or its rich
tapestries, which were often made in the form of wall-hangings)
Tours > (A town in Indre-et-Loire, France, likewise famous for its
tapestries)

3 In which with cunning hand was portrayed

cunning > skilful

4 The love of Venus and her paramour
5 The fair Adonis, turned to a flower,

Adonis > (Son of Cintyras by his daughter Myrrha (see note at
101.9:6). Venus loved him, but while hunting he was wounded by a
boar and died. The anemone sprang from his blood. Venus's grief
was such that the gods of the lower world allowed him to spend
six months of each year with her on earth. See _Met._
10.519-559, 10.708-739; _Myth._ 5.16; and Shakespeare's poem,
_Venus and Adonis_)

6 A work of rare device, and wondrous wit.

device > ingenuity
wit > intelligence, skill

7 First did it show the bitter baleful stour

stour > tumult; distress

8 Which her assayed with many a fervent fit,

assayed > assailed; put to the test

9 When first her tender heart was with his beauty smitten.

301.35

Then with what sleights and sweet allurements she
2 Entyst the Boy, as well that art she knew,
And wooed him her Paramoure to be;
4 Now making girlonds of each flowre that grew,
To crowne his golden lockes with honour dew;
6 Now leading him into a secret shade
From his Beauperes, and from bright heauens vew,
8 Where him to sleepe she gently would perswade,
Or bathe him in a fountaine by some couert glade.

1 Then with what sleights and sweet allurements she
2 Enticed the boy, as well that art she knew,
3 And wooed him her paramour to be;
4 Now making garlands of each flower that grew,
5 To crown his golden locks with honour due;
6 Now leading him into a secret shade

secret > hidden (cf. e.g. 212.72:6)

7 From his beauperes', and from bright heaven's view,

beauperes > companions, peers

8 Where him to sleep she gently would persuade,
9 Or bathe him in a fountain by some covert glade.

301.36

And whilst he slept, she ouer him would spred
2 Her mantle, colour'd like the starry skyes,
And her soft arme lay vnderneath his hed,
4 And with ambrosiall kisses bathe his eyes;
And whilest he bath'd, with her two crafty spyes,
6 She secretly would search each daintie lim,
And throw into the well sweet Rosemaryes,
8 And fragrant violets, and Pances trim,
And euer with sweet Nectar she did sprinkle him.