StoryTitle("caps", "Prothalamion") ?>
PoemStart() ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "Calme was the day, and through the trembling ayre", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "Sweete-breathing Zephyrus did softly play", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "A gentle spirit, that lightly did delay", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "Hot Titans beames, which then did glyster fayre;", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "When I, (whom sullein care,", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "Through discontent of my long fruitlesse stay", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "In Princes Court, and expectation vayne", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "Of idle hopes, which still doe fly away,", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "Like empty shaddowes, did afflict my brayne,)", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "Walkt forth to ease my payne", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "Along the shoare of silver streaming Themmes;", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "Whose rutty Bancke, the which his River hemmes,", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "Was paynted all with variable flowers,", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "And all the meades adornd with daintie gemmes", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "Fit to decke maydens bowres,", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "And crowne their Paramours", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "Against the Brydale day, which is not long:", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", "Sweete Themmes! runne softly, till I end my Song.", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "There, in a Meadow, by the Rivers side,", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "A Flocke of Nymphes I chauncéd to espy,", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "All lovely Daughters of the Flood thereby,", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "With goodly greenish locks, all loose untyde,", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "As each had bene a Bryde;", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "And each one had a little wicker basket,", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "Made of fine twigs, entrayléd curiously,", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "In which they gathered flowers to fill their flasket,", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "And with fine Fingers cropt full feateously", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "The tender stalkes on hye.", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "Of every sort, which in that Meadow grew,", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "They gathered some; the Violet, pallid blew,", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "The little Dazie, that at evening closes,", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "The virgin Lillie, and the Primrose trew,", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "With store of vermeil Roses,", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "To decke their Bridegromes posies", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "Against the Brydale day, which was not long:", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", "Sweete Themmes! runne softly, till I end my Song.", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "With that I saw two Swannes of goodly hewe", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "Come softly swimming downe along the Lee;", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "Two fairer Birds I yet did never see;", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "The snow, which doth the top of Pindus strew,", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "Did never whiter shew;", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "Nor Jove himselfe, when he a Swan would be,", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "For love of Leda, whiter did appeare;", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "Yet Leda was (they say) as white as he,", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "Yet not so white as these, nor nothing neare;", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "So purely white they were,", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "That even the gentle streame, the which them bare,", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "Seem'd foule to them, and bad his billowes spare", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "To wet their silken feathers, least they might", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "Soyle their fayre plumes with water not so fayre,", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "And marre their beauties bright,", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "That shone as heavens light,", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "Against their Brydale day, which was not long:", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", "Sweete Themmes! runne softly, till I end my Song.", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "Eftsoones the Nymphes, which now had Flowers their fill,", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "Ran all in haste to see that silver brood,", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "As they came floating on the Christal Flood;", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "Whom when they sawe, they stood amazéd still,", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "Their wondring eyes to fill;", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "Them seem'd they never saw a sight so fayre,", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "Of Fowles, so lovely, that they sure did deeme", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "Them heavenly borne, or to be that same payre", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "Which through the Skie draw Venus silver Teeme;", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "For sure they did not seeme", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "To be begot of any earthly Seede,", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "But rather Angels, or of Angels breede;", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "Yet were they bred of Somers-heat, they say,", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "In sweetest Season, when each Flower and weede", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "The earth did fresh aray;", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "So fresh they seem'd as day,", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "Even as their Brydale day, which was not long:", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", "Sweete Themmes! runne softly, till I end my Song.", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "Then forth they all out of their baskets drew", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "Great store of Flowers, the honour of the field,", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "That to the sense did fragrant odours yield,", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "All which upon those goodly Birds they threw", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "And all the Waves did strew,", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "That like old Peneus Waters they did seeme,", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "When downe along by pleasant Tempes shore,", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "Scattred with Flowres, through Thessaly they streeme,", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "That they appeare, through Lillies plenteous store,", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "Like a Brydes Chamber flore.", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "Two of those Nymphes, meane while, two Garlands bound", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "Of freshest Flowres which in that Mead they found,", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "The which presenting all in trim Array,", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "Their snowie Foreheads therewithall they crownd,", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "Whil'st one did sing this Lay,", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "Prepar'd against that Day,", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "Against their Brydale day, which was not long:", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", "Sweete Themmes! runne softly, till I end my Song.", "") ?>
