Nature’s Exercise and Pastime

Great Nature doth by¹ variations live,²
For she to none a constant course doth give.³
We find in change she swiftly runs about,
To keep her health and get⁴ long life (no doubt).
And we are only food for Nature fine,⁵                                   5
Our flesh her meat, our blood is her strong wine.⁶
The trees and herbs, fruits, roots, and flowers sweet,
Are but her salads, or such cooling meat.
The sea’s her bath to wash and cleanse her in
When weary she hath on a⁷ journey been.                            10
The sun’s her fire, which⁸ serves her many ways,
His lights⁹ her looking-glass, and beauties¹⁰ praise.
The winds,¹¹ her horses, pace as she doth¹² please,
The clouds her chariot where she sits with¹³ ease.
The Earth’s her ball, which she oft¹⁴ trundles round;         15
She in this¹⁵ exercise much good hath found.
Night is her bed, her rest therein to take;
Silence doth watch¹⁶ lest noise might her awake.
The spheres her music, and the Milky Way
Is where she dances whilst those spheres do play.              20

1. doth by] by 1653
2. live,] lives, 1653
3. to none a constant course doth give.] no constant course to any gives. 1653
4. get] yet 1653
5. are only food for Nature fine,] for Nature are the only Food, 1664; for Nature, are the only Food; 1668
6. Our flesh her meat, our blood is her strong wine.] Her Meat’s our Flesh, and her strong Wine our Blood; 1664; Her Meat’s our Flesh; and her strong Wine, our Blood. 1668
7. weary she hath on a] she is weary, hot, or 1653
8. which] he 1653
9. lights] Light 1664; Light, 1668
10. beauties] Beauty’s 1664, 1668
11. winds,] Wind 1653
12. pace as she doth] paces as she 1653
13. where she sits with] soft to sit in 1653
14. which she oft] by which She 1653
15. She in this] In this slow 1653
16. doth watch] watches, 1653