| |
| SEE with what simplicity | |
| This nymph begins her golden days! | |
| In the green grass she loves to lie, | |
| And there with her fair aspect tames | |
| The wilder flowers and gives them names, | 5 |
| But only with the roses plays | |
| And them does tell | |
| What colour best becomes them and what smell. | |
| |
| Who can foretell for what high cause | |
| This darling of the Gods was born? | 10 |
| Yet this is she whose chaster laws | |
| The wanton Love shall one day fear, | |
| And, under her command severe, | |
| See his bow broke, and ensigns torn. | |
| Happy who can | 15 |
| Appease this virtuous enemy of man! | |
| |
| O then let me in time compound | |
| And parley with those conquering eyes, | |
| Ere they have tried their force to wound; | |
| Ere with their glancing wheels they drive | 20 |
| In triumph over hearts that strive, | |
| And them that yield but more despise: | |
| Let me be laid | |
| Where I may see the glories from some shade. | |
| |
| Meantime, whilst every verdant thing | 25 |
| Itself does at thy beauty charm, | |
| Reform the errors of the spring; | |
| Make that the tulips may have share | |
| Of sweetness, seeing they are fair; | |
| And roses of their thorns disarm; | 30 |
| But most procure | |
| That violets may a longer age endure. | |
| |
| But O, young beauty of the woods, | |
| Whom Nature courts with fruit and flowers, | |
| Gather the flowers, but spare the buds, | 35 |
| Lest Flora, angry at thy crime | |
| To kill her infants in their prime, | |
| Do quickly make the example yours; | |
| And ere we see, | |
| Nip in the blossom, all our hopes and thee. | 40 |
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