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 : And warble songs more sweet than shepherd's flute. II. Here Panacea, here Nepenthe grew, Here Polygon, and each ambrosial weed; Whose vertues could decayed health renew, And, answering exhausted nature's need, Mote eath a mortal to immortal feed. Here lives Adonis in unfading youth ; Celestial Venus grants him that rich meed, And him successive evermore renew'th, In recompence for all his faithful love and truth. IV. Not she, I ween the wanton Queen of love, |