hart that wont on your fayre eye to feed his fill flyes backe vnto your sight Doe you him take and in your bosome bright gently encage that he may be your thrall perhaps he there may learne with rare delight to sing your name and prayses ouer all That it hereafter may you not repent him lodging in your bosome to haue lent SONNET LXXIIII MOst happy letters fram'd by skilfull trade with which that happy name was first deâ—ynd the which three times thrise happy hath me made with guifts of body fortune and of mind The first my being to me gaue by kind from mothers womb deriu`d by dew descent the second is my souereigne Queene most kind that honour and large richesse to me lent The third my loue my liues last ornament by whom my spirit out of dust was raysed to speake her prayâ—e and glory excellent of all aliue most worthy to be praysed Ye three Elizabeths for euer liue that three such graces did vnto me giue SONNET LXXV ONe day I wrote her name vpon the strand but came the waues and washed it a way agayne I wrote it with a second hand but came the tyde and made my paynes his pray Vayne man sayd she that doest in vaine assay a mortall thing so to immortalize for I my selue shall lyke to this decay and eek my name bee wyped out lykewize Not so quod I let baser things deuize to dy in dust but you shall liue by fame my verse your vertues rare shall eternize and in the heuens wryte your glorious name Where whenas death shall all the world subdew our loue shall liue and later life renew SONNET LXXVI FAyre bosome fraught with vertues richest tresure The neast of loue the lodging of delight the bowre of blisse the paradice of pleasure the sacred harbour oâ— that heuenly spright How was I rauisht with your louely sight and my frayle thoughts too rashly led astray whiles diuing deepe through amorous insight on the sweet spoyle of beautie they did pray And twixt her paps like early fruit in May whose haruest seemd to hasten now apace they loosely did theyr wanton winges display and there to rest themselues did boldly place Sweet thoughts I enuy your so happy rest which oft I wisht yet neuer was so blest SONNET LXXVII Was it a dreame or did I see it playne a goodly table of pure yvory all spred with iunâ—ats fit to entertayne the greatest Prince with pompous roialty Mongst which there in a siluer dish did ly twoo golden apples of vnualewd price far passing those which Hercules came by or those which Atalanta did entice Exceeding sweet yet voyd of sinfull vice That many sought yet none could euer taste sweet fruit of pleasure brought from paradice By loue himselfe and in his garden plasâ—e Her brest that table was so richly spredd my thoughts the guests which would thereon haue fedd SONNET LXXVIII Lackyng my loue I go from place to place lyke a young fawne that late hath lost the hynd and seeke each where where last I sawe her face whose ymage yeâ— I carry fresh in mynd I seeke the fields with her late footing â—ynd I seeke her bowre with her late presence deckt yet nor in field nor bowre I her can fynd yet field and bowre are full of her aspect But when myne eyes I thereunto direct they ydly back returne to me agayne and when I hope to see theyr trew obiect I fynd my selfe but fed with fancies vayne Ceasse then myne eyes to seeke her selfe to see and let my thoughts behold her selfe in mee SONNET LXXIX MEn call you fayre and you doe credit it For that your selfe ye dayly such doe see but the trew fayre that is the gentâ—e wit and vertuous mind is much more praysd of me For all the rest how euer fayre it be shall turne to nought and loose that glorious hew but onely that is permanent and free from frayle corruption that doth flesh enâ—ew That is true beautie that doth argue you to be diuine and borne oâ— heauenly â—eedâ— deriu'd from that fayre Spirit from whom al true and perfect beauty did at first proceed He onely fayre and what he â—ayre hath made all other fayre lyke flowres vntymely â—ade SONNET LXXX AFter so long a race as I haue run Through Faery land which those six books coÌ„pile giue leaue to rest me being halfe â—ordonne and gather to my selfe new breath awhile Then as a steed refreshed after toyle out of my prison I will breake anew and stouâ—ly will that second worke assoyle with strong endeuour and attention dew Till then giue leaue to me in pleasant mew to sport my muse and sing my loues sweet praise the contemplation