2

There, in a Meadow, by the Rivers side,

A flocke of Nymphes chauncéd to espy,

All lovely Daughters of the Flood1 thearby,

With goodly greenish locks all loose untyde,

As each had bene a Bryde,

And each one had a little wicker basket:

Made of fine twigs entryléd2 curiously,

In which they gathered flowers to fill their flasket3:

And with fine Fingers, cropt full feateously4

The tender stalkes on hye,

Of every sort, which in that Meadow grew,

They gathered some; the Violet pallid blew,

The little Dazie, that at evening closes,

The virgin lillie, and the Primrose trew,

With store5 of vermeil6 Roses,

To decke their Bridegroomes posies7,

Against the Brydale day, which is not long:

Sweete Themmes runne softly, till I end my song.

注释：1.flood：河流。

2.entryled：交织的，交错的。

3.flasket：篮子。

4.feateously：轻轻采摘。

5.store：大量的。

6.vermeil：深红色，猩红，鲜红。

7.posies：花束；一丛礼花。