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.