The Flower And The Leaf: Or, The Lady In The Arbour.[1] Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis

Rhyme Scheme: A AABCDDEEEFFGHIIJJKK IILLMMNNOOJJJ PPIIIQQRRSSTTUUVVWXU U IIYYYYYYTTYYTTZZIIYY TTYYA2B2OOC2C2YYNRTT LLYYYYD2D2JJE2E2 NNE2F2YYOOYYEG2 YYPPYYH2I2WWRRIIYYYY KKJ2BYYYYZSA2A2YY G2JYYXWXYYC2K2SSYYYY WL2LLYYYYL2L2YYTTT SSYYSSXWF2E2YYYYPPEG 2G2KKYY YYYYEEC2C2 M2L2NNBJ2LLIINNYY KKL2N2YYYYYO2O2OOL2W AA2LLYYYYYYE2E2L2L2Y Y YYYYYYP2P2Q2Q2 YYL2L2I2I2YYYTT YYL2WYYYYR2S2YYYYYT2 T2YYYYT2T2IIYYYYYLLY Y YYYYYYYYYJJM2L2YYYYU 2D2YYYOOP2P2 YYYYYY TTTE2E2YYTTWJYYL2L2Y YYYRIYYIIYYTTG2G2 IINNYYYG2G2G2G2TTDDN NTTG2G2V2W2TTYYSSG2E 2G2G2R2R2TTYYYYR2S2G 2G2YYYYYY YYTTYYTTYYYYG2G2 NNIIYYYY YYG2G2X2X2YYTTTTII E2E2YYYYKKYYIIG2E2Y2 Z2YYIIIE2E2YYYYG2G2I ITTYYYY YYSSDDYYTTYYG2G2A3B3 YYYYIIIYYG2G2G2G2G2G 2 TTTTG2G2 P2P2C3C3YYYTTTTNG2YY D3E3TTYYYTTG2N TTC3C3TTF3F3TTG2G2G2 G2G2IIYYYYYIIE2E2TTS STTYYYYY P2P2E2E2YYIIG2G2D3G3 TT IIIYY P2P2YY

A VISIONA
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Now turning from the wintry signs the sunA
His course exalted through the Ram had runA
And whirling up the skies his chariot droveB
Through Taurus and the lightsome realms of loveC
Where Venus from her orb descends in showersD
To glad the ground and paint the fields with flowersD
When first the tender blades of grass appearE
And buds that yet the blast of Eurus fearE
Stand at the door of life and doubt to clothe the yearE
Till gentle heat and soft repeated rainsF
Make the green blood to dance within their veinsF
Then at their call embolden'd out they comeG
And swell the gems and burst the narrow roomH
Broader and broader yet their blooms displayI
Salute the welcome sun and entertain the dayI
Then from their breathing souls the sweets repairJ
To scent the skies and purge the unwholesome airJ
Joy spreads the heart and with a general songK
Spring issues out and leads the jolly months alongK
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In that sweet season as in bed I layI
And sought in sleep to pass the night awayI
I turn'd my weary side but still in vainL
Though full of youthful health and void of painL
Cares I had none to keep me from my restM
For love had never enter'd in my breastM
I wanted nothing fortune could supplyN
Nor did she slumber till that hour denyN
I wonder'd then but after found it trueO
Much joy had dried away the balmy dewO
Seas would be pools without the brushing airJ
To curl the waves and sure some little careJ
Should weary nature so to make her want repairJ
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When Chanticleer the second watch had sungP
Scorning the scorner sleep from bed I sprungP
And dressing by the moon in loose arrayI
Pass'd out in open air preventing dayI
And sought a goodly grove as fancy led my wayI
Straight as a line in beauteous order stoodQ
Of oaks unshorn a venerable woodQ
Fresh was the grass beneath and every treeR
At distance planted in a due degreeR
Their branching arms in air with equal spaceS
Stretch'd to their neighbours with a long embraceS
And the new leaves on every bough were seenT
Some ruddy colour'd some of lighter greenT
The painted birds companions of the springU
Hopping from spray to spray were heard to singU
Both eyes and ears received a like delightV
Enchanting music and a charming sightV
On Philomel I fix'd my whole desireW
And listen'd for the queen of all the quireX
Fain would I hear her heavenly voice to singU
And wanted yet an omen to the springU
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Attending long in vain I took the wayI
Which through a path but scarcely printed layI
In narrow mazes oft it seem'd to meetY
And look'd as lightly press'd by fairy feetY
Wandering I walk'd alone for still methoughtY
To some strange end so strange a path was wroughtY
At last it led me where an arbour stoodY
The sacred receptacle of the woodY
This place unmark'd though oft I walk'd the greenT
In all my progress I had never seenT
And seized at once with wonder and delightY
Gazed all around me new to the transporting sightY
'Twas bench'd with turf and goodly to be seenT
The thick young grass arose in fresher greenT
The mound was newly made no sight could passZ
Betwixt the nice partitions of the grassZ
The well united sods so closely layI
