With chaplets green on their fair foreheads placed; Of laurel some, of woodbine many more, And wreaths of _Agnus castus_ others bore: These last, who with those virgin crowns were dressed, Appeared in higher honour than the rest. They danced around; but in the midst was seen } A lady of a more majestic mien; } By stature, and by beauty, marked their sovereign queen. } She in the midst began with sober grace; Her servants' eyes were fixed upon her face, And as she moved or turned, her motions viewed, Her measures kept and step by step pursued. Methought she trod the ground with greater grace, With more of godhead shining in her face; And as in beauty she surpassed the quire, So, nobler than the rest was her attire. A crown of ruddy gold inclosed her brow, Plain without pomp, and rich without a show: A branch of _Agnus castus_ in her hand She bore aloft (her sceptre of command;) Admired, adored by all the circling crowd, For wheresoe'er she turned her face, they bowed: And as she danced, a roundelay she sung, In honour of the laurel, ever young: She raised her voice on high, and sung so clear, } The fawns came scudding from the groves to hear, } And all the bending forest lent an ear. } At every close she made, the attending throng Replied, and bore the burden of the song: So just, so small, yet in so sweet a note, It seemed the music melted in the throat. Thus dancing on, and singing as they danced, They to the middle of the mead advanced, Till round my arbour a new ring they made, And footed it about the secret shade. O'erjoyed to see the jolly troop so near, But somewhat awed, I shook with holy fear; Yet not so much, but that I noted well Who did the most in song or dance excel. Not long I had observed, when from afar I heard a sudden symphony of war; The neighing coursers, and the soldiers' cry, And sounding trumps that seemed to tear the sky: I saw soon after this, behind the grove From whence the ladies did in order move, Come issuing out in arms a warrior train, That like a deluge poured upon the plain: On barbed steeds they rode in proud array, Thick as the college of the bees in May, When swarming o'er the dusky fields they fly, New to the flowers, and intercept the sky. So fierce they drove, their coursers were so fleet, That the turf trembled underneath their feet. To tell their costly furniture were long, The summer's day would end before the song: To purchase but the tenth of all their store, Would make the mighty Persian monarch poor. Yet what I can, I will: before the rest The trumpets issued in white mantles dressed; A numerous troop, and all their heads around } With chaplets green of cerrial-oak were crowned, } And at each trumpet was a banner bound; } Which, waving in the wind, displayed at large