"For beautie: though I clownish am,
I know what beautie is;
Or did I not, at seeing thee,
I senceles were to mis.

"Her stature comely, tall; her gate
Well graced; and her wit
To marvell at, not meddle with,
As matchless I omit.

"A globe-like head, a gold-like haire,
A forehead smooth, and hie,
An even nose; on either side

Did shine a grayish eie :

"Two rosie cheeks, round ruddy lips,
White just-set teeth within;

A mouth in meane; and underneathe
A round and dimpled chin.

"Her snowie necke, with blewish veines, Stood bolt upright upon

Her portly shoulders: beating balles
Her veined breasts, anon

"Adde more to beautie. Wand-like was
Her middle falling still,
And rising whereas women rise:
-Imagine nothing ill.

"And more, her long, and limber armes

Had white and azure wrists; And slender fingers aunswere to Her smooth and lillie fists.

"A legge in print, a pretie foot;
Conjecture of the rest :

For amorous eies, observing forme,
Think parts obscured best.

"With these, O raretie! with these

Her tong of speech was spare ; But speaking, Venus seem'd to speake, The balle from Ide to bear.

"With Phoebe, Juno, and with both Herselfe contends in face; Wheare equall mixture did not want Of milde and stately grace.

"Her smiles were sober, and her lookes
Were chearefull unto all:
Even such as neither wanton seeme,
Nor waiward; mell, nor gall.

"A quiet minde, a patient moode,
And not disdaining any;
Not gybing, gadding, gawdy: and
Sweete faculties had many.

"A nimph, no tong, no heart, no eie,

Might praise, might wish, might see; For life, for love, for forme; more good, More worth, more faire than shee.

"Yea such an one, as such was none,
Save only she was such :
Of Argentile to say the most,
Were to be silent much."

I knew the lady very well,

But worthles of such praise,

The neatresse said: and muse I do,
A shepheard thus should blaze
The "coate" of beautie.*
Credit me,

Thy latter speech bewraies

Thy clownish shape a coined shew.
But wherefore dost thou weepe?
The shepheard wept, and she was woe,
And both doe silence keepe.

"In troth, quoth he, I am not such, As seeming I professe;

But then for her, and now for thee, I from myselfe digresse.

"Her loved I (wretch that I am A recreant to be),

I loved her, that hated love,
But now I die for thee.

"At Kirkland is my fathers court,

And Curan is my name, In Edels court sometimes in pompe, Till love countrould the same:

* i.e. emblazon beauty's coat.