THE ELIZABETHAN FLOWER GARDEN 115 



whose intreaty they descended to the stage, and marching up 

 to the king, sung to lutes and theorboes." 



Faerie Queene. 



" Fresh shadows fit to shroud from sunny ray : 



Fair lawns, to take the sun in season due ; 

 Sweet springs, in which a thousand nymphs did play ; 



Soft-running brooks, that gentle slumber drew ; 

 High-reared mounts, the lands about to view ; 



Low-looking dales, disloign'd 1 from common gaze ; 

 Delightful bow'rs, to solace lovers true ; 



False labyrinths, fond runner's eyes to daze. 

 All which by Nature made did Nature 'self amaze, 



And all without were walks and alleys dight, 

 With divers trees enranged in even ranks ; 



And here and there were pleasant arbours pight, 

 And shady seats, and sundry flow'ring banks, 



To sit and rest the walker's weary shanks." 2 



1 —remote from. 2 Book IV., c. x., 24. 



8—2 



