THE CRAB AND MAPLE TREES 

 IN MILFIELD 



T 



HE cheerefull byrde that skips from tree to tree, 

 By skilful! choyse doth roust and rest at night : 

 Although by wing and will he may go free. 

 Yet there he pearkes, where most he takes delight. 

 As Thrush in thome, and golden Finch in Feame, 

 Great byrds in groves, the smale in bushie hedge : 

 The Larke alowe, in loftie tree the Heame, 

 And some in Fenne, doe shrowde themselves in 



sedge. 

 So some men bost in Bayes, whose branch they 



beare, 

 Some Hawthorne hold, as chiefe of their delight : 

 Some wofuU wightes, the wrethed Willows weare. 

 Some Roses reach, and some the LyUies white. 

 Some Plane tree praise, as great Darius sonne. 

 Whose oft recourse thereto doth well expresse, 

 That vertues rise therin this Prince had wonne. 

 To like the same above the rest I gesse. 

 The Oliander eke, whose Roselike fioure, 

 Faire Polixene so passing well did please : 

 Some lift aloft, and some the Pien pure. 

 Yet trees I know that farre surmounteth these. 

 Not for their daintie fruites, or odoures sweete, 

 Ne yet for sumptuous shewe that others yeelde : 

 But for the Ladies sakes, which there did meete, 

 I give them prayse as chiefest in the fielde. 

 O happy trees, O happy boughes, whose shade 

 Ishrouded hath such Noble vertuous wightes : 

 By whom you were, and are a Mirror made, 

 Who of your selves doe yeelde no great delightes. 



75 



