Page:Oxford Book of English Verse 1250-1918.djvu/200

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��MICHAEL DRAYTON

128 Sirena

r EAR to the silver Trent

SIRENA dwelleth; She to whom Nature lent

All that excellcth; By which the Muses late

And the neat Graces Have for their greater state

Taken their places; Twisting an anadem

Wherewith to crown her, As it belonged to them Most to renown her. On thy bank y In a rank,

Let thy swans sing her y And wtth their music

Along let them bring her,

Tagus and Pactolus

Are to thee debtor, Nor for their gold to us

Are they the better Henceforth of all the rest

Be thou the River Which, as the daintiest,

Puts them down ever. For as my precious one

O'er thee doth travel, She to pearl paragon

Turneth thy gravel.

On thy bank. ..

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