PHILLIS and FLORA.  
The sweet and civil contention of two amorous Ladies.  
Translated out of Latin: by R. S. Esquire.  
Aut Marti vel Mercurio.  
Imprinted at London by W. W. for Richard johnes. 1598.   

THE PRINTER. To the Gentlemen Readers, aswell such as profess to be Mars his Soldiers, as those devoted to be Mercury's Scholars.  
COurtuous Gentlemen, according to my accustomed manner, which is, to acquaint you with any Book, or matter I print, that beareth some likelihood to be of worth, or might seem pleasing or acceptable in your favourable censures: So now, happening upon a sweet Poem, containing, A civil contention of two amorous Ladies (both virgins, and Princesses) The one devoted, in her love, to a Soldier; the other affecting a Scholar: And both to maintain their choice, they contend (as women) to commend and reprove either others Love, by the best and soundest reasons they can allege, whether the Scholar or the Soldier, were the more allowable by his profession in women's minds; and aptest & worthiest to be best accepted into ladies favours. Please it you therefore, to read the Poem to the end, then favourably to censure of their opinions: and the rather with more favourable justice, because they were Ladies. If the matter like you, thank the Gentleman that translated it, who craveth no other reward for his labour: If otherwise, yet of your wont courtesies, I pray you to pardon me the Printer, that procured the same from him to be published: So shall you bind me yours, as I have been ever, willi●● to please you.  
R. johnes.   

THE AMOROUS CONTENTION OF PHILLIS and FLORA:  Translated out of Latin, by R. S. Esquire. 

IN flowery season of the year,  
And when the Firmament was clear,  
When Tellus Hierbales painted were  
with issue of dispatent cheer.   

When th'usher to the morn did rise,  
And drive the darkness from the skies,  
Sleep gave their visual liberties  
To Phillis and to Flora's eyes.   

To walk these Ladies liked best,  
For sleep rejects the wounded breast,  
Who jointly to a Mead addressed,  
Their sportance with the place to feast.   

Thus made they amorous access,  
Both virgins and both Princesces,  
Fair Phillis wore a liberal tress,  
But Flora, hers in Curls did dress.   

Nor in their ornamental grace,  
Nor in behaviour were they base,  
Their years and minds in equal place  
Did Youth and his effects embrace.   

A little yet unlike they prove,  
And somewhat hostilely they strove:  
A Scholar Flora's mind did move,  
But Phillis liked a soldiers love.   

For stature and fresh beauties flowers,  
There grew no difference in their dowrs:  
All things were free to both their powers  
Without and in their courtly bowers.   

One Vow they made religiously,  
And were of one society:  
And only was their impacie,  
The form of either's fantasy.   

Now did a timely gentle gale,  
A little whisper through the dale,  
Where was a place of festivale,  
With verdant Grass adorned all.   

And in that Meade-prowd-making Grass,  
A River like to liquid Glass,  
Did in such soundfull murmur pass,  
That with the same it wanton was.   

Hardby this Brook a Pine had seat,  
With goodly furniture complete,  
To make the place in state more great  
And lessen the inflaming heat.   

Which was with leaves so bewtifide,  
And spread his Breast so thick and wide,  
That all the suns estranged pride,  
Sustained repulse on every side.   

Fair Phillis by the ford did sit,  
But Flora far removed from it,  
The place in all things sweet was fit,  
Where Herbage did their seats admit.   

Thus mild they opposite were set,  
And could not their affects forget,  
loves Arrows and their Bosoms met,  
And both their hearts did Passion-fret.   

" Love, close and inward shrouds his fires,  
" And infaint words firm sighs enspires,  
" Pale Tinctures change their checks attires  
" But modest shame enoombs their ires.   

Phillis did Flora sighing take,  
And Flora did requitale make:  
So both together part the stake,  
Till forth the wound and sickness broke.   

In this changed speech they long time staid,  
The process all on Love they laid,  
Love in their hearts their looks bewrayed,  
At last in laughter Phillis said:   

Brave Soldier said she, O my Paris,  
In fight, or where so ere he tarries,  
The soldiers life, lives glory carries,  
Only worth Venus' household quarries.   

While she her warr-friende did prefer,  
Flora looked coy and laughed at her;  
And did this adverse speech aver:  
" Thou shouldst have said, I love a Beggar.   