And all around the shades defended it from dayI
For sycamores with eglantine were spreadY
A hedge about the sides a covering overheadY
And so the fragrant brier was wove betweenT
The sycamore and flowers were mixed with greenT
That nature seem'd to vary the delightY
And satisfied at once the smell and sightY
The master workman of the bower was knownA2
Through fairy lands and built for OberonB2
Who twining leaves with such proportion drewO
They rose by measure and by rule they grewO
No mortal tongue can half the beauty tellC2
For none but hands divine could work so wellC2
Both roof and sides were like a parlour madeY
A soft recess and a cool summer shadeY
The hedge was set so thick no foreign eyeN
The persons placed within it could espyR
But all that pass'd without with ease was seenT
As if nor fence nor tree was placed betweenT
'Twas border'd with a field and some was plainL
With grass and some was sow'd with rising grainL
That now the dew with spangles deck'd the groundY
A sweeter spot of earth was never foundY
I look'd and look'd and still with new delightY
Such joy my soul such pleasures fill'd my sightY
And the fresh eglantine exhaled a breathD2
Whose odours were of power to raise from deathD2
Nor sullen discontent nor anxious careJ
Even though brought thither could inhabit thereJ
But thence they fled as from their mortal foeE2
For this sweet place could only pleasure knowE2
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Thus as I mused I cast aside my eyeN
And saw a medlar tree was planted nighN
The spreading branches made a goodly showE2
And full of opening blooms was every boughF2
A goldfinch there I saw with gaudy prideY
Of painted plumes that hopp'd from side to sideY
Still pecking as she pass'd and still she drewO
The sweets from every flower and suck'd the dewO
Sufficed at length she warbled in her throatY
And tuned her voice to many a merry noteY
But indistinct and neither sweet nor clearE
Yet such as soothed my soul and pleased my earG2
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Her short performance was no sooner triedY
When she I sought the nightingale repliedY
So sweet so shrill so variously she sungP
That the grove echoed and the valleys rungP
And I so ravish'd with her heavenly noteY
I stood entranced and had no room for thoughtY
But all o'er power'd with ecstasy of blissH2
Was in a pleasing dream of paradiseI2
At length I waked and looking round the bowerW
Search'd every tree and pry'd on every flowerW
If any where by chance I might espyR
The rural poet of the melodyR
For still methought she sung not far awayI
At last I found her on a laurel sprayI
Close by my side she sat and fair in sightY
Full in a line against her oppositeY
Where stood with eglantine the laurel twinedY
And both their native sweets were well conjoin'dY
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On the green bank I sat and listen'd longK
Sitting was more convenient for the songK
Nor till her lay was ended could I moveJ2
But wish'd to dwell for ever in the groveB
Only methought the time too swiftly pass'dY
And every note I fear'd would be the lastY
My sight and smell and hearing were employ'dY
And all three senses in full gust enjoy'dY
And what alone did all the rest surpassZ
The sweet possession of the fairy placeS
Single and conscious to myself aloneA2
Of pleasures to the excluded world unknownA2
Pleasures which nowhere else were to be foundY
And all Elysium in a spot of groundY
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Thus while I sat intent to see and hearG2
And drew perfumes of more than vital airJ
All suddenly I heard the approaching soundY
Of vocal music on the enchanted groundY
A host of saints it seem'd so full the quireX
As if the bless'd above did all conspireW
To join their voices and neglect the lyreX
At length there issued from the grove behindY
A fair assembly of the female kindY
A train less fair as ancient fathers tellC2
Seduced the sons of heaven to rebelK2
I pass their form and every charming graceS
Less than an angel would their worth debaseS
But their attire like liveries of a kindY
All rich and rare is fresh within my mindY
In velvet white as snow the troop was gown'dY
The seams with sparkling emeralds set aroundY
