A Posy of rare Flowers, Gathered by a Youngman for his Mistress.  
To a delectable new tune.  

 

THe Summer's Sun ore-heating,  
Within a harbour sitting,  
Under a Marble shade,  
For my true Love the fairest,  
And flowers the rarest,  
A Posy thus I made.   

The first and last for trusting,  
Is called Everlasting,  
I pulled from the Bay,  
The blue and crimson Columbine,  
The Daisy and the Woodbine,  
And eke the blooming May.   

The sweetest flowers for posies,  
Pinks, Gillyflowers and Roses,  
I gathered in their prime:  
The flowers of Muskmelons,  
Come blow me down sweet-William,  
With Rosemary and Time.   

The Larksh●●le, and the Lily,  
The Flag and Daffodil,  
The Wall-flower sweet of smell▪  
The Maidenblush and Cowslip,  
The Peagle and the Tulip.  
That doth in sweet excel   

The Violet and Grediline,  
The odoriferous Eglantine,  
With Thrift and Honesty,  
The Muskerose sweet and dainty,  
With others flowers plenty,  
Oxlops and Peony.   

The Gillyflowers variety,  
Of every colour severally,  
The Lady smacks and Pancy:  
The Bachelor's button, fair and fine,  
The Prime rose and the Sope-in-wine  
With them the Maiden's fancy.   

The time-observing Marigold,  
Most fair and lovely to behold,  
I plucked amongst the rest,  
The white and red Carnation,  
The senses recreation  
With other flowers the best.   

The flowers fit for smelling,  
Whose sweet is fare excelling,  
All the perfumes of Art,  
I pulled up each several,  
And made a Posy therewithal.  
To bear to my sweet heart.    

The second part,  
To the same tune.  
 
 

Sweet Basill and sweet Margerum  
The Cowslip of jerusalem,  
The Crowfoot and Sea-flower,  
The Startup and kiss me,  
A flower that shall not miss me,  
In my true Lover's bower.   

The Lady of Essex fair,  
A flower passing sweet and rare,  
I in the midst did place.  
Because my Love is fairest,  
And of all maids the rarest,  
In body, and in face.   

These flowers being culled,  
And their branches pulled,  
Did yield a fragrant sent:  
Observing their fit places,  
I bond them in bridelaces,  
And to my Love I went.   

In hope she would receive them,  
To th'end that I might give them,  
As pledges of my love,  
To her whose radiant beauty  
Did bind me to this duty,  
Hoping she'll ne'er remove.   

Her permanent affection  
To me, who by election  
Am hers while life doth last:  
These flowers did resemble  
My thoughts which ne'er dissemble.  
But hold both smell and taste.   

When I had made this Nosegay,  
With joyful heart I took my way,  
To find out my true Love:  
Who for my absence mourned,  
Until that I returned,  
As doth the Turtle Dove.   

At last I found her sporting.  
With other Maid's consorting,  
Close by a River side:  
My posy not refused,  
When she the same perused,  
Upon her arm she tied.   

(Quoth she) although these flowers  
Will whither in few hours,  
Yet take my word, Swéet-heart.  
My love to thee shall ne'er decay,  
Till death doth my life away,  
From thee I'll ne'er departed.   

The like to her I vowed,  
And whilst the time allowed,  
About such things we talked:  
At length because it waxed late,  
We for that time did leave our prate,  
And from each other walked.   

When with a mild behaviour  
She thanks me for my favour,  
And wore it for my sake:  
With interchanging kisses,  
The rest remains in wishes  
Unwilling leave we take.    
FINIS.   

Printed at London for 〈…〉.