To Flora

Empresse of flowers, tell where away

Lies your sweet Court this merry May,

In Greenewich garden allies?

Since there the heavenly powers do play

And haunt no other vallies.

Beautie, 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 lilies did them draw,

Ere they divine Astraea saw;

Gay flowers they sought for pleasure:

Instead of gathering crownes of flowers,

Now gather they Astraea's dowers,

And beare to heaven their treasure.

by John Davies from Hymnes to Astraea