A lovely Ladie° rode him faire beside, Upon a lowly Asse more white then snow, Yet she much whiter, but the same did hide 30 Under a vele, that wimpled was full low, And over all a blacke stole she did throw, As one that inly mournd: so was she sad, And heavie sat upon her palfrey slow; Seemed in heart some hidden care she had, 35 And by her in a line a milke white lambe she lad.
So pure and innocent, as that same lambe, She was in life and every vertuous lore, And by descent from Royall lynage came Of ancient Kings and Queenes, that had of yore 40 Their scepters stretcht from East to Westerne shore, And all the world in their subjection held; Till that infernall feend with foule uprore Forwasted all their land, and them expeld: Whom to avenge, she had this Knight from far compeld. 45
Behind her farre away a Dwarfe° did lag, That lasie seemd in being ever last, Or wearied with bearing of her bag Of needments at his backe. Thus as they past, The day with cloudes was suddeine overcast, 50 And angry Jove an hideous storme of raine Did poure into his Lemans lap so fast, That everie wight to shrowd it did constrain, And this faire couple eke to shroud themselves were fain.
Enforst to seeke some covert nigh at hand, 55 A shadie grove° not far away they spide, That promist ayde the tempest to withstand: Whose loftie trees yclad with sommers pride Did spred so broad, that heavens light did hide, Not perceable with power of any starre: 60 And all within were pathes and alleies wide, With footing worne, and leading inward farre: Faire harbour that them seemes; so in they entred arre.
And foorth they passe, with pleasure forward led, Joying to heare the birdes sweete harmony, 65 Which therein shrouded from the tempest dred, Seemd in their song to scorne the cruell sky. Much can they prayse the trees so straight and hy, The sayling Pine,° the Cedar proud and tall, The vine-prop Elme, the Poplar never dry,° 70 The builder Oake,° sole king of forrests all, The Aspine good for staves, the Cypresse funerall.°
The Laurell,° meed of mightie Conquerours And Poets sage, the firre that weepeth still,° The Willow° worne of forlorne Paramours, 75 The Eugh° obedient to the benders will, The Birch for shaftes, the Sallow for the mill, The Mirrhe° sweete bleeding in the bitter wound, The warlike Beech,° the Ash for nothing ill,° The fruitfull Olive, and the Platane round, 80 The carver Holme,° the Maple seeldom inward sound.