioy, as doth this flow're,
when my Sheesūne doth either laugh or lowre.
When shee departes my sight, I die for paine,
In closing vp my hearte with cloudie care;
And yet when once I viewe her face againe,
I streight reuiue, and ioye my wonted fare:
Therewith my heart ofte saies, when all is done,
That heau'n and earth haue not a brighter sunne,
A iealous thought yet puttes my minde in feare,
Lest Ioue him selfe descending from his throne
Shoulde take by stealth and place her in his spheare,
Or in some higher globe to rule alone:
Which if he should, the heau'ns might boast their praye
But I (alas) might curse ye dismall day.
