172
The first Booke of
Cant. XII.
Which whenas trew by try all he out fond,He badd to open wyde his brasen gate,Which long time had beene shut, and out of hondProclaymed ioy and peace through all his state;For dead now was their foe, which them forrayed late.
Then gan triumphant Trompets sownd on hye,That sent to heuen the ecchoed reportOf their new ioy, and happie victoryGainst him, that had them long opprest with tort,And fast imprisoned in sieged fort.Then all the people, as in solemne feast,To him assembled with one full consort,Reioycing at the fall of that great beast,From whose eternall bondage now they were releast.
Forth came that auncient Lord and aged Queene,Arayd in antique robes downe to the grownd,And sad habiliments right well beseeue;A noble crew about them waited rowndOfsage and sober Peres, all grauely gownd;Whom far before did march a goodly bandOf tall young men, all hable armes to sownd,But now they laurell braunches bore in hand;Glad signe of victory and peace in all their land.
Vnto that doughtie Conquerour they came,And him before themselues prostrating low,Their Lord and Patrone loud did him proclame,And at his feet their lawrell boughes did throw.Soone after them all dauncing on a rowThe comely virgins came, with girlands dight,As fresh as flowres in medow greene doe grow,When morning deaw vpon their leaues doth light:And in their handes sweet Timbrels all vpheld on hight.
And
