POEMS IN THE STANZA OF SPENSER. POEM I. PSYCHE; OR, THE GREAT METAMORPHOSIS. .BY GLOSTER RIDLEY, D.D. I. WHERE early Phoebus sheds his milder beams, The happy gardens of Adonis lay : There Time, well pleas'd to wonne, a youth be seems. Ne yet his wings were fledg'd, ne locks were grey; Round him in sweet accord the Seasons play With fruites and blossoms meint, in goodly gree; And dancing hand in hand rejoice the lea. Sick gardens now no mortal wight can see, Ne mote they in my simple verse descriven be. II. The temper'd clime full many a tree affords: Those many trees blush forth with ripen'd fruite; The blushing fruite to feast invites the birds ; The birds with plenteous feasts their strength re cruite : And warble songs more sweet than shepherd's flute. The gentle stream that roll'd the stones among, Charm'd with the place, almost forgot its suite; But list'ning and responding to the song, Loit'ring, and winding often, murmured elong. III. Here Panacea, here Nepenthe grew, IV. Not she, I ween the wanton Queen of love, Albeit brothers, different as foes: This sated, sullen, apt for bickerment; That hungry, eager, fit for derring-does. That flies before, with scorching flames ybrent; This foll'wing douts those flames with peevish dis content. ས. Celestial Venus does such ribaulds shun, Not fierce, yet bright, coldness and rage between. And lyons tamely did themselves amene; On nature's wild full sov'reignly he rod; Wild natures, chang'd, confess'd the mild puissant God. VI. A beauteous Fay, or heav'n descended Spright, Scorch'd with the suns that ore her beauties roll; Ne faded like the dames who bleach beneath the pole. |