| William Stanley Braithwaite, ed. The Book of Elizabethan Verse. 1907. | | | | A Nosegay | | By John Reynolds (c. 1588–c. 1655) |
| | | SAY, crimson Rose and dainty Daffodil, | |
| With Violet blue; | |
| Since you have seen the beauty of my saint, | |
| And eke her view; | |
| Did not her sight (fair sight!) you lonely fill, | 5 |
| With sweet delight | |
| Of goddess’ grace and angels’ sacred teint | |
| In fine, most bright? | |
| |
| Say, golden Primrose, sanguine Cowslip fair, | |
| With Pink most fine; | 10 |
| Since you beheld the visage of my dear, | |
| And eyes divine; | |
| Did not her globy front, and glistening hair, | |
| With cheeks most sweet, | |
| So gloriously like damask flowers appear, | 15 |
| The gods to greet? | |
| |
| Say, snow-white Lily, speckled Gilly-flower, | |
| With Daisy gay; | |
| Since you have viewed the Queen of my desire, | |
| In her array; | 20 |
| Did not her ivory paps, fair Venus’ bower, | |
| With heavenly glee, | |
| A Juno’s grace, conjure you to require | |
| Her face to see? | |
| |
| Say Rose, say Daffodil, and Violet blue, | 25 |
| With Primrose fair, | |
| Since ye have seen my nymph’s sweet dainty face, | |
| And gesture rare, | |
| Did not (bright Cowslip, blooming Pink) her view | |
| (White Lily) shine— | 30 |
| (Ah, Gilly-flower, ah Daisy!) with a grace | |
| Like stars divine? | | | | |
|
|
