A Posy of Rare Flowers: Gathered by a Youngman for his Mistress.  
To a pleasant new Tune.  
 

THe Summers o'er heating,  
Within an Arbour sitting,  
under a Marble shade.  
For my true love the fairest,  
And of all 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 Dazy and the Woodbine,  
and eke the blooming May.   

The sweetest Flowers for Posies,  
Pinks, Gillyoflwers and Ros●s,  
I gathered in their prime.  
The flowers of muskmillions,  
Come blow me down sweet Wiliams,  
with Rosemarry and Time.   

The Larkheel and the Lily,  
The Flag and Daffodil,  
the Wall-Flower sweet of smell,  
The Maiden-blush and Cowslip,  
The Peagle and the Tulip,  
that doth so sweet excel,   

The Violet and the Grecyline,  
The Odoriferous Eglantine,  
with thrift and modesty.  
The Mu●k Rose sweet and dainty,  
With other Flowers plenty,  
Oxlops and Pyony.   

The Gilly Flowers variety,  
Of every colour severally,  
the Lady Smock and Pancy.  
The Bachelors Button fair and fine  
The Primrose and the Sops in Wine  
with them the Maiden's fancy.   

The time observing Marygold,  
Most fair and lovely to behold,  
I plucked amongst the rest.  
The white and red Carnation,  
The sense's Recreation,  
with other Flowers the best.   

The Flowers fit for smelling,  
Whose sweet is far excelling,  
all the perfumes of art,  
I pulled each several,  
And made a Posy there withal,  
to bear to my sweet heart.   
 
 

SWeet Basil and sweet Margerum,  
The Cowslip of Jerusalem,  
the Crowfoot and Sea-Flower,  
The Start up and come 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 Flowers the rarest,  
in body and in face.   

The Flowers being culled,  
And their branches pulled,  
did yield a fragrant scent.  
Observing their due places,  
I bound them in bride Laces,  
and to my love I went.   

In hope she would receive them,  
Toth' 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 both 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's side.  
My Posy not refused,  
When she the same perused,  
upon her arm she tied.   

Quoth she although these Flowers.  
Will wither in few hours,  
yet take my word sweet heart.  
My word to thee shall never decay.  
Till death takes my life away,  
from thee I'll ne'er depart.   

The like to her I vowed,  
And while the same 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.   

Wh●n with a mild behaviour,  
She thanks me for my favour,  
and more it for my sake,  
With interchanging Kisses,  
The rest remains in wishes,  
unwilling leave we take.    

Printed for F. Coles, T. Vere, and J. Wright.