But what doth he my heart embraces?  
A thing create, that all things passes,  
Whom Nature blest with all her graces,  
O Clerks, in you Bliss all bliss places.   

This hard speech Phillis hardly takes, 
Phillis to Flora.   
And thus she Flora's patience cracks:  
Thou lov'st a Man pure love forsakes,  
That God his godless belly makes.   

Rise wretch from this gross Ecstasy,  
A Clerk sole Epicure think I,  
No Elegance can beautify,  
A shapeless lump of Gluttony.   

His heart sweet Cupid's tents rejects,  
That only meat and drink affects:  
O Flora, all men's intellects  
know Soldiers vows, shun those respects.   

Mere helps for need his mind sufficeth  
Dull sleep, and surfeits he despiseth,  
loves Trump his temples exerciseth,  
Cooradge and love, his life compriseth.   

Who with like band our loves combineth?  
Even Nature's law thereat repineth,  
My love in conquests palme-wreths shineth,  
Thine feast deforms, mine fight refineth.   

Flora her modest face enrosed, 
Flora to Phillis.   
Whose second smile more fair disclosed  
At length with moving voice she loosed,  
What Art in her stored Breast reposed.   

Phillis, thy fill of speech thou hast,  
Thy wit with pointed wings is graced,  
Yet urdgest not a truth so vast,  
That Hemlocks Lilies have surpassed.   

Ease loving Clerks thou hold'st for clear,  
Servants to sloth, and belly cheer;  
So Envy, Honour would enpheere,  
But give me ear, I'll give thee answer.   

So much enjoys this Love of mine,  
Henere envies, or hers, or thine;  
household-stuff, Honey, Oil, Corn, wine,  
Coin, jewels, Plate, serve his design.   

Such pleasing store, have Clerks bylying,  
As none can fayne their dignifying:  
There; Love clasps his glad wings in flying,  
Love ever firm, Love never dying.   

loves stings in him are still sustained,  
Yet is my Clerk nor pined nor pained:  
joy hath no part in him restrained, (feigned.  
To whom his love bears thoughts-un-   

Palled, and lean, is thy Elected, (tected;  
Poor, scarce with clothes, or skin con-  
His Sinews weak, his Breast dyiected,  
For nothing caused, makes nought effected.   

Approaching Need is loves mere hell,  
Soldiers want gifts to woe Loves well:  
But Clerks give much, and still heaps swell,  
Their Rents, and Riches so excel.   

Rightwell thou know'st (Phillis replied) 
Phillis to Flora.   
What in both Arts, and lives abide,  
Likely, and cleanly thou hast lied:  
But thus our difference is not tried.   

When Holiday the whole world cheers,  
A Clerk life's modest figure bears:  
His crown is heaven, black weeds he wears  
And shows a mind, half drowned in tears.   

None is so poor of sense or eyen,  
To whom a Soldier doth not shine:  
At ease, like sprightles Beasts lives thine,  
Helms, & barbd Horse, do wear out mine   

Mine, low with arms makes Foe-towrs lie  
And when on foot he fight doth try,  
While his fair Squire his Horse holds by,  
Mine thinks on me, And then they die.   

He turns, fight past, and Foes inchased,  
And looks on me with Helm unlaced,  
Lifts his strong limbs, & breast straight graced,  
And says kyss-blesse me, O hart-placed.   

Flora her wrath, in pants did spy,  
And many a Dart at her lets fly; (cry  
Thou canst not make with heaven-reacht 
Flora to Phillis.   
A Camel pierce a needle's eye.   

False goes for true, for Honey, Gall,  
To make a Clerk, a soldiers thrall:  
Doth Love to Soldiers coradge call?  
No, but the need they toil withal.   

Fair Phillis, would thy Love were wise,  
No more the truth to contrarise:  
Hunger and thirst bow Soldiers thighs,  
In which Death's path, and Pluto's lies.   

Sharp is the wasting bane of War,  
The lot is hard, and straineth far:  
The life is stooping, doubts doth jar,  
To get such things as needful are.   

Knewst thou the case, thou wouldst not say,  
shaven hair shamed Clerks, or black array:  
Worn higher honours to display,  
And that all states they oversway.   

All things should to my Clerk incline,  
whose crown sustains th' Impereal sign;  
He rules and pays such friends as thine,  
And Lay must stoop, to men divine.   