Their hoods and sleeves the same and purfled o'erW
With diamonds pearls and all the shining storeL2
Of eastern pomp their long descending trainL
With rubies edged and sapphires swept the plainL
High on their heads with jewels richly setY
Each lady wore a radiant coronetY
Beneath the circles all the quire was gracedY
With chaplets green on their fair foreheads placedY
Of laurel some of woodbine many moreL2
And wreaths of Agnus castus others boreL2
These last who with those virgin crowns were dress'dY
Appear'd in higher honour than the restY
They danced around but in the midst was seenT
A lady of a more majestic mienT
By stature and by beauty mark'd their sovereign queenT
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She in the midst began with sober graceS
Her servants' eyes were fix'd upon her faceS
And as she moved or turn'd her motions view'dY
Her measures kept and step by step pursuedY
Methought she trod the ground with greater graceS
With more of godhead shining in her faceS
And as in beauty she surpass'd the quireX
So nobler than the rest was her attireW
A crown of ruddy gold enclosed her browF2
Plain without pomp and rich without a showE2
A branch of Agnus castus in her handY
She bore aloft her sceptre of commandY
Admired adored by all the circling crowdY
For wheresoe'er she turn'd her face they bow'dY
And as she danced a roundelay she sungP
In honour of the laurel ever youngP
She raised her voice on high and sung so clearE
The fawns came scudding from the groves to hearG2
And all the bending forest lent an earG2
At every close she made the attending throngK
Replied and bore the burden of the songK
So just so small yet in so sweet a noteY
It seem'd the music melted in the throatY
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Thus dancing on and singing as they dancedY
They to the middle of the mead advancedY
Till round my arbour a new ring they madeY
And footed it about the sacred shadeY
O'erjoy'd to see the jolly troops so nearE
But somewhat awed I shook with holy fearE
Yet not so much but what I noted wellC2
Who did the most in song or dance excelC2
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Not long I had observed when from afarM2
I heard a sudden symphony of warL2
The neighing coursers and the soldiers cryN
And sounding trumps that seem'd to tear the skyN
I saw soon after this behind the groveB
From whence the ladies did in order moveJ2
Come issuing out in arms a warrior trainL
That like a deluge pour'd upon the plainL
On barbed steeds they rode in proud arrayI
Thick as the college of the bees in MayI
When swarming o'er the dusky fields they flyN
New to the flowers and intercept the skyN
So fierce they drove their coursers were so fleetY
That the turf trembled underneath their feetY
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To tell their costly furniture were longK
The summer's day would end before the songK
To purchase but the tenth of all their storeL2
Would make the mighty Persian monarch poorN2
Yet what I can I will before the restY
The trumpets issued in white mantles dress'dY
A numerous troop and all their heads aroundY
With chaplets green of cerrial oak were crown'dY
And at each trumpet was a banner boundY
Which waving in the wind displayed at largeO2
Their master's coat of arms and knightly chargeO2
Broad were the banners and of snowy hueO
A purer web the silk worm never drewO
The chief about their necks the scutcheons woreL2
With orient pearls and jewels powder'd o'erW
Broad were their collars too and every oneA
Was set about with many a costly stoneA2
Next these of kings at arms a goodly trainL
In proud array came prancing o'er the plainL
Their cloaks were cloth of silver mix'd with goldY
And garlands green around their temples roll'dY
Rich crowns were on their royal scutcheons placedY
With sapphires diamonds and with rubies gracedY
And as the trumpets their appearance madeY
So these in habits were alike array'dY
But with a pace more sober and more slowE2
And twenty rank in rank they rode a rowE2
The pursuivants came next in number moreL2
And like the heralds each his scutcheon boreL2
Clad in white velvet all their troop they ledY
With each an oaken chaplet on his headY
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Nine royal knights in equal rank succeedY
