5

Then forth they all out of their baskets drew

Great store of Flowers, the honour1 of the field,

That to the sense did fragrant odours yield,

All which upon those goodly Birds they threw

And all the Waves did strew,

That like old Peneus Waters2 they did seeme,

When downe along by pleasant Tempes shore,

Scattred with Flowers through Thessaly they streame,

That they appeare through Lilliesplenteous store,

Like a Brydes Chamber flore.

Two of those nymphes, meanwhile, two Garlands bound

Of freshest Flowres which in that Mead3 they found,

The which presenting all in trim Array,

Their snowieForeheads4 therewithall they crownd,

Whil’st one did sing this Lay,

Prepared against that day,

Against the Brydale day, which is not long:

Sweete Themmes runne softly, till I end my song.

注释：1.honour：荣耀。

2.Peneus Wafers：佩纽斯河流经希腊塞萨利区境内，介于奥萨山和奥林匹斯山之间的潭蓓河谷。

3.Mead：（特指割制干草用的）草地，草原；（河边）低草地。

4.Foreheads：指天鹅的。