For virtuous herbs, which gathered from the ground They squeezed the juice, and cooling ointment made, Which on their sun-burnt cheeks, and their chapt skins, they laid; Then sought green sallads, which they bade them eat, A sovereign remedy for inward heat. The Lady of the Leaf ordained a feast, And made the Lady of the Flower her guest: When lo, a bower ascended on the plain, With sudden seats adorned, and large for either train. This bower was near my pleasant arbour placed, That I could hear and see whatever passed: The ladies sat with each a knight between, Distinguished by their colours, white and green; The vanquished party with the victors joined, Nor wanted sweet discourse, the banquet of the mind. Meantime the minstrels played on either side, Vain of their art, and for the mastery vied: The sweet contention lasted for an hour, And reached my secret arbour from the bower. The sun was set; and Vesper, to supply His absent beams, had lighted up the sky: When Philomel, officious all the day To sing the service of the ensuing May, Fled from her laurel shade, and winged her flight Directly to the queen arrayed in white; And hopping sat familiar on her hand, A new musician, and increased the band. The goldfinch, who, to shun the scalding heat, Had changed the medlar for a safer seat, And hid in bushes 'scaped the bitter shower, Now perched upon the Lady of the Flower; And either songster holding out their throats, And folding up their wings, renewed their notes; As if all day, preluding to the fight, They only had rehearsed, to sing by night. The banquet ended, and the battle done, They danced by star-light and the friendly moon: And when they were to part, the laureat queen Supplied with steeds the lady of the green. Her and her train conducting on the way, The moon to follow, and avoid the day. This when I saw, inquisitive to know The secret moral of the mystic show, I started from my shade, in hopes to find Some nymph to satisfy my longing mind; And as my fair adventure fell, I found A lady all in white, with laurel crowned, Who closed the rear, and softly paced along, Repeating to herself the former song. With due respect my body I inclined, As to some being of superior kind, And made my court according to the day, Wishing her queen and her a happy May. Great thanks, my daughter, with a gracious bow She said; and I, who much desired to know Of whence she was, yet fearful how to break My mind, adventured humbly thus to speak:-- Madam, might I presume and not offend, So may the stars and shining moon attend Your nightly sports, as you vouchsafe to tell, } What nymphs they were who mortal forms excel, } And what the knights who fought in listed fields so well.-- } To this the dame replied: Fair daughter, know, That what you saw was all a fairy show;