of whose heauenly hew my spirit to an higher pitch will rayse But let her prayses yet be low and meane fit for the handmayd of the Faery Queene SONNET LXXXI Fayre is my loue when her fayre golden heares with the loose wynd ye waâ—ing chance to marke fayre when the rose in her red cheâ—kes appeares or in her eyes the fyre of loue does sparke Fayre when her brest lyke a rich laden baâ—ke with pretious merchandize she forth doth lay fayre wheÌ„ that cloud of pryde which oâ—t doth dark her goodly light with smiles she driues away But fayrest she when so she doth display the gate with pearles and rubâ—es richly dight throgh which her words so wise do make their way to beare the message of her gentle spright The rest be works of natures wonderment but this the worke of harts astonishment SONNET LXXXII IOy of my life full oft for louing you I blesse my lot that was so lucky placed but then the more your owne mishap I rew that are so much by so meane loue embased For had the equall heuens so much you graced in this as in the rest ye mote inuent som heuenly wit whose verse could haue enchased your glorious name in golden moniment But since ye deignd so goodly to relent to me your thrall in whom is little worth that little that I am shall all be spent in setting your immortall prayses forth Whose lofty argument vplifting me shall lift you vp vnto an high degree SONNET LXXXIII MY hungry eyes through greedy couetiâ—e Still to behold the obiect of theyr payne with no contentment can themselues suffize but hauing pine and hauing not complayne For lacking it they cannot lyfe sustayne and seeing it they gaze on it the more in theyr amazement lyke Narcissus vayne whose eyes him staru'd so plenty makes me poreâ— Yet are myne eyes so filled with the store of that fayre sight that nothing else they brooke but loath the things which they did like before and can no more endure on them to looke All this worlds glory seemeth vayne to me and all theyr shewes but shadowes sauing she SONNET LXXXIIII LEt not one sparke of filthy lustfull â—yre breake out that may her sacred peace molest ne one light glance of sensuall desyre Attempt to work
AMORETTI AND Epithalamion Written not long since by Edmunde Spenser Printed for William Ponsonby 1695. To the Right Worshipfull Sir Robart Needham Knight SIr to gratulate your safe return frō Ireland I had nothing so readie nor thought any thing so meete as these sweete conceited Sonets the deede of that welde seruing gentleman maister Edmond Spenser whose name sufficiently warranting the worthiness of the work I do more confidently presume to publish it in his absence vnder your name to whom in my poore opinion the patronage therof doth in some respectes properly appertaine For besides your iudgement and delighte in learned poesie This gentle Muse for her former perfection long wished for in Englande nowe at the length crossing the Seas in your happy companye though to your selfe vnknowne seemeth to make choyse of you as meetest to giue her deserued countenaunce after her retourne entertaine her then Right worshipfull in sorte best beseeming your gentle minde and her merite and take in worth my good will herein who seeke no more but to shew my selfe yours in all dutifull affection W. P G W. senior to the Author DArke is the day when Phoebus face is shrowded and weaker sights may wander soone astray but when they see his glorious raies vnclowded with steddy steps they keepe the perfect way So while this Muse in forraine landes doth stay inuention weepes and pens are cast aside the time like night depriud of chearefull day and few do write but ah too soone may slide Then hie thee home that art our perfect guide and with thy wit illustrate Englands fame dawnting thereby our neighoures auncient pr◠that do for poesie challendge cheefest name So we that liue and ages that succeede With great applause thy learned works shall ree Ah Colin whether on the lowly plaine pyping to shepherds thy sweete roudelaies or whether singing in some lofty vaine heroick deedes of past or present daies Or whether in thy louely mistris praise thou list to exercise thy learned quill thy muse hath got such grace and power to please with rare inuention bewtified by skill As who therein can euer ioy their fill O therefore let that happy muse proceede to clime the height of vertues sacred hill where endles honor shall be made thy