Of a Wrought Carpet, Presented to the View of Working Ladies

The spring doth spin fine grass-green silk, of which
Was woven¹ a carpet, like the Persian, rich,
And all about the borders, there were² spread
Clusters of grapes, mixed green, blue, white, and red,
And in the midst the gods in sundry shapes                                  5
Were³ curious wrought, divulging all their rapes,
And all the ground was strewed with flowers so;⁴
As if by Nature set, they there did grow.⁵
Those figures all like sculptures did⁶ bear out;
Whether they lay on flat many did⁷ doubt.                                  10
There light and dark all intermixed were⁸ laid
For shady groves, where priests⁹ devoutly prayed.
The fruits so hung¹⁰ as did invite the taste;
Small birds with picking seemed¹¹ to make a waste.
The ground was wrought like threads drawn from the sun,    15
Which shined so blazing as¹² a fired gun.
This piece the pattern is of artful skill;
Art th’imitator¹³ is of Nature still.

1. Was woven] To weave 1653
2. were] are 1653
3. Were] Are 1653
4. was strewed with flowers so;] with Flowers there are strow’d, 1653
5. set, they there did grow.] they were set, so grow’d. 1653
6. sculptures did] Sculpture doe 1653
7. Whether they lay on flat many did] To lye on Flats many will make a 1653
8. There light and dark all intermixed were] Dark and Light so intermix’d are 1653; There Light and Dark all Intermixt was 1664; There Light and Dark, all intermixt, was 1668
9. where priests] that Priest 1653
10. so hung] hung so, 1664, 1668
11. Small birds with picking seemed] And small Birds picking seen 1653
12. as] like to 1653
13. th’imitator] Imitator 1653