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| PARTHENOPHE! See what is sent! | |
| By me (fair Nymph!) these Saints salute thee! | |
| Whose presents in this basket here, | |
| Faithful PARTHENOPHIL doth bear! | |
| Nor will I prove ingrate! nor mute be! | 5 |
| If my power were, | |
| Such gifts as these | |
| (If they would please) | |
| Here willingly I would present! | |
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| And these, those presents present be! | 10 |
| First, JUNO sent to thee, these lilies! | |
| In whose stead chaste Affection moves. | |
| VENUS hath sent two turtle doves! | |
| NARCISSUS gives thee daffodillies! | |
| For doves, true loves! | 15 |
| For daffodillies | |
| My golden wills! | |
| Which countervails what here is sent thee! | |
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| FLORA doth greet thee, with sweet roses! | |
| THETIS, with rich pearls orient! | 20 |
| LEUCOTHOE, with frankincense! | |
| For roses, my love’s chaste pretence! | |
| For pearls, those tears which I have spent! | |
| My sighs’ incense, | |
| For sweet perfume! | 25 |
| Thus I presume, | |
| Poor Shepherd! to present these posies! | |
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| Though I be rude, as shepherds are, | |
| Lilies, I know, do stand for whiteness! | |
| And daffodillies, thy golden hair! | 30 |
| And doves, thy meekness! figures bear. | |
| Red roses, for a blushing brightness! | |
| Thy teeth, pearls were! | |
| That incense showed | |
| Thy breath that blowed, | 35 |
| A sacrifice! for which gods care. | |
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| Blest is that Shepherd, nine times nine! | |
| Which shall, in bosom, these flowers keep | |
| Bound in one posy; whose sweet smell, | |
| In Paradise may make him dwell! | 40 |
| And sleep a ten times happy sleep! | |
| I dare not mell! | |
| Else with good will | |
| PARTHENOPHIL | |
| Would to thy lips, one kiss assign! | 45 |
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