|
Bright was the day, and blew the firmament; |
| Phebus hath of gold his stremes doun ysent, |
| To gladen every flour with his warmnesse. |
| 1010 | He was that tyme in Geminis, as I gesse, |
| But litel fro his declynacion |
| Of Cancer, Jovis exaltacion. |
| And so bifel, that brighte morwe-tyde, |
| That in that gardyn, in the ferther syde, |
| 1015 | Pluto, that is kyng of Fayerye, |
| And many a lady in his compaignye, |
| Folwynge his wyf, the queene Proserpyna, |
| Which that he ravysshed out of Ethna |
| Whil that she gadered floures in the mede - |
| 1020 | In Claudyan ye may the stories rede, |
| How in his grisely carte he hire fette - |
| This kyng of fairye thanne adoun hym sette |
| Upon a bench of turves, fressh and grene, |
| And right anon thus seyde he to his queene: |
|
| Bright was the day and blue the firmament, |
| Phoebus his golden streamers down has sent |
| To gladden every flower with his warmness. |
| 1010 | He was that time in Gemini, I guess, |
| And but a little from his declination |
| Of Cancer, which is great Jove's exaltation. |
| And so it happened, in that bright morning-tide, |
| That in this garden, on the farther side, |
| 1015 | Pluto, who is the king of Faery, |
| With many a lady in his company, |
| Following his wife, the fair Queen Proserpine, |
| Each after other, straight as any line |
| While she was gathering flowers on a mead, |
| 1020 | In Claudian you may the story read |
| How in his grim car he had stolen her - |
| This king of Faery sat down yonder |
| Upon a turfen bank all fresh and green, |
| And right anon thus said he to his queen. |
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