Classic Poem

When as the Nightingale chanted her vesper,
& the wyld fayryes lay coucht on the ground,
Venus invited me to an euening Wisper,
to fragrant feelds w i th roses crounde
w hi ch shee before had sent her cheefest complement,
Vnto my harts content sport with me on the greene;
Neu er marke Anthony dallyed more wantonly
W i th his fayre Ægiptian queene!

ffirst on her Cherry cheekes I my eyes feasted;
thence feare of surffetting made me retyre,
then to her warmed [lips], wh i ch when I tasted,
my spiritts duld were made actiue by fyer.
this heat againe to calme, her moyst hand yeelderd balme;
whilest wee Ioyned palme to palme as if wee one had beene,
Neu er marke Anthony dallyed more wantonly
w i th his fayre Cor egiptian queene!

Then in her golden heere I my hands twined;
shee her hands in my lockes twisted againe,
as if her heere had beene fetters assigned,
Sweet litle Cupid Loose captiue to chayne;
soe did wee often dart one at anothers hart
arrows tha t felt noe smart, sweet lookes and smiles between.
Neu er , &c.

Wa[yting a glass to platt] those amorus tresses
w hi ch like a [bracelet] deckt richly mine arme,
gaudyer then Iuno was w hi ch when shee blessed
Ioue w i th Euers races more richly thein warme.
shee sweetely peept in eyne tha t was more cristalline,
w hi ch by reflection shine ech eye and eye was seene
Neuer, &c.

Misticall gram m ers of amorus glances,
feeling of pulses, the phisicke of loue,
Retoricall courtings & musicall dances,
numbring of kisses arithemeticke proues;
Eyes like astronomy, strayght limbes geometry,
in her harts enginy ther eyes & eyes were seene.
Neu er , &c.