To walke these Ladyes liked best, For sleepe rejects the wounded brest, Who joyntly to a meade addrest, Their sportance with the place to feast. Thus made they amorous accesse, Both virgins and both princesces; Fayre Phillis wore a liberal tresse, But Flora hirs in curls did dresse. Nor in their ornamentall grace, Nor in behaviour were they bace; Their yeeres and mindes in egall[6] place Did youth and his effects embrace. A little yet unlike they proove, And somewhat hostilely they strove: A scholler Floras minde did moove, But Phillis likt a souldiers love. For stature and fresh bewties flowrs, There grew no difference in their dowrs, All thinges were free to both their powrs Without and in their courtly bowrs. One vow they made religiously, And were of one societie; And onely was their impacie[7] The forme of eithers phantasie.[8] Now did a timely gentle gale A little whisper through the dale, Where was a place of festivale, With verdant grasse adorned all. And in that meade-prowd-making grasse, A river, like to liquid glasse, Did in such sound-full murmure passe, That with the same it wanton was. Hard by this brooke a pyne had seate, With goodly furniture compleate, To make the place in state more greate And lessen the inflaming heate. Which was with leaves so bewtifide And spread his brest so thicke and wide, That all the sunnes estranged pride Sustainde repulse on every side. Fayre Phillis by the foorde did sit, But Flora far remov'd from it, The place in all thinges sweete was fit, Where herbage did their seates admit. Thus milde they opposite were set, And coulde not their affects forget, Loves arrows and their bosoms met, And both their harts did passion fret. Love close and inward shrowds his fires, And in faint words firme sighs enspires, Pale tinctures change their cheeks attires, But modest shame entoombs their ires. Phillis did Flora sighing take, And Flora did requitale make: So both together part the stake, Till foorth the wound and sicknes brak. In this chang'd speech they long time staide, The processe all on Love they laide, Love in their harts their lookes bewraide, At last in laughter Phillis saide: "Brave souldier," sayd she, "O my Paris, In fight, or where so ere he tarries, The souldiers lyfe lyfes glory carries, Onely worth Venus household quarries."[9] While she hir warr-friende did prefer, Flora lookt coye and laught at her; And did this adverse speech aver: "Thou shouldst have said, I love a begger. "But what doth he my hart embraces? A thing create, that all things passes, Whom nature blest with all hir graces; O clerkes, in you blisse all blisse places."