The cynosure of neighbouring eyes. Of hearbs and other country messes, And then in haste her bowre she leaves, To many a youth and many a maid And young and old com forth to play When in one night, ere glimps of morn, And, stretch'd out all the chimney's length, And crop-full out of dores he flings, Ere the first cock his mattin rings. Thus don the tales to bed they creep, By whispering windes soon lull'd asleep. Where throngs of knights and barons bold 115 120 As thick and numberless As the gay motes that people the sun beams, Or likest hovering dreams, The fickle pensioners of Morpheus train. But hail thou Goddes sage and holy! 10 Hail! divinest Melancholy! Whose saintly visage is too bright To hit the sense of human sight, And therefore to our weaker view Ore laid with black, staid Wisdoms hue- Prince Memnons sister might beseem, Or that starr'd Ethiope queen that strove To set her beauties praise above The sea nymphs, and their powers offended; To solitary Saturn bore, His daughter she (in Saturn's raign 15 20 25 330 35 40 Forget thy self to marble, till And of those dæmons that are found And made Hell grant what Love did seek. The story of Cambuscan bold, Of Camball and of Algarsife, That own'd the vertuous ring and glass, 95 ICO 105 IIO 115 |