Page:Works of Edmund Spenser - 1857.djvu/457

Rh POEMS.

In youth, before I waxed old. The blynd boy, Venus baby. For want of cunning made me bold, In bitter hyve to grope for honny : But, when he saw me stung and cry. He tooke his wings and away did fly.

As Diane hunted on a uay,

She chaunst to come where Cupid lay,

His quiver by his head :

One of his shafts she stole away,

And one of hers did close convay

Into the others stead :

V ith that Love wounded my loves hart.

But Diane beasts with Cupids dart.

I SAW, in secret to my dame How little Cupid humbly cam j.

And said to her; " All hayle, my mother!" But, when he saw me laugh, for shame His face with bashfull blood did flame. Not knowing Venus from the other. " Then, never blush, Cupid, quoth I, For many have err'd in this beauty."

Upon a day, as Love lay sweetly slumbring All in in his mothers lap ;

A gentle bee, with his loud trumpet murm'ring, j About him flew by hap. Whereof when he was wakened with the I'.oyse, 5 And saw the beast so small ;

" Whats this (quoth he) that giv^s so great a voyce That wakens men withallt " In angry wize he flies about,

And threatens all with corage stout. 10

To whom his mother closely smiling sayd, 'Twixt earnest and 'twixt game : " See ! thou thyselfe likewise art lyttle made. If thou regard the same.