XXIV PREFACE. 



" For there, in thickest shade of myrtles fair, 

 A crystal spring pour'd out a silver flood 

 Amid the herbs, the grass, and flowers rare ; 

 The falling leaves down patter'd from the wood ; 

 The birds sang hymns of love ; yet speak I nought 

 Of gold and marble rich, and richly wrought." 



FAIRFAX'S Translation. 



Another charming passage there is in this 

 poem, which Spenser has imitated in the twelfth 

 canto of his second book : 



" Vezzosi augelli, infra le verdi fronde, 

 Temprano a prova lascivette note ; 

 Mormora 1'aura, e fa le foglie e 1'onde 

 Garrir, che variamente ella percote 

 Quando taccion gli augelli, alto risponde ; 

 Quando cantan gli augei, piu lieve scote. 

 Sia caso o d'arte, or accompagna, ed ora 

 Alterna i versi lor la musica ora." 



Canto xvi. 



" The joyous birds, hid under greenwood shade, 

 Sung merry notes on every branch and bough ; 

 The wind, that in the leaves and waters played, 

 With murmurs sweet now sung, and whistled now ; 

 Ceased the birds, the winds loud answer made, 

 And while they sang, it rumbled soft and low ; 

 Thus, were it hap or cunning, chance or art, 

 The wind in this strange music bore its part." 



FAIRFAX'S Translation. 



The beauties of the different seasons, particularly 



