Nor hold none other flower in such dainty As the fresh ROSE, of colour red and white; For if thou dost, hurt is thine honesty, Considering that no flower is so perfyte, So full of pleasaunce, virtue and delight; So full of blissful angelic beauty, Imperial birth, honour and dignity.
Then to the ROSE she did her visage turn, And said, O lusty daughter most benign, Above the Lilly thou art illustrious born, From royal lineage rising fresh and young, But any spot, or macul doing sprung; Come bloom of joy, with richest gems becrown'd, For o'er the laif thy beauty is renown'd.
A costly crown with stones clarified bright, This comely Queen did in her head inclose, While all the land illumined of light; Wherefore methought, the flowers did all rejoyce, Crying at once, Hail to the fragrant ROSE! Hail Empress of the herbs! fresh Queen of flowers! To thee be glore and honour at all hours.
Then all the birds they sang with voice on height, Whose mirthful sound was marvellous to hear: The Mavys sang, Hail ROSE most rich and right, That does upflourish under Phebus' sphere, Hail plant of youth, hail Prince's daughter dear, Hail blossom breaking out of blood royal, Whose precious virtue is imperial.
The Merle she sang, Hail ROSE of most delight, Hail of all flowers the sweet and sovereign Queen: The lark she sang, hail ROSE both red and white, Most pleasant flower of mighty colours[1] twain: Nightingals sang, hail Natures suffragan, In beauty, nurture, and each nobleness, In rich array, renown, and gentleness.
The common voice uprose of warblers small, Upon this wise, "O blessed be the hour "That thou wast chose to be our principal, "Welcome to be our Princess crown'd with pow'r, "Our pearl, our pleasance, and our paramour, "Our peace, our play, our plain felicity: "Christ thee conserve from all adversity."
Then all the concert sang with such a shout, That I anon awaken'd where I lay, And with a braid I turned me about To see this court, but all were gone away; Then up I lean'd me, halflings in affray, Call'd to my Muse, and for my subject chose To sing the royal THISTLE and the ROSE.
[1] Alluding to the Houses of YORK and LANCASTER, which were distinguished by the WHITE and RED ROSE, and united in the person of Queen MARGARET.