Each warrior mounted on a fiery steedY
In golden armour glorious to beholdY
The rivets of their arms were nail'd with goldY
Their surcoats of white ermine fur were madeY
With cloth of gold between that cast a glittering shadeY
The trappings of their steeds were of the sameP2
The golden fringe even set the ground on flameP2
And drew a precious trail a crown divineQ2
Of laurel did about their temples twineQ2
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Three henchmen were for every knight assign'dY
All in rich livery clad and of a kindY
White velvet but unshorn for cloaks they woreL2
And each within his hand a truncheon boreL2
The foremost held a helm of rare deviceI2
A prince's ransom would not pay the priceI2
The second bore the buckler of his knightY
The third of cornel wood a spear uprightY
Headed with piercing steel and polish'd brightY
Like to their lords their equipage was seenT
And all their foreheads crown'd with garlands greenT
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And after these came arm'd with spear and shieldY
A host so great as cover'd all the fieldY
And all their foreheads like the knights beforeL2
With laurels ever green were shaded o'erW
Or oak or other leaves of lasting kindY
Tenacious of the stem and firm against the windY
Some in their hands beside the lance and shieldY
The boughs of woodbine or of hawthorn heldY
Or branches for their mystic emblems tookR2
Of palm of laurel and of cerrial oakS2
Thus marching to the trumpet's lofty soundY
Drawn in two lines adverse they wheel'd aroundY
And in the middle meadow took their groundY
Among themselves the tourney they divideY
In equal squadrons ranged on either sideY
Then turn'd their horses' heads and man to manT2
And steed to steed opposed the jousts beganT2
They lightly set their lances in the restY
And at the sign against each other press'dY
They met I sitting at my ease beheldY
The mix'd events and fortunes of the fieldY
Some broke their spears some tumbled horse and manT2
And round the field the lighten'd coursers ranT2
An hour and more like tides in equal swayI
They rush'd and won by turns and lost the dayI
At length the nine who still together heldY
Their fainting foes to shameful flight compell'dY
And with resistless force o'er ran the fieldY
Thus to their fame when finish'd was the fightY
The victors from their lofty steeds alightY
Like them dismounted all the warlike trainL
And two by two proceeded o'er the plainL
Till to the fair assembly they advancedY
Who near the secret arbour sung and dancedY
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The ladies left their measures at the sightY
To meet the chiefs returning from the fightY
And each with open arms embraced her chosen knightY
Amid the plain a spreading laurel stoodY
The grace and ornament of all the woodY
That pleasing shade they sought a soft retreatY
From sudden April showers a shelter from the heatY
Her leafy arms with such extent were spreadY
So near the clouds was her aspiring headY
That hosts of birds that wing the liquid airJ
Perch'd in the boughs had nightly lodging thereJ
And flocks of sheep beneath the shade from farM2
Might hear the rattling hail and wintry warL2
From heaven's inclemency here found retreatY
Enjoy'd the cool and shunn'd the scorching heatY
A hundred knights might there at ease abideY
And every knight a lady by his sideY
The trunk itself such odours did bequeathU2
That a Moluccan breeze to these was common breathD2
The lords and ladies here approaching paidY
Their homage with a low obeisance madeY
And seem'd to venerate the sacred shadeY
These rites perform'd their pleasures they pursueO
With song of love and mix with measures newO
Around the holy tree their dance they frameP2
And every champion leads his chosen dameP2
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I cast my sight upon the farther fieldY
And a fresh object of delight beheldY
For from the region of the West I heardY
New music sound and a new troop appear'dY
Of knights and ladies mix'd a jolly bandY
But all on foot they march'd and hand in handY
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The ladies dress'd in rich symars were seenT
Of Florence satin flower'd with white and greenT
And for a shade betwixt the bloomy gridelinT