Thou sayest that sloth, a Clerk disguiseth,  
Who I confess base works despiseth;  
But when from cares his free mind riseth,  
heavens course & Natures be compriseth.   

Mine Purple decks, thine Mail bedighteth  
Thine lives in war, mine peace delighteth  
Old acts of Princes he resighteth,  
All of his friend thinks, seeks, & wrighteth.   

What Venus can, or loves winged lord,  
First knows my Clerk, and brings me  
Music in cares doth mine afford, (word:  
Thine joys in rapine and the sword.   

Here speech & strife had both their ending,  
Phillis asked judgement, all suspending:  
Much stir they made, yet ceased contending,  
And sought a judge in homewards wen-  
(ding.   

With Countnances that egale been,  
With egale Majesty beseen:  
With egale Voice, and egale spleen,  
These Virgin's ward upon the Greene..   

Phillis a white rob bewtifide,  
Flora wore one of two hews died:  
Phillis upon a Mule did ride,  
Flora did back a horse of pride.   

The Mule was that which being created,  
Neptune did feed, and subjugate:  
Which after fair Adonis' fate,  
He Venus sent to cheer her state.   

This she the Queen of Iberine,  
Phillis fair Mother did resign,  
Since she was given to works divine,  
Whence Phillis had the Mule in fine.   

Who of the Trappings asks, and Bitten,  
The Mule (though silver) champing it:  
Know all things were so richly fit,  
As Neptune's honour might admit,   

Then Phillis no decorid wanted,  
But rich and beauteous, all eyes daunted:  
Nor Flora's virtue less enchanted,  
Who on a wealthy Palfrey vaunted.   

(lightness,  
Tamed with his Rains, won heaven for  
Exceeding fair, and full of wightnes,  
His Breast Art dectt with divers brightness,  
For jeate black mixed, with Swans pure  
(whightnes.   

Young and in dainty shape digested,  
His Looks with Pride, not Rage invested:  
His Main thin haired, his Neck high crested,  
Small Ear, short Head, and burly Breasted.   

His broad Back stooped to this Clerks-loved,  
which with her pressure nought was moved:  
Straight Legged, large Thighd, & hollow Houed,  
All Nature's skill in him was proved.   

An ivory seat on him had place,  
A hoop of Gold did it embrace,  
graven: and the Poitrell did enchase  
A Stone that starlike gave it grace.   

Inscription there allured the eye,  
With many a wondrous mystery:  
Of ancient things made novelty,  
That never man did yet descry.   

The God of Rhetoric's nuptial bower,  
Adorned with every heavenly power,  
The Contract, and the Marriage hour,  
And all the most unmeasurd dower.   

No place was there that figured nought,  
That could through all the world be sought:  
But more excess of marvels wrought,  
Then might inceede a human thought.   

The skill of Mulciber alone,  
Engraned that admirable Throne:  
Who looking steadfastly thereon,  
Scarce thought his hand such art had shone.   

The Trappings wrought he not with ease,  
But all his pain employed to please:  
And left to go in hand with these,  
The Tardge of great Aeacides.   

A Stirrup for her feet to press,  
And Bridle-Bosses he did dress,  
And added Rains in worths excess,  
Of his sweet Spouses golden Tress.   

Thus on their famous Cavalrye,  
These Prince-born Damsels seemed to fly:  
Their soft young cheekebales to the eye,  
Are of the fresh Vermilion die.   

So Lilies out of Scarlet peer,  
So Roses of the Vernal year,  
So shoot two wanton Stars yfere,  
From the eternal burning Spheere.   

The Child-Gods graceful Paradise,  
They jointly purpose to invise:  
And lovely emulations rise,  
In note of one another's guise.   

Phillis to Flora, laughter led,  
And Flora Phillis answered:  
A Merlin Phillis managed,  
A Sparhawlke Flora carried.   

In little time these Ladies found,  
A Grove with every pleasure crowned:  
At whose sweet entry did resound,  
A Poorde that flowrd that holy ground.   

From thence the sweete-breathd winds convey,  
Odours from every Myrtle spray:  
And other flowers, to whose array,  
A hundred haps and Timbrels play.   

All pleasures Study can invent,  
The Dames ears instantly present:  
Voices in all sorts different,  
The four parts, and the Diapent.   

Two tunes that from those Voices fly,  
With admirable harmony:  
The Timbrel, Harp, and psaltery,  
Rejoice in rapting symphony.   

