III.

Then did I see a pleasant Paradize,

Full of sweete flowres and daintiest delights, 520

Such as on earth man could not more devize,

With pleasures choyce to feed his cheereful sprights:

Not that which Merlin by his magicke slights

Made for the gentle Squire, to entertaine

His fayre Belphoebe, could this gardine staine. 525

But O short pleasure bought with lasting paine!

Why will hereafter anie flesh delight

In earthlie blis, and ioy in pleasures vaine?

Since that I sawe this gardine wasted quite,

That where it was scarce seemed anie sight; 530

That I, which once that beautie did beholde,

Could not from teares my melting eyes with-holde.

The Poetical Works of Edmund Spenser, Volume 5 · 第 30 / 327 题