The Qvest Of Cynthia Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis

Rhyme Scheme: ABAB BCBC DEDE FAFA GCGC CCCC CCCC ECEC CHCG CECE CCCC IGIG CGCG FCFC GBGB CCCC JBJB BABA CCCC EGEG ABAB GGGG GCGC KCKC CCCC CBCB GGGG LBLB GCGC CCCC GAGA GAGA BCBC EGEG BBBB BCBC BIBI ECCC MKCK BBBB GGGG ABAB BGBG ECNC CGCG OBOB OEOE BBBB PAQA EBEB GBGB CBCB IIII BBBB BBBB BRBR BCBC CCCC B

What time the groues were clad in greeneA
The Fields drest all in flowersB
And that the sleeke hayred Nimphs were seeneA
To seeke them Summer BowersB
-
Forth rou'd I by the sliding RillsB
To finde where CYNTHIA satC
Whose name so often from the hillsB
The Ecchos wondred atC
-
When me vpon my Quest to bringD
That pleasure might excellE
The Birds stroue which should sweetliest singD
The Flowers which sweet'st should smellE
-
Long wand'ring in the Woods said IF
Oh whether's CYNTHIA goneA
When soone the Eccho doth replyF
To my last word goe onA
-
At length vpon a lofty FirreG
It was my chance to findeC
Where that deare name most due to herG
Was caru'd vpon the ryndeC
-
Which whilst with wonder I beheldC
The Bees their hony broughtC
And vp the carued letters fildC
As they with gould were wroughtC
-
And neere that trees more spacious rooteC
Then looking on the groundC
The shape of her most dainty footC
Imprinted there I foundC
-
Which stuck there like a curious sealeE
As though it should forbidC
Vs wretched mortalls to reuealeE
What vnder it was hidC
-
Besides the flowers which it had pres'dC
Apeared to my vewH
More fresh and louely than the restC
That in the meadowes grewG
-
The cleere drops in the steps that stoodC
Of that dilicious GirleE
The Nimphes amongst their dainty foodC
Drunke for dissolued pearleE
-
The yeilding sand where she had troadC
Vntutcht yet with the windeC
By the faire posture plainely show'dC
Where I might Cynthia findeC
-
When on vpon my waylesse walkeI
As my desires me drawG
I like a madman fell to talkeI
With euery thing I sawG
-
I ask'd some Lillyes why so whiteC
They from their fellowes wereG
Who answered me that Cynthia's sightC
Had made them looke so cleareG
-
I ask'd a nodding Violet whyF
It sadly hung the headC
It told me Cynthia late past byF
Too soone from it that fledC
-
A bed of Roses saw I thereG
Bewitching with their graceB
Besides so wondrous sweete they wereG
That they perfum'd the placeB
-
I of a Shrube of those enquir'dC
From others of that kindC
Who with such virtue them enspir'dC
It answer'd to my mindeC
-
As the base Hemblocke were we suchJ
The poysned'st weed that growesB
Till Cynthia by her god like tuchJ
Transform'd vs to the RoseB
-
Since when those Frosts that winter bringsB
Which candy euery greeneA
Renew vs like the Teeming SpringsB
And we thus Fresh are sceneA
-
At length I on a Fountaine lightC
Whose brim with Pincks was plattedC
The Banck with Daffadillies dightC
With grasse like Sleaue was mattedC
-
When I demanded of that WellE
What power frequented thereG
Desiring it would please to tellE
What name it vsde to beareG
-
It tolde me it was Cynthias owneA
Within whose cheerefull brimmesB
That curious Nimph had oft beene knowneA
To bath her snowy LimmesB
-
Since when that Water had the powerG
Lost Mayden heads to restoreG
And make one Twenty in an howreG
Of Esons age beforeG
-
And told me that the bottome cleereG
Now layd with many a fettC
Of seed pearle ere shee bath'd her thereG
Was knowne as blacke as JetC
-
As when she from the water cameK
Where first she touch'd the moldeC
In balls the people made the sameK
For Pomander and soldeC
-
When chance me to an Arbour ledC
Whereas I might beholdC
Two blest Elizeums in one stedC
The lesse the great enfoldC
-
The place which she had chosen outC
Her selfe in to reposeB
Had they com'n downe the gods no doubtC
The very same had choseB
-
The wealthy Spring yet neuer boreG
That sweet nor dainty flowerG
That damask'd not the chequer'd floreG
Of CYNTHIAS Summer BowerG
-
The Birch the Mirtle and the BayL
Like Friends did all embraceB
And their large branches did displayL
