Hymne IX: To Flora

Empresse of flowers, tell where a way
Lies your sweet Court this merry May,
In Greenewich garden Allies:
Since there the heauenly powers do play,
And haunt no other Vallies.

Bewty, vertue, Maiestie,
Eloquent Muses, three times three,
The new fresh houres and Graces,
Haue pleasure in this place to be,
Aboue all other Places.

Roses and Lillies did them draw,
Er they diuine Astraea saw;
Gay flowers they sought for pleasure:
In steede of gathering crownes of flowers,
Now gather they Astraeas Dowers,
And beare to heauen that treasure.