Nature’s Dress

The sun crowns Nature’s head with beams so fair;1
The stars do hang as jewels in her hair.2
Her garment’s made of pure bright watchet sky,
Which round her waist the zodiac doth3 tie.
The polar circles are bracelets4 for each wrist;                5
The planets round about her neck do twist.
The gold and silver mines, shoes for her feet,
And for her garters are soft flowers sweet.5
Her stockings are of grass that’s fresh and green;
The rainbow is like colored ribbons seen.6                       10
The powder for her hair is milk-white snow,
And when she comes,7 her locks the winds do blow.
Light, a thin veil, doth hang upon her face,
Through which her creatures see in every place.

  1. with beams so fair;] Beames splendent are, 1653
  2. The stars do hang as jewels in her hair.] And in her Haire, as Jewels, hang each Star. 1653
  3. Which round her waist the zodiac doth] The Zodiak round her Wast those Garments 1653
  4. are bracelets] Bracelets 1664, 1668
  5. soft flowers sweet.] the Flowers sweet; 1664; the Flowers sweet. 1668
  6. The rainbow is like colored ribbons seen.] And Rainebow Ribbons many Colours in. 1653
  7. comes,] combes 1653