There did the Vials voice abound,  
In Music Angelic profound:  
There did the Phife dispredden round,  
his song in many a variant sound.   

All Birds with tuneful bosoms sing,  
The Blackbird makes the woods to ring:  
The Thrush, the jay, and she in Spring  
Rues the past Rape of Thrace's king.   

Their shrill notes to the Music plying,  
Then all the different Flowers descrying:  
The Odours in abundance flying,  
Proved it the Bower of loves soft-lying.   

The Virgins something entered here,  
And sprinkled with a little fear:  
Their hearts before that held Love dear,  
In Cupid's flames increased were.   

And while each winged Forester,  
Their proper Rumours did prefer:  
Each Virgin's mind made weight on her,  
Applauses apt and singular.   

Deathles were he could there repose,  
Each path his spicy Odour stroes:  
Of Myrrh and Cinnamon there grows,  
And of our blessed ladies Rose.   

Each Tree hath there his several bliss,  
In fruits that never season miss:  
Men may conceive how sweet Love is,  
By that Celestial Court of his.   

The dancing companies they see  
Of Young men and of maidens free:  
Whose Bodies are as bright in Blee,  
As Stars illustrate Bodies be.   

In which so marvelous a guise,  
Of unexpected Novelties:  
These Virgin's bosoms through their eyes,  
Were daunted with a quick surprise.   

Who stay their Boyall Steads outright,  
And almost from their Seats alight:  
Forgetting their endeavours quite,  
with that proud rumours sweet affright.   

But when sad Philomene did strain  
Her Rape-full-raving Breast again,  
These Ladies hearing her complain,  
were reinflamd in every vain.   

About the Centre of the Spring,  
A secret place is where they sing:  
And use their supreme worshipping,  
Of loves neare-darting fiery king.   

There many a two-shapt company  
of Fauns, Nymphs, satires, meet and ply:  
The Timbrel, and the psaltery,  
Before loves sacred Majesty.   

There bear they Goblets, bog with wine,  
And Coronets of Flowers combine:  
There Nymphs, and Fauns demy-divine,  
Doth Bacchus teach to foot it fine.   

Who keep true measure with their feet,  
That to the Instruments do fleet:  
But old Silenus plays not sweet,  
In Consort, but indents the street.   

The Spring-sleepe did his temples load,  
As on a long-eard Ass he road:  
Laughters excess to see him nod,  
Dissolved the Bosom of the God.   

Fresh Cups he ever calls upon,  
In sounds of imperfection:  
With Age and Bacchus overgon,  
They stop his voices Organon.   

Amongst this gamesome crew is seen,  
The issue of the Cyprian Queen,  
Whose head and shoulders feathered been,  
And as the stars his countenance sheen.   

In his left hand his Bow he bare,  
And by his side his Quiver ware:  
In power he sits passed all compare,  
And with his Flames the world doth dare.   

A Sceptre in his hand he held,  
With Chloris native flowers, untilled,  
And Nectar's deathles Odours stilled,  
From his bright looks the Sun did gild.   

The triple Graces there assist,  
Supporting with their Breasts commist:  
And Knees that Tellus bosom kissed,  
The Chalice of this Amorist.   

These Ladies now approached near,  
And worshipped exempt from fear  
loves God: who was environed there  
with Youth, that honoured styles did bear.   

Their joy is superexcellent,  
To see a Court so confluent:  
Whom Cupid seeing, their intent,  
Doth with his greeting intervent.   

He asks the cause for which they came:  
They confidently tell the same:  
And he gives praise to either Dame,  
That durst so great a war proclaim.   

To both he spoke to make some pause,  
Until their honourable cause  
Profoundly weighed in every clause,  
Might be explande with all applause.   

He was a God which well they know,  
Rehearsal needs it not bestow:  
They light and rest, and plainly show,  
where Love strives, Love will Master grow.   

Love, Laws and judges hath in fee,  
Nature, and use his judges be:  
To whom his whole Courts censures flee,  
Since past, and things to come, they see.   

These do the heart of justice try,  
And show the Courts severity:  
In judgement, and strong Customs eye,  
The Clerk is first for venery.   

'Gainst which the Queens but little strove,  
Since loves high voice did it approve:  
So both to their Abodes remove:  
But as at first, rest firm in love.   
Explicit Rhithmus Phillidis et Flora.  
FINIS.