The first of them did seeme of ryper yeares, xlix And grauer countenance then all the rest; Yet all the rest were eke her equall peares, Yet vnto her obayed all the best. Her name was _Womanhood_, that she exprest By her sad semblant and demeanure wyse: For stedfast still her eyes did fixed rest, Ne rov’d at randon after gazers guyse, Whose luring baytes oftimes doe heedlesse harts entyse. And next to her sate goodly _Shamefastnesse_, l Ne euer durst her eyes from ground vpreare, Ne euer once did looke vp from her desse, As if some blame of euill she did feare, That in her cheekes made roses oft appeare: And her against sweet _Cherefulnesse_ was placed, Whose eyes like twinkling stars in euening cleare, Were deckt with smyles, that all sad humors chaced, And darted forth delights, the which her goodly graced. And next to her sate sober _Modestie_, li Holding her hand vpon her gentle hart; And her against sate comely _Curtesie_, That vnto euery person knew her part; And her before was seated ouerthwart Soft _Silence_, and submisse _Obedience_, Both linckt together neuer to dispart, Both gifts of God not gotten but from thence, Both girlonds[193] of his Saints against their foes offence. Thus sate they all a round in seemely rate: lii And in the midst of them a goodly mayd, Euen in the lap of _Womanhood_ there sate, The which was all in lilly white arayd, With siluer streames amongst the linnen stray’d; Like to the Morne, when first her shyning face Hath to the gloomy world it selfe bewray’d, That same was fayrest _Amoret_ in place, Shyning with beauties light, and heauenly vertues grace. Whom soone as I beheld, my hart gan throb, liii And wade in doubt, what best were to be donne: For sacrilege me seem’d the Church to rob, And folly seem’d to leaue the thing vndonne, Which with so strong attempt I had begonne. Tho shaking off all doubt and shamefast feare, Which Ladies loue I heard had neuer wonne Mongst men of worth, I to her stepped neare, And by the lilly hand her labour’d vp to reare. Thereat that formost matrone me did blame, liv And sharpe rebuke, for being ouer bold; Saying it was to Knight vnseemely shame, Vpon a recluse Virgin to lay hold, That vnto _Venus_ seruices was sold. To whom I thus, Nay but it fitteth best, For _Cupids_ man with _Venus_ mayd to hold, For ill your goddesse seruices are drest By virgins, and her sacrifices let to rest.