The borders of their petticoats belowE2
Were guarded thick with rubies on a rowE2
And every damsel wore upon her headY
Of flowers a garland blended white and redY
Attired in mantles all the knights were seenT
That gratified the view with cheerful greenT
Their chaplets of their ladies' colours wereW
Composed of white and red to shade their shining hairJ
Before the merry troop the minstrels play'dY
All in their masters' liveries were array'dY
And clad in green and on their temples woreL2
The chaplets white and red their ladies boreL2
Their instruments were various in their kindY
Some for the bow and some for breathing windY
The sawtry pipe and hautboy's noisy bandY
And the soft lute trembling beneath the touching handY
A tuft of daisies on a flowery leaR
They saw and thitherward they bent their wayI
To this both knights and dames their homage madeY
And due obeisance to the daisy paidY
And then the band of flutes began to playI
To which a lady sung a virelayI
And still at every close she would repeatY
The burden of the song The daisy is so sweetY
The daisy is so sweet when she begunT
The troop of knights and dames continued onT
The concert and the voice so charm'd my earG2
And soothed my soul that it was heaven to hearG2
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But soon their pleasure pass'd at noon of dayI
The sun with sultry beams began to playI
Not Sirius shoots a fiercer flame from highN
When with his poisonous breath he blasts the skyN
Then droop'd the fading flowers their beauty fledY
And closed their sickly eyes and hung the headY
And rivell'd up with heat lay dying in their bedY
The ladies gasp'd and scarcely could respireG2
The breath they drew no longer air but fireG2
The fainty knights were scorch'd and knew not whereG2
To run for shelter for no shade was nearG2
And after this the gathering clouds amainT
Pour'd down a storm of rattling hail and rainT
And lightning flash'd betwixt the field and flowersD
Burnt up before were buried in the showersD
The ladies and the knights no shelter nighN
Bare to the weather and the wintry skyN
Were drooping wet disconsolate and wanT
And through their thin array received the rainT
While those in white protected by the treeG2
Saw pass in vain the assault and stood from danger freeG2
But as compassion moved their gentle mindsV2
When ceased the storm and silent were the windsW2
Displeased at what not suffering they had seenT
They went to cheer the faction of the greenT
The queen in white array before her bandY
Saluting took her rival by the handY
So did the knights and dames with courtly graceS
And with behaviour sweet their foes embraceS
Then thus the queen with laurel on her browG2
Fair sister I have suffer'd in your woeE2
Nor shall be wanting aught within my powerG2
For your relief in my refreshing bowerG2
That other answer'd with a lowly lookR2
And soon the gracious invitation tookR2
For ill at ease both she and all her trainT
The scorching sun had borne and beating rainT
Like courtesy was used by all in whiteY
Each dame a dame received and every knight a knightY
The laurel champions with their swords invadeY
The neighbouring forests where the jousts were madeY
And serewood from the rotten hedges tookR2
And seeds of latent fire from flints provokeS2
A cheerful blaze arose and by the fireG2
They warm'd their frozen feet and dried their wet attireG2
Refresh'd with heat the ladies sought aroundY
For virtuous herbs which gather'd from the groundY
They squeezed the juice and cooling ointment madeY
Which on their sun burnt cheeks and their chapt skins they laidY
Then sought green salads which they bade them eatY
A sovereign remedy for inward heatY
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The Lady of the Leaf ordain'd a feastY
And made the Lady of the Flower her guestY
When lo a bower ascended on the plainT
With sudden seats ordain'd and large for either trainT
This bower was near my pleasant arbour placedY
That I could hear and see whatever pass'dY
The ladies sat with each a knight betweenT
Distinguish'd by their colours white and greenT
The vanquish'd party with the victors join'dY
Nor wanted sweet discourse the banquet of the mindY
Meantime the minstrels play'd on either sideY
Vain of their art and for the mastery viedY
