Phillis and Flora The sweete and ciuill contention of two amorous ladyes. Translated out of Latine: by R.S. Esquire.

THE AMOROVS CONTENTION OF PHILLIS and FLORA : Translated out of Latine , by R. S. Esquire . IN flowry season of the yeere , And when the Firmament was cleere , When Tellus Hierbales paynted were with issue of dispatent chere . When th' vsher to the morne did rise , And driue the darknes from the skyes , Sleepe gaue their visuale liberties To Phillis and to Floras eyes . To walke these Ladyes liked best , For sleepe reiects the wounded brest , Who ioyntly to a Meade addrest , Their sportance with the place to feast . Thus made they amorous accesse , Both virgins and both Princesces , Fayre Phillis wore a liberal tresse , But Flora , hirs in Curls did dresse . Nor in their ornamentall grace , Nor in behauiour were they bace , Their yeeres and mindes in egall place Did Youth and his effects embrace . A little yet vnlike they prooue , And somewhat hostilely they stroue : A Scholler Floras minde did mooue , But Phillis likt a Souldiers loue . For stature and fresh bewties flowrs , There grew no difference in their dowrs : All thinges were free to both their powrs Without and in their courtly bowrs . One Vow they made religiously , And were of one societie : And onely was their impacie , The forme of eithers phantasie . Now did a timely gentle gale , A little whisper through the dale , Where was a place of festiuale , With verdant Grasse adorned all . And in that Meade-prowd-making Grasse , A Riuer like to liquid Glasse , Did in such sound-full murmure passe , That with the same it wanton was . Hardby this Brooke a Pyne had seate , With goodly furniture compleate , To make the place in state more greate And lessen the inflaming heate . Which was with leaues so bewtifide , And spread his Brest so thicke and wide , That all the Sunnes estranged pride , Sustainde repulse on euery side . Fayre Phillis by the foorde did sit , But Flora far remou'd from it , The place in all thinges sweete was fit , Where Herbage did their seates admit . Thus milde they opposite were set , And coulde not their affects forget , Loues Arrows and their Bosoms met , And both their harts did Passion-fret . " Loue , close and inward shrowds his fires , " And infaint words firme sighs enspires , " Pale Tinctures change their checks attires " But modest shame enoombs their ires . Phillis did Flora sighing take , And Flora did requitale make : So both together part the stake , Till foorth the wound and sicknes brake . In this chang'd speech they long time staide , The processe all on Loue they laide , Loue in their harts their lookes bewraide , At last in laughter Phillis saide : Braue Souldier sayd she , O my Paris , In fight , or where so ere he tarries , The Souldiers lyfe , lyfes glory carries , Onely worth Venus household quarries . While she hir warr-friende did prefer , Flora lookt coye and laught at her ; And did this aduerse speech auer : " Thou shouldst haue said , I loue a Begger . But what doth he my hart embraces ? A thing create , that all things passes , Whom Nature blest with all hir graces , O Clerkes , in you Blisse all blisse places . This hard speech Phillis hardly takes , Phillis to Flora. And thus she Floras pacience crakes : Thou lou'st a Man pure loue forsakes , That God his godles bellie makes . Rise wretch from this grosse Extasie , A Clerke sole Epicure thinke I , No Elegance can bewtifie , A shapeles lump of Gluttonie . His hart sweete Cupids tents reiects , That onely meate and drinke affects : O Flora , all mens intelects know Souldiers vows , shun those respects . Meere helpes for neede his minde suffiseth Dull sleepe , and surfetts he despiseth , Loues Trump his temples exerciseth , Cooradge and loue , his life compriseth . Who with like band our loues combineth ? Euen Natures law thereat repineth , My loue in conquests palme-wreths shineth , Thine feast deforms , mine fight refineth . Flora hir modest face enrosed , Flora to Phillis . Whose second smile more fayre disclosed At length with moouing voyce she losed , What Art in her storde Brest reposed . Phillis , thy fill of speech thou hast , Thy witt with pointed wings is grast , Yet vrdgest not a trueth so vast , That Hemlocks Lillies haue surpast . Ease louing Clerkes thou holdst for cleere , Seruants to sloth , and bellie cheere ; So Enuie , Honor would enpheere , But giue me eare , I le giue thee answere . So much enioyes this Loue of myne , Henere enuies , or hirs , or thyne ; Housholdstuffe , Honny , Oyle , Corne , wine , Coyne , Iewels , Plate , serue his designe . Such pleasing store , haue Clerks by-lying , As none can fayne their dignifying : There ; Loue clasps his glad wings in flying , Loue euer firme , Loue neuer dying . Loues stings in him are still sustained , Yet is my Clerke nor pinde nor pained : Ioy hath no part in him restrained , ( fained . To whom his loue beares thoughts-vn - Palled , and leane , is thy Elected , ( tected ; Poore , scarce with Cloths , or skin con - His Sinews weake , his Brest dyiected , For nothing causde , maks nought effected . Approching Neede is Loues meere hell , Souldiers want gyfts to woo Loues well : But Clerks giue much , and still heaps swell , Their Rents , and Riches so excell . Right-well thou knowst ( Phillis replide ) Phillis to Flora. What in both Arts , and lyues abide , Likely , and clenly thou hast lide : But thus our difference is not tride . When Holy-day the whole world cheeres , A Clerke lifes modest figure beares : His crowne is heauen , black weeds he weares And showes a mind , halfe dround in teares . None is so poore of sence or eyne , To whom a Souldier doth not shyne : At ease , like sprightles Beasts liues thyne , Helms , & barbd Horse , do weare out myne Mine , low with armes makes Foe-towrs ly And when on foote he fight doth try , While his fayre Squire his Horse holds by , Mine thinks on me , And then they dy . He turns , fight past , and Foes inchased , And lookes on me with Helme vnlaced , Lifts his strong lyms , & brest strait graced , And saies kyss-blesse me , O hart-placed . Flora hir wrath , in pants did spye , And many a Dart at hir lets flye ; ( crye Thou canst not make with heauen-reacht Flora to Phillis . A Camell pierce a needels eye . False goes for true , for Honny , Gall , To make a Clerke , a Souldiers thrall : Doth Loue to Souldiers coradge call ? No , but the neede they toyle withall . Fayre Phillis , would thy Loue were wise , No more the trueth to contrarise : Hunger and thirst bow Souldiers thies , In which Deaths path , and Plutos lies . Sharpe is the wasting bane of Warre , The lot is hard , and strayneth farre : The lyfe is stooping , doubts doth iarre , To get such things as needefull are . Knewst thou the case , thou wouldst not say , Shauen haire shamd Clerks , or black aray : Worne higher honors to display , And that all states they ouersway . All things should to my Clerke encline , whose crowne sustains th' Impereal signe ; He rules and payes such friendes as thine , And Lay must stoope , to men diuine . Thou sayst that sloth , a Clerke disguiseth , Who I confesse base workes despiseth ; But when from cares his free minde riseth , Heauens course & Naturs be compriseth . Mine Purple decks , thine Maile bedighteth Thine liues in war , mine peace delighteth Olde acts of Princes he resighteth , All of his friend thinks , seeks , & wrighteth . What Venus can , or Loues wingd lord , First knowes my Clerke , and brings me Musicke in cares doth mine afford , ( word : Thine ioyes in rapine and the sword . Here speech & strife had both their ending , Phillis askt iudgment , all suspending : Much stir they made , yet ceast contending , And sought a Iudge in homewards wen - ( ding . With Countnances that egale beene , With egale Maiestie beseene : With egale Voyce , and egale spleene , These Virgins ward vppon the Greene . . Phillis a white robe bewtifide , Flora wore one of two hews dide : Phillis vpon a Mule did ride , Flora did back a horse of pride . The Mule was that which being create , Neptune did feede , and subiugate : Which after fayre Adonis fate , He Venus sent to cheere hir state . This she the Queene of Iberine , Phillis fayre Mother did resigne , Since she was giuen to workes diuine , Whence Phillis had the Mule in fine . Who of the Trappings asks , and Bit , The Mule ( though siluer ) champing it : Know all things were so richly fit , As Neptunes honor might admit , Then Phillis no decorid wanted , But rich and bewtious , all eyes daunted : Nor Floras vertue lesse enchaunted , Who on a welthy Palfrey vaunted . ( lightnes , Tamde with his Raines , won heauen for Exceeding fayre , and full of wightnes , His Brest Art dectt with diuers brightnes , For Ieate blacke mixt , with Swans pure ( whightnes . Young and in dainty shape dygested , His Lookes with Pride , not Rage inuested : His Mayne thin haird , his Neck high crested , Small Eare , short Head , and burly Brested . His brode Backe stoopt to this Clerks-loued , which with hir pressure nought was moued : Strait Legd , large Thighd , & hollow Houed , All Natures skill in him was proued . An Iuorie seate on him had place , A hoope of Golde did it imbrace , Grauen : and the Poitrell did enchace A Stone that star-like gaue it grace . Inscription there allurde the eye , With many a wondrous misterie : Of ancient thinges made noueltie , That neuer man did yet descrie . The God of Rhetoriques nuptiall bowre , Adornd with euery heauenly powre , The Contract , and the Mariage howre , And all the most vnmeasurd dowre . No place was there that figurd nought , That could through all the world be sought : But more excesse of Meruails wrought , Then might inceede a humane thought . The skyll of Mulciber alone , Engran'd that admirable Throne : Who looking stedfastly thereon , Scarse thought his hand such art had shone . The Trappings wrought he not with ease , But all his payne employde to please : And left to go in hand with these , The Tardge of great Aeacides . A Styrrop for hir feete to presse , And Bridle-Bosses he did dresse , And added Rains in worths excesse , Of his sweete Spowses goulden Tresse . Thus on their famouse Caualrye , These Prince-borne Damzels seemd to flye : Their soft young cheekebales to the eye , Are of the fresh Vermilion dye . So Lillies out of Scarlet peere , So Roses of the