To Canapy the placeB
-
Where she like VENVS doth appeareG
Vpon a Rosie bedC
As Lillyes the soft pillowes weareG
Whereon she layd her headC
-
Heau'n on her shape such cost bestow'dC
And with such bounties blestC
No lim of hers but might haue madeC
A Goddesse at the leastC
-
The Flyes by chance mesht in her hayreG
By the bright Radience throwneA
From her cleare eyes rich Iewels weareG
They so like Diamonds shoneA
-
The meanest weede the soyle there bareG
Her breath did so refineA
That it with Woodbynd durst compareG
And beard the EglantineA
-
The dewe which on the tender grasseB
The Euening had distill'dC
To pure Rose water turned wasB
The shades with sweets that fill'dC
-
The windes were husht no leafe so smallE
At all was scene to stirreG
Whilst tuning to the waters fallE
The small Birds sang to herG
-
Where she too quickly me espiesB
When I might plainely seeB
A thousand Cupids from her eyesB
Shoote all at once at meB
-
Into these secret shades quoth sheB
How dar'st thou be so boldC
To enter consecrate to meB
Or touch this hallowed moldC
-
Those words quoth she I can pronounceB
Which to that shape can bringI
Thee which the Hunter had who onceB
Sawe Dian in the SpringI
-
Bright Nimph againe I thus replieE
This cannot me affrightC
I had rather in thy presence dieC
Then liue out of thy sightC
-
I first vpon the Mountaines hieM
Built Altars to thy nameK
And grau'd it on the Rocks therebyC
To propogate thy fameK
-
I taught the Shepheards on the DownesB
Of thee to frame their LayesB
T'was I that fill'd the neighbouring TownesB
With Ditties of thy praiseB
-
Thy colours I deuis'd with careG
Which were vnknowne beforeG
Which since that in their braded hayreG
The Nimphes and Siluans woreG
-
Transforme me to what shape you canA
I passe not what it beB
Yea what most hatefull is to manA
So I may follow theeB
-
Which when she heard full pearly floodsB
I in her eyes might viewG
Quoth she most welcome to these WoodsB
Too meane for one so trueG
-
Here from the hatefull world we'll liueE
A den of mere dispightC
To Ideots only that doth giueN
Which be her sole delightC
-
To people the infernall pitC
That more and more doth striueG
Where only villany is witC
And Diuels only thriueG
-
Whose vilenesse vs shall neuer aweO
But here our sports shall beB
Such as the golden world first saweO
Most innocent and freeB
-
Of Simples in these Groues that groweO
Wee'll learne the perfect skillE
The nature of each Herbe to knoweO
Which cures and which can killE
-
The waxen Pallace of the BeeB
We seeking will surpriseB
The curious workmanship to seeB
Of her full laden thighesB
-
Wee'll suck the sweets out of the CombeP
And make the gods repineA
As they doe feast in Ioues great roomeQ
To see with what we dineA
-
Yet when there haps a honey fallE
Wee'll lick the sirupt leauesB
And tell the Bees that their's is gallE
To this vpon the GreauesB
-
The nimble Squirrell noting hereG
Her mossy Dray that makesB
And laugh to see the lusty DeereG
Come bounding ore the brakesB
-
The Spiders Webb to watch weele standC
And when it takes the BeeB
Weele helpe out of the Tyrants handC
The Innocent to freeB
-
Sometime weele angle at the BrookeI
The freckled Trout to takeI
With silken Wormes and bayte the hookeI
Which him our prey shall makeI
-
Of medling with such subtile toolesB
Such dangers that encloseB
The Morrall is that painted FoolesB
Are caught with silken showesB
-
And when the Moone doth once appeareB
Weele trace the lower groundsB
When Fayries in their Ringlets thereB
Do daunce their nightly roundsB
-
And haue a Flocke of Turtle DouesB
A guard on vs to keepeR
A witnesse of our honest louesB
To watch vs till we sleepeR
-
Which spoke I felt such holy firesB
To ouerspred my breastC
As lent life to my Chast desiresB
And gaue me endlesse restC
-
By Cynthia thus doe I subsistC
On earth Heauens onely prideC
Let her be mine and let who listC
Take all the world besideC
-
FINISB

Michael Drayton



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