meede Because no malice of succeeding daies can rase those records of thy lasting praise G.W. I. SONNET I. HAppy ye leaues when as those lilly hands which hold my life in their dead doing might shall handle you and hold in loues soft bands lyke captiues trembling at the victors sight And happy lines on which with starry light those lamping eyes will deigne sometimes to look and reade the sorrowes of my dying spright written with teares in harts close bleeding book And happy rymes bath'd in the sacred brooke of Helicon whence she deriued is when ye behold that Angels blessed looke my soules long lacked foode my heauens blis Leaues lines and rymes seeke her to please alone whom if ye please I care for other none SONNET II. VNquiet thought whom at the first I bred Of th'inward bale of my loue pined hart and sithens haue with sighes and sorrowes fed till greater then my wombe thou woxen art Breake forth at length out of the inner part in which thou lurkest lyke to vipers brood and seeke some succour both to ease my smart and also to sustayne thy selfe with food But if in presence of that fayrest proud thou chance to come fall lowly at her feet and with meeke humblesse and afflicted mood pardon for thee and grace for me intreat Which if she graunt then liue and my loue cherish if not die soone and I with thee will perish SONNET III. THe souerayne beauty which I doo admyre witnesse the world how worthy to be prayzed the light wherof hath kindled heauenly fyre in my fraile spirit by her from basenesse raysed That being now with her huge brightnesse dazed base thing I can no more endure to view but looking still on her I stand amazed at wondrous sight of so celestiall hew So when my toung would speak her praises dew it stopped is with thoughts astonishment and when my pen would write her titles true it rauisht is with fancies wonderment Yet in my hart I then both speake and write the wonder that my wit cannot endite SONNET IIII. NEw yeare forth looking out of Ianus gate Doth seeme to promise hope of new delight and bidding th'old Adieu his passed date bids all old thoughts to die in dumpish spright And calling forth out of sad Winters night fresh loue that long hath slept in cheerlesse bower wils him awake and soone about him dight his wanton wings and darts of deadly power For lusty spring now in his timely howre is ready to come forth him to receiue and warnes the Earth with diuers colord flowre to decke hir selfe and her faire mantle weaue Then you faire flowre in whō fresh youth doth raine prepare your selfe new loue to entertaine SONNET V. RVdely thou wrongest my deare harts desire In finding fault with her too portly pride the thing which I doo most in her admire is of the world vnworthy most enuide For in those lofty lookes is close implide scorn of base things sdeigne of foule dishonor thretning rash eies which gaze on her so wide that loosely they ne dare to looke vpon her Such pride is praise such portlinesse is honor that boldned innocence beares in hir eies and her faire countenance like a goodly banner spreds in defiaunce of all enemies Was neuer in this world ought worthy tride without some spark of such self-pleasing pride SONNET VI. BE nought dismayd that her vnmoued mind doth still persist in her rebellious pride such loue not lyke to lusts of baser kynd the harder wonne the firmer will abide The duresull Oake whose sap is not yet dride is long ere it conceiue the kindling fyre but when it once doth burne it doth diuide great heat and makes his flames to heauen aspire So hard it is to kindle new desire in gentle brest that shall endure for euer deepe is the wound that dints the parts entire with chast affects that naught but death can seuer Then thinke not long in taking litle paine to knit the knot that euer shall remaine SONNET VII Fayre eyes the myrrour of my mazed hart what wondrous vertue is contaynd in you the which both lyfe and death forth frō you dart into the obiect of your mighty view For when ye mildly looke with louely hew then is my soule with life and loue inspired but when ye lowre or looke on me askew then doe I die as one with lightning fyred But since that lyfe is more then death desyred looke euer louely as becomes you best that your bright beams of my weak eies admyred may kindle liuing fire within my brest Such life should be the honor of your light such death the sad ensample of your might SONNET VIII MOre then most faire full of the liuing fire
