Page:An English Garner Ingatherings from Our History and Literature (Volume 1 1877).pdf/289

ALCIDES' speckled poplar tree;
The palm that monarchs do obtain;
With love juice stained, the mulberry,
The fruit that dews the poet's brain;
  And PHILLIS' filbert there away
  Compared with myrtle and the bay:

The tree that coffins doth adorn,
With stately height threat'ning the sky,
And for the bed of love forlorn,
The black and doleful ebony:
  All in a circle compassed were
  Like to an amphitheatre.

Upon the branches of those trees,
The air-winged people sat,
Distinguishèd in odd degrees;
One sort is this, another that.
  Here PHILOMEL that knows full well
  What force and wit in love doth dwell.

The sky-bred eagle, royal bird,
Perched there upon an oak above;
The turtle by him never stirred,
Example of immortal love.
  The swan that sings about to die;
  Leaving MEANDER, stood thereby.