painters in the Reign af^een Elizabeth. 241 



ftag behind her, and on a tree are infcribed 

 thefe mottoes and verfes, which as we knoW 

 not on what occafion the piece was painted, 

 are not eafily to be interpreted j 

 Injufti jufta querela. 



a little lower, 



Mea fic mihi. 



ftill lower. 



Dolor eft medicina ed tori, (fhould be, dolori.) 

 on a fcroll at bottom. 



The rettlefs fwallow fits my reftlefle liiind. 

 In ftill revivinge, ftill renewinge wrongs ; 

 Her jufte complaints of cruelty unkinde 

 Are all the mufique that my life prolonges. 

 With penfive thoughts my weeping ftag I 



crown, 

 Whofe melancholy teares my cares expirefle ; 

 (i) His teares in filence and my fighes unknowns 



Are all the phyficke that my harmes redrefTe. 

 My onely hopes was in this goodly tree. 

 Which I did plant in love, bring up in care, 

 (too) But all in vaine, for now to late I fee 

 ((hells) l^\it p^ales be mine, the kernels others are. 

 My mufique may be ptaintes, my mufique 



teares. 

 If this be all the fruite my love-tree beares. 



Tradition gives thefe lines to Spenfer; I 

 think we may fairly acquit him of them, 

 and conclude they are of her majefty*s own 

 compofition, as they much refemble the 

 Vol, L Q^ ftylc 