The sweet contention lasted for an hourG2
And reach'd my secret arbour from the bowerG2
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The sun was set and Vesper to supplyN
His absent beams had lighted up the skyN
When Philomel officious all the dayI
To sing the service of the ensuing MayI
Fled from her laurel shade and wing'd her flightY
Directly to the queen array'd in whiteY
And hopping sat familiar on her handY
A new musician and increased the bandY
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The goldfinch who to shun the scalding heatY
Had changed the medlar for a safer seatY
And hid in bushes 'scaped the bitter showerG2
Now perch'd upon the Lady of the FlowerG2
And either songster holding out their throatsX2
And folding up their wings renew'd their notesX2
As if all day precluding to the fightY
They only had rehearsed to sing by nightY
The banquet ended and the battle doneT
They danced by star light and the friendly moonT
And when they were to part the laureate queenT
Supplied with steeds the lady of the greenT
Her and her train conducting on the wayI
The moon to follow and avoid the dayI
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This when I saw inquisitive to knowE2
The secret moral of the mystic showE2
I started from my shade in hopes to findY
Some nymph to satisfy my longing mindY
And as my fair adventure fell I foundY
A lady all in white with laurel crown'dY
Who closed the rear and softly paced alongK
Repeating to herself the former songK
With due respect my body I inclinedY
As to some being of superior kindY
And made my court according to the dayI
Wishing her queen and her a happy MayI
Great thanks my daughter with a gracious bowG2
She said and I who much desired to knowE2
Of whence she was yet fearful how to breakY2
My mind adventured humbly thus to speakZ2
Madam might I presume and not offendY
So may the stars and shining moon attendY
Your nightly sports as you vouchsafe to tellI
What nymphs they were who mortal forms excelI
And what the knights who fought in listed fields so wellI
To this the dame replied Fair daughter knowE2
That what you saw was all a fairy showE2
And all those airy shapes you now beholdY
Were human bodies once and clothed with earthly mouldY
Our souls not yet prepared for upper lightY
Till doomsday wander in the shades of nightY
This only holiday of all the yearG2
We privileged in sunshine may appearG2
With songs and dance we celebrate the dayI
And with due honours usher in the MayI
At other times we reign by night aloneT
And posting through the skies pursue the moonT
But when the morn arises none are foundY
For cruel Demogorgon walks the roundY
And if he finds a fairy lag in lightY
He drives the wretch before and lashes into nightY
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All courteous are by kind and ever proudY
With friendly offices to help the goodY
In every land we have a larger spaceS
Than what is known to you of mortal raceS
Where we with green adorn our fairy bowersD
And even this grove unseen before is oursD
Know farther every lady clothed in whiteY
And crown'd with oak and laurel every knightY
Are servants to the Leaf by liveries knownT
Of innocence and I myself am oneT
Saw you not her so graceful to beholdY
In white attire and crown'd with radiant goldY
The sovereign lady of our land is sheG2
Diana call'd the Queen of ChastityG2
And for the spotless name of maid she bearsA3
That Agnus castus in her hand appearsB3
And all her train with leafy chaplets crown'dY
Were for unblamed virginity renown'dY
But those the chief and highest in commandY
Who bear those holy branches in their handY
The knights adorn'd with laurel crowns are theyI
Whom death nor danger ever could dismayI
Victorious names who made the world obeyI
Who while they lived in deeds of arms excell'dY
And after death for deities were heldY
But those who wear the woodbine on their browG2
Were knights of love who never broke their vowG2
Firm to their plighted faith and ever freeG2
From fears and fickle chance and jealousyG2
The lords and ladies who the woodbine bearG2
As true as Tristram and Isotta wereG2
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But what are those said I the unconquer'd nineT
Who crown'd with laurel wreaths in golden armour shineT