she as steele and flint doth still remayne SONNET XIX THe merry Cuckow messenger of Spring His trompet shrill hath thrise already sounded that warnes al louers wayt vpon their king who now is comming forth with girl and crouned With noyse whereof the quyre of Byrds resounded their anthemes sweet devized of loues prayse that all the woods theyr ecchoes back rebounded as if they knew the meaning of their layes But mongst them all which did Loues honor rayse no word was heard of her that most it ought but she his precept proudly disobayes and doth his ydle message set at nought Therefore O loue vnlesse she turne to thee ere Cuckow end let her a rebell be SONNET XX. IN vaine I seeke and sew to her for grace and doe mâ—ne humbled hart before her poure the whiles her foot she in my necke doth place and tread my life downe in the lowly floure And yet the Lyon that is Lord of power and reigneth ouer euery beast in field in his most pride disdeigneth to deuoure the silly lambe that to his might doth yield But she more cruell and more saluage wylde then either Lyon or the Lâ—onesse shames not to be with guiltlesse bloud defylde but taketh glorâ— in her cruelnesse Fayrer then fayrest let none euer say that ye were blooded in a yeelded pray SONNET XXI WAs it the worke of nature or of Art which tempred so the featurâ— of her face that pride and meeknesse mixt by equall parâ— doe both appeare t'adorne her beauties grace For with mild pleasâ—nce which doth pride displace she to her loues doth lookers eyes allure with sterne countenance back again doth chace their looser lookes that stir vp lustes impure With such strange termes her eyes she doth inure that with one looke she doth my life dismay and with another doth it streight reâ—ure her smile me drawes her frowne me driues away Thus doth she traine and teach me with her lookes such art of eyes I neuer read in bookes SONNET XXII THis holy season fit to fast and pray Men to deuotion ought to be inclynd therefore I lykewise on so holy day for my sweet Saynt some seruice fit will find Her temple fayre is built within my mind in which her glorious ymage placed is on which my thoughts doâ— day and night attend lyke sacred priests that neuer thinke amisse There I to her as th'author of my blisse will builde an altar to appease her yre and on the same my hart will sacrifise burning in flames of pure and chast desyre The which vouchsafe O goddesse to accept amongst thy deerest relicks to be kept SONNET XXIII PEnelope for her Vlisses sake Deuiz'd a Web her wooers to deceaue in which the worke that she all day did make the same at night she did againe vnreaue Such subtile craft my Damzell doth conceaue th`importune suit of my desire to shonne for all that I in many dayes doo weaue in one short houre I find by her vndonne So when I thinke to end that I begonne I must begin and neuer bring to end for with one looke she spils that long I sponne with one word my whole years work doth rend Such labour like the Spyders web I fynd whose fruitlesse worke is broken with least wynd SONNET XXIIII WHen I behold that beauties wonderment And rare perfection of each goodly partâ— of natures skill the onely complement I honor and admire the makers art But when I feele the bitter balefull smart which her fayre eyes vnwares doe worke in mee that death out of theyr shiny beames doe dart I thinke that I a new Pandora see Whom all the Gods in councell did agree into this sinfull world from heauen to send that she to wicked men a scourge should bee for all their â—aults with which they did offend But since ye are my scourge I will intreat that for my faults ye will me gently beat SONNET XXV HOw long shall this lyke dying lyfe endure And know no end of her owne mysery but wast and weare away in termes vnsure twixt feare and hope depending doubtfully Yet better were attonce to let me die and shew the last ensample of your pride then to torment me thus with cruelty to proue your powre which I too wel haue tride But yet if in your hardned brest ye hide a close intent at last to shew me grace then all the woes and wrecks which I abide as meanes of blisse I gladly wil embrace And wish that more and greater they might be that greater meede at last may turne to mee SONNET XXVI SWeet is the Rose but growes vpon a brere Sweet is the Iunipere but sharpe his