Vernall yeere , So shoote two wanton Starrs yfeere , From the eternall burning Spheere . The Child-Gods gracefull Paradise , They ioyntly purpose to inuise : And louely emulations rise , In note of one anothers guise . Phillis to Flora , laughter led , And Flora Phillis answered : A Merlin Phillis managed , A Sparhawlke Flora caried . In little tyme these Ladyes founde , A Groue with euery pleasure crounde : At whose sweete entrie did resounde , A Poorde that flowrd that holy grounde . From thence the sweete-breathd winds conuay , Odors from euery Mirtle spray : And other flowrs , to whose aray , A hundred Harpes and Timbrels play . All pleasurs Studie can inuent , The Dames eares instantly present : Voyces in all sorts different , The foure parts , and the Diapent . Two tunes that from those Voyces flie , With admirable harmonie : The Tymbrell , Harpe , and Psalterie , Reioyce in rapting symphonie . There did the Vials voyce abounde , In Musicke Angellike profounde : There did the Phife dispredden rounde , his songe in many a variant sounde . All Birdes with tunefull bosoms sing , The Blackbird makes the woods to ring : The Thrush , the Iay , and she in Spring Rues the past Rape of Thraces king . Their shrill notes to the Musicke plying , Then all the different Flowrs descrying : The Odors in abundance flying , Prou'd it the Bowre of Loues soft-lying . The Virgins something entered here , And sprinckled with a little feare : Their harts before that helde Loue deare , In Cupids flames encreased were . And while each winged Forester , Their proper Rumors did prefer : Each Virgins minde made waight on her , Applauses apt and singuler . Deathles were he coulde there repose , Each path his spycie Odor stroes : Of Mirh and Synamon there groes , And of our blessed Ladyes Rose . Each Tree hath there his seuerall blisse , In fruites that neuer season misse : Men may conceaue how sweete Loue is , By that Celestiall Court of his . The dauncing companies they see Of Young men and of Maydens free : Whose Bodyes are as bright in Blee , As Starrs illustrate Bodyes bee . In which so meruaylous a guyse , Of vnexpected Nouelties : These Virgins bosoms through their eyes , Were daunted with a quicke surprise . Who stay their Boyall Steads outright , And almost from their Seates alight : Forgetting their endeuors quight , with that proud Rumors sweete affright . But when sad Philomene did straine Hir Rape-full-Rauing Brest againe , These Ladyes hearing hir complaine , were reinflamd in euery vaine . About the Center of the Spring , A secret place is where they sing : And vse their supreme worshypping , Of Loues neare-darting fiery king . There many a two-shapt companie of Faunes , Nimphes , Satyres , meete and plie : The Tymbrell , and the Psalterie , Before Loues sacred Maiestie . There beare they Goblets , bigg with wine , And Coronets of Flowrs combine : There Nimphs , and Fauns demy-diuine , Doth Bacchus teach to foote it fine . Who keepe true measure with their feete , That to the Instruments do fleete : But olde Silenus playes not sweete , In Consort , but indents the streete . The Spring-sleepe did his temples lode , As on a long-eard Asse he rode : Laughters excesse to see him nod , Dissolu'd the Bosome of the God . Fresh Cups he euer cals vppon , In sounds of imperfection : With Age and Bacchus ouergon , They stop his voyces Organon . Amongst this gamesome crew is seene , The issue of the Cyprian Queene , Whose head and shoulders fethered beene , And as the starrs his countnance sheene . In his left hand his Bow he bare , And by his side his Quiuer ware : In powre he sits past all compare , And with his Flames the worlde doth dare . A Scepter in his hand he hild , With Chloris natiue flowrs , vntild , And Nectars deathles Odors stild , From his bright lookes the Sunne did guild . The triple Graces there assist , Supporting with their Brests commist : And Knees that Tellus bosome kist , The Challice of this Amorist . These Ladyes now approached neare , And worshipped exempt from feare Loues God : who was enuirond there with Youth , that honord stiles did beare . Their ioy is superexcellent , To see a Court so confluent : Whom Cupid seeing , their intent , Doth with his greeting interuent . He askes the cause for which they came : They confidently tell the same : And he giues prayse to eyther Dame , That durst so great a warre proclame . To both he spake to make some pause , Vntyll their honorable cause Profoundly wayde in euery clause , Might be explande with all applause . He was a God which well they know , Rehearsall needes it not bestow : They light and rest , and playnely show , where Loue striues , Loue wil Maister grow . Loue , Lawes and Iudges hath in fee , Nature , and vse his Iudges bee : To whom his whole Courts censures flee , Since past , and things to come , they see . These do the hart of Iustice trie , And show the Courts seueritie : In Iudgment , and strong Customs eye , The Clerke is first for venerie . Gainst which the Queenes but little stroue , Since Loues high voyce did it approue : So both to their Abodes remoue : But as at first , rest firme in Loue .

Explicit Rhithmus Phillidis et Flora.

FINIS .