And who the knights in green and what the trainT
Of ladies dress'd with daisies on the plainT
Why both the bands in worship disagreeG2
And some adore the flower and some the treeG2
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Just is your suit fair daughter said the dameP2
Those laurell'd chiefs were men of mighty fameP2
Nine worthies were they call'd of different ritesC3
Three Jews three Pagans and three Christian knightsC3
These as you see ride foremost in the fieldY
As they the foremost rank of honour heldY
And all in deeds of chivalry excell'dY
Their temples wreathed with leaves that still renewT
For deathless laurel is the victor's dueT
Who bear the bows were knights in Arthur's reignT
Twelve they and twelve the peers of CharlemagneT
For bows the strength of brawny arms implyN
Emblems of valour and of victoryG2
Behold an order yet of newer dateY
Doubling their number equal in their stateY
Our England's ornament the crown's defenceD3
In battle brave protectors of their princeE3
Unchanged by fortune to their sovereign trueT
For which their manly legs are bound with blueT
These of the Garter call'd of faith unstain'dY
In fighting fields the laurel have obtain'dY
And well repaid the honours which they gain'dY
The laurel wreaths were first by Cesar wornT
And still they Cesar's successors adornT
One leaf of this is immortalityG2
And more of worth than all the world can buyN
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One doubt remains said I the dames in greenT
What were their qualities and who their queenT
Flora commands said she those nymphs and knightsC3
Who lived in slothful ease and loose delightsC3
Who never acts of honour durst pursueT
The men inglorious knights the ladies all untrueT
Who nursed in idleness and train'd in courtsF3
Pass'd all their precious hours in plays and sportsF3
Till death behind came stalking on unseenT
And wither'd like the storm the freshness of their greenT
These and their mates enjoy their present hourG2
And therefore pay their homage to the FlowerG2
But knights in knightly deeds should persevereG2
And still continue what at first they wereG2
Continue and proceed in honour's fair careerG2
No room for cowardice or dull delayI
From good to better they should urge their wayI
For this with golden spurs the chiefs are gracedY
With pointed rowels arm'd to mend their hasteY
For this with lasting leaves their brows are boundY
For laurel is the sign of labour crown'dY
Which bears the bitter blast nor shaken falls to groundY
From winter winds it suffers no decayI
For ever fresh and fair and every month is MayI
Even when the vital sap retreats belowE2
Even when the hoary head is hid in snowE2
The life is in the Leaf and still betweenT
The fits of falling snow appears the streaky greenT
Not so the Flower which lasts for little spaceS
A short lived good and an uncertain graceS
This way and that the feeble stem is drivenT
Weak to sustain the storms and injuries of heavenT
Propp'd by the spring it lifts aloft the headY
But of a sickly beauty soon to shedY
In summer living and in winter deadY
For things of tender kind for pleasure madeY
Shoot up with swift increase and sudden are decay'dY
-
With humble words the wisest I could frameP2
And proffer'd service I repaid the dameP2
That of her grace she gave her maid to knowE2
The secret meaning of this moral showE2
And she to prove what profit I had madeY
Of mystic truth in fables first convey'dY
Demanded till the next returning MayI
Whether the Leaf or Flower I would obeyI
I chose the Leaf she smiled with sober cheerG2
And wish'd me fair adventure for the yearG2
And gave me charms and sigils for defenceD3
Against ill tongues that scandal innocenceG3
But I said she my fellows must pursueT
Already past the plain and out of viewT
-
We parted thus I homeward sped my wayI
Bewilder'd in the wood till dawn of dayI
And met the merry crew who danced about the MayI
Then late refresh'd with sleep I rose to writeY
The visionary vigils of the nightY
-
Blush as thou may'st my little book with shameP2
Nor hope with homely verse to purchase fameP2
For such thy maker chose and so design'dY
Thy simple style to suit thy lowly kindY

John Dryden



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