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FRAGMENT. - Christopher Marlowe, The Works of Christopher Marlowe, vol. 3 (Poems) [1598]

Edition used:

The Works of Christopher Marlowe, ed. A.H. Bullen (London: John C. Nimmo, 1885). Vol. 3.

Part of: The Works of Christopher Marlowe, 3 vols.

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FRAGMENT.1

  • I walk'd along a stream, for pureness rare, Brighter than sun-shine; for it did acquaint
  • The dullest sight with all the glorious prey
  • That in the pebble-pavèd channel lay.
  • No molten crystal, but a richer mine, Even Nature's rarest alchymy ran there,—
  • Diamonds resolv'd, and substance more divine, Through whose bright-gliding current might appear
  • A thousand naked nymphs, whose ivory shine, Enamelling the banks, made them more dear
  • Than ever was that glorious palace' gate
  • Where the day-shining Sun in triumph sate.
  • Upon this brim the eglantine and rose, The tamarisk, olive, and the almond tree,
  • As kind companions, in one union grows, Folding their twining2 arms, as oft we see
  • Turtle-taught lovers either other close, Lending to dulness feeling sympathy;
  • And as a costly valance o'er a bed, So did their garland-tops the brook o'erspread.
  • Their leaves, that differ'd both in shape and show, Though all were green, yet difference such in green,
  • Like to the checker'd bent of Iris' bow, Prided the running main, as it had been—

[1]From England's Parnassus, 1600, p. 480, where it is subscribed “Ch. Marlowe.”

[2]The text of England's Parnassus has “twindring,” which is corrected in the Errata to “twining.”