PoemEnd() ?>
PoemStart() ?>
PoemLine("L0DQ", "", "\"Ye gentle Birdes! the worlds faire ornament,", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "And heavens glorie, whom this happie hower", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "Doth leade unto your lovers blisfull bower,", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "Joy may you have, and gentle hearts content", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "Of your loves couplement;", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "And let faire Venus, that is Queene of love,", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "With her heart-quelling Sonne upon you smile,", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "Whose smile, they say, hath vertue to remove", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "All Loves dislike, and friendships faultie guile", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "For ever to assoile.", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "Let endlesse Peace your steadfast hearts accord,", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "And blesséd Plentie wait upon your bord;", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "And let your bed with pleasures chast abound,", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "That fruitfull issue may to you afford,", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "Which may your foes confound,", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "And make your joyes redound", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "Upon your Brydale day, which is not long:", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", "Sweete Themmes! runne softlie, till I end my Song.\"", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "So ended she; and all the rest around", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "To her redoubled that her undersong,", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "Which said their brydale daye should not be long:", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "And gentle Eccho from the neighbour ground", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "Their accents did resound.", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "So forth those joyous Birdes did passe along,", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "Adowne the Lee, that to them murmurde low,", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "As he would speake, but that he lackt a tong,", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "Yet did by signes his glad affection show,", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "Making his streame run slow.", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "And all the foule which in his flood did dwell", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "Gan flock about these twaine, that did excell", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "The rest, so far as Cynthia doth shend", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "The lesser starres. So they, enrangéd well,", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "Did on those two attend,", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "And their best service lend", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "Against their wedding day, which was not long:", "") ?>
PoemLine("L3", "", "Sweete Themmes! runne softly, till I end my Song.", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "At length they all to mery London came,", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "To mery London, my most kyndly Nurse,", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "That to me gave this Lifes first native sourse,", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "Though from another place I take my name,", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "An house of auncient fame:", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "There when they came, whereas those bricky towres", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "The which on Themmes brode agéd backe doe ryde,", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "Where now the studious Lawyers have their bowers,", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "There whylome wont the Templer Knights to byde,", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "Till they decayd through pride:", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "Next whereunto there standes a stately place,", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "Where oft I gaynéd giftes and goodly grace", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "Of that great Lord, which therein wont to dwell,", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "Whose want too well now feeles my freendles case;", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "But ah! here fits not well", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "Olde woes, but joyes, to tell", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "Against the Brydale daye, which is not long:", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", "Sweete Themmes! runne softly, till I end my Song.", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "Yet therein now doth lodge a noble Peer,", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "Great Englands glory, and the Worlds wide wonder,", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "Whose dreadfull name late through all Spaine did thunder,", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "And Hercules two pillors standing neere", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "Did make to quake and feare:", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "Faire branch of Honor, flower of Chevalrie!", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "That fillest England with thy triumphes fame,", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "Joy have thou of thy noble victorie,", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "And endlesse happinesse of thine owne name", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "That promiseth the same;", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "That through thy prowesse, and victorious armes,", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "Thy country may be freed from forraine harmes;", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "And great Elisaes glorious name may ring", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "Through al the world, fil'd with thy wide Alarmes,", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "Which some brave muse may sing", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "To ages following,", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "Upon the Brydale day, which is not long:", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", "Sweete Themmes! runne softly till I end my Song.", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "From those high Towers this noble Lord issuing,", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "Like Radiant Hesper, when his golden hayre", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "In th' Ocean billowes he hath bathéd fayre,", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "Descended to the Rivers open vewing,", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "With a great traine ensuing.", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "Above the rest were goodly to bee seene", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "Two gentle Knights of lovely face and feature,", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "Beseeming well the bower of anie Queene,", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "With gifts of wit, and ornaments of nature,", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "Fit for so goodly stature,", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "That like the twins of Jove they seem'd in sight,", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "Which decke the Bauldricke of the Heavens bright;", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "They two, forth pacing to the Rivers side,", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "Received those two faire Brides, their Loves delight;", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "Which, at th' appointed tyde,", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "Each one did make his Bryde", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "Against their Brydale day, which is not long:", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", "Sweete Themmes! runne softly, till I end my Song.", "") ?>
Poet("Edmund Spenser", "1552-1599") ?>
PoemEnd() ?>