The Hesperides & Noble Numbers/Hesperides/The Parliament of Roses to Julia

by Robert Herrick

11. THE PARLIAMENT OF ROSES TO JULIA.

I dreamt the roses one time went
To meet and sit in parliament;
The place for these, and for the rest
Of flowers, was thy spotless breast,
Over the which a state was drawn
Of tiffanie or cobweb lawn.
Then in that parly all those powers
Voted the rose the queen of flowers;
But so as that herself should be
The maid of honour unto thee.

State, a canopy.
Tiffanie, gauze.
Parly, a parliament.