And each one had a little wicker basket In which they gather'd flowers to fill their flasket, The tender stalks on high. Of every sort which in that meadow grew They gather'd some; the violet, pallid blue, The virgin lily and the primrose true : To deck their bridegrooms' posies Against the bridal day, which was not long : With that I saw two swans of goodly hue The snow which doth the top of Pindus strow Nor Jove himself, when he a swan would be Yet Leda was (they say) as white as he, So purely white they were That even the gentle stream, the which them bare, That shone as Heaven's light Against their bridal day, which was not long : Eftsoons the nymphs, which now had flowers their fill, As they came floating on the crystal flood; Them seem'd they never saw a sight so fair D Which through the sky draw Venus silver team; For sure they did not seem To be begot of any earthly seed, But rather angels, or of angels' breed; Yet were they bred of summer's heat, they say, So fresh they seem'd as day, Even as their bridal day, which was not long : Then forth they all out of their baskets drew That like old Peneus' waters they did seem Two of those nymphs meanwhile two garlands bound Their snowy foreheads therewithal they crown'd; Prepared against that day, Against their bridal day, which was not long : 'Ye gentle birds! the world's fair ornament, And let fair Venus, that is queen of love, Let endless peace your steadfast hearts accord, And make your joys redound Upon your bridal day, which is not long: So ended she; and all the rest around Which said their bridal day should not be long : So forth those joyous birds did pass along And all the fowl which in his flood did dwell And their best service lend Against their wedding day, which was not long : Sweet Thames! run softly, till I end my song. At length they all to merry London came, There when they came whereas those bricky towers Next whereunto there stands a stately place, Of that great lord, which therein wont to dwell, Whose want too well now feels my friendless case; But ah! here fits not well Old woes, but joys to tell Against the bridal day, which is not long Sweet Thames! run softly, till I end my song. Yet therein now doth lodge a noble peer, Great England's glory and the world's wide wonder, Whose dreadful name late thro' all Spain did thunder, And Hercules' two pillars standing near Did make to quake and fear : Fair branch of honour, flower of chivalry! That fillest England with thy triumphs' fame And endless happiness of thine own name That through thy prowess and victorious arms To ages following, Upon the bridal day, which is not long : Sweet Thames! run softly, till I end my song. From those high towers this noble lord issúing Above the rest were goodly to be seen Fit for so goodly stature, That like the twins of Jove they seem'd in sight Received those two fair brides, their love's delight; Which, at th' appointed tide, Each one did make his bride Against their bridal day, which is not long : 54 THE HAPPY HEART Art thou poor, yet hast thou golden slumbers ? Art thou rich, yet is thy mind perplexéd? Dost thou laugh to see how fools are vexéd Then hey nonny nonny, hey nonny nonny! Canst drink the waters of the crispéd spring? Swimm'st thou in wealth, yet sink'st in thine own tears? O punishment! Then he that patiently want's burden bears Then hey nonny nonny, hey nonny nonny! T. DEKKER 55 This Life, which seems so fair, Is like a bubble blown up in the air Who chase it everywhere And strive who can most motion it bequeath. And though it sometimes seem of its own might |