Page:Lives of Poets-Laureate.djvu/41

To see her tread the ground
With heels short and round.
She is plainly express
Egeria the goddess.
There is no beast savage,
Nor no tiger so wood,^[1]
But she would change his mood,—
Such relucent grace
Is formed in her face;
For this most goodly flower,
This blossom of fresh colour,
She flourisheth new and new
In beauty and virtue.


"So goodly as she dresses,
So properly she presses
The bright golden tresses
Of her hair so fine,
Like Phœbus' beams shine.
It is for to suppose
How that she can wear
Gorgeously her gear,
Her fresh^[2] habiliments
With other implements
To serve for all intents,
Like Dame Flora, queen
Of lusty^[3] summer green.
For this most goodly flower,
This blossom of fresh colour,
So Jupiter me succour,
She flourisheth new and new
In beauty and virtue.


"My pen it is unable,
My hand it is unstable,
My reason rude and dull
To praise her at the full;
Goodly Mistress Jane,
Sober, demure Diane;
Jane, this mistress hight,
The load-star of delight,
Dame Venus of all pleasure,
The well of worldly treasure;

1. Furious.
2. Gay.
3. Pleasant.