The perfectest of all created things,
The purest gold, that suffers no allay;[156]
The sweetest flower that on th' earths bosome springs,
The pearle vnbord, whose price no price can pay:
The Christall Glasse that will no venome hold,[157]
The mirror wherein Angels loue to looke,
Dianaes bathing Fountaine cleere and cold,
Beauties fresh Rose, and vertues liuing booke.
Of loue and fortune both, the Mistresse borne,
The soueraigne spirit that will be thrall to none;
The spotlesse garment that was neuer worne,
The Princely Eagle that still flyes alone.
She sees the world, yet her cleere thought doth take
No such deepe print as to be chang'd thereby;
As when we see the burning fire doth make,
No such impression as doth burne the eye.
Wife. No more (sweete maid) our strife is at an end,
Cease now: I fear we shall transformèd be
To chattering Pies, as they that did contend
To match the Muses in their harmony.
Widow. Then let us yeeld the honour and the place,
And let vs both be sutors to the maid;
That since the Goddesse giues her speciall grace,
By her cleere hands the offring be conuaide.
Maid. Your speech I doubt hath some displeasure mou'd,
Yet let me haue the offring, I will see;
I know she hath both wiues and widdowes lou'd,
Though she would neither wife nor widdow be. (pp 5-15.)
III. A LOTTERY.[158]