“There is a garden in her face”

Anonymous

From “An Houre’s Recreation in Musicke,” 1606

THERE is a garden in her face,

Where roses and white lilies blow;

A heavenly paradise is that place,

Wherein all pleasant fruits do grow;

There cherries grow that none may buy,

Till cherry-ripe themselves do cry.

Those cherries fairly do enclose

Of orient pearl a double row,

Which when her lovely laughter shows,

They look like rosebuds filled with snow;

Yet them no peer nor prince may buy,

Till cherry-ripe themselves do cry.

Her eyes like angels watch them still,

Her brows like bended bows do stand,

Threatening with piercing frowns to kill

All that approach with eye or hand

These sacred cherries to come nigh,

Till cherry-ripe themselves do cry.