There as in glistring glory she did sitt, Some thought to raise themselves to high degree Some by close shouldring, some by flatteree, Others through friendes, others for base regard; And all by wrong waies, for themselves prepard : Those that were up themselves, kept others low; Those that were low themselves, held others hard, Ne2 suffred them to ryse or greater grow; But every one did strive his fellow downe to throw. The Ministry of Angels. AND is there care in heaven? and is there love How oft do they their silver bowers leave 1 to soar upwards. 2 nor. DESCRIPTION OF A GARDEN. And their bright squadrons round about us plant; And all for love, and nothing for reward : O why should hevenly God to men have such regard! Description of a Garden. THERE the most daintie paradise on ground In which all pleasures plenteously abownd, One would have thought (so cunningly the rude And in the midst of all a fountaine stood, Through every channell running one might see; Was over-wrought, and shapes of naked boyes, And over all, of purest gold was spred 1 give grace unto. 2 at last. 3 imagery. 1 For the rich metall was so coloured, That wight who did not well avis'd it vew,1 Would surely deeme it to bee ivie trew : Low his lascivious armes adown did creepe, That themselves dipping in the silver dew Their fleecy flowers, they fearfully did steepe, Which drops of christall seemd for wantones2 to weep. Infinit streames continually did well Out of this fountaine, sweet and faire to see, Whose depth exceeded not three cubits hight, Heavenly Music. EFTSOONES they heard a most melodious sound, Of all that mote delight a daintie eare, Such as attonce might not on living ground, Save in this paradise, be heard elsewhere: Right hard it was for wight which did it heare, To read what manner musicke that mote1 bee; For all that pleasing is to living eare Was there consorted in one harmonee; Birds, voices, instruments, windes, waters, all agree: The joyous birdes, shrouded in chearefull shade, 1 he who looked at it without being well informed. 3 immediately, straightway. 4 might. DETRACTION. With the base murmure of the waters fall; Betraction. THE other nothing better was than shee; Did spred abroad and throw in th' open wynd: 9 That all she sought was mens good name to have bereaved. For whatsoever good by any sayd Or doen she heard, she would streightwayes invent How to deprave or slaunderously upbrayd, Or to misconstrue of a mans intent, And turne to ill the thing that well was ment; To common haunts, and companies frequent, To blot the same with blame, or wrest in wicked sort. And if that any ill she heard of any, She would it eeke,2 and make much worse by telling, That every matter worse was for her melling.3 A wicked hag, and Envy selfe excelling In mischiefe for herselfe she onely vext; : But this same both herselfe and others eke" perplext. 1 ill nature. 4 called. 2 increase, add to. 3 meddling. The Seasons. So forth issew'd the Seasons of the yeare. That as some did him love, so others did him feare. Then came the jolly Summer, being dight In a thin silken cassock coloured greene, That was unlyned all to be more light; And on his head a girlond well beseene1 He wore, from which, as he had chauffed5 been, The sweat did drop; and in his hand he bore A bowe and shaftes, as he in forest greene Had hunted late the libbard or the bore, And now would bathe his limbes, with labor heated sore. Then came the Autumn, all in yellow clad, To reape the ripened fruits the which the earth had yold.? Lastly came Winter, clothed all in frize, |