bough sweet is the Eglantine but pricketh nere sweet is the firbloome but his braunches rough Sweet is the Cypresse but his rynd is tough sweet is the nut but bitter is his pill sweet is the broome-flowre but yet sowre enoughâ— and sweet is Moly but his root is ill So euery sweet with soure is tempred still that maketh it be coueted the more for easie things that may be got at will most sorts of men doe set but little store Why then should I accoumpt of little paine that endlesse pleasure shall vnto me gaine SONNET XXVII FAire proud now tell me why should faire be proud Sith all worlds glorie is but drosse vncleane and in the shade of death it selfe shall shroud how euer now thereof ye little weene That goodly Idoll now so gay beseene shall doffe her fleshes borowd fayre attyre and be forgot as it had neuer beene that many now much worship and admire Ne any then shall after it inquire â—e any mention shall thereof remaine but what this verse that neuer shall expyre shall to you purchas with her thankles paine Faire be no lenger proud of that shall perish but that which shal you make immortall cherish SONNET XXVIII THe laurell leafe which you this day doe weare guies me great hope of your relenting mynd for since it is the badg which I doe beare ye bearing it doe seeme to me inclind The powre thereof which oâ—te in me I find let it lykewise your gentle brest inspire with sweet infusion and put you in mind of that proud mayd whom now those leaues attyre Proud Daphne scorning Phaebus louely fyre on the Thessalian shore from him did flie for which the gods in theyr reuengefull yre did her transforme into a laurell tree Then fly no more fayre loue from Phebus chace but in your brest his leafe and loue embrace SONNET XXIX See how the stubborne damzell doth depraue my simple meaning with disdaynfull scorne and by the bay which I vnto her gaue accoumpts my selfe her captiue quite forlorneâ— The bay quoth she is of the victours borne yielded them by the vanquisht as theyr meeds and they therewith doe poetes heads adorne to sing the glory of their famous deedes But sith â—he will the conquest challeng needs let her accept me as her faithfull thrall that her great triumph which my skill
exceeds I may in trump of fame blaze ouer all Then would I decke her head with glorious bayes and fill the world with her victorious prayse SONNET XXX MY loue is lyke to yse and I to fyre how comes it then that this her cold so great is not dissolu'd through my so hot desyre but harder growes the more I her intreat Or how comes it that my exceeding heat is not delayd by her hart frosen cold but that I burne much more in boyling sweat and feele my flames augmented maniâ—old Whâ—t more miraculous thing may be told that fire which all thing melts should harden yseâ— and yse which is congeald with â—encelesse cold should kindle fyre by wonderfull deuyse Such is the powre of loue in gentle mind that it can alter all the course of kynd SONNET XXXI Ah why hath nature to so hard a hart giuen so goodly giftes of beauties grace whose pryde depraues each other better part and all those pretious ornaments deface Sith to all other beastes of bloody race a dreadfull countenaunce she giuen hathâ— that with theyr terrour al the rest may chaceâ— and warne to shun the daunger of theyr wrath But my proud one doth worke the greater sâ—ath through sweet allurement of her louely hew that she the better may in bloody bath of such poore thralls her cruell hands embrew But did she know how ill these two accord such cruelty she would haue soone abhord SONNET XXXII The paynefull smith with force of feruent heat the hardest yron soone doth mollify that with his heauy sledge he can it beat and fashion to what he it list apply Yet cannot all these flames in which I fry her hart more harde then yron soft awhit ne all the playnts and prayers with which I doe beat on th'anduyle of her stubberne wit But still the more she feruent sees my sit the more she frieseth in her wilfull pryde and harder growes the harder she is smit with all the plaâ—nts which to her be applyde What then remaines but I to ashes burne and she to stones at length all frosen turne SONNET XXXIII GReat wrong I doe I can it not deny to that most sacred Empresse my dear dred not finishing her Queene of faery that mote enlarge her liuing prayses dead But lodwick this of grace to me aread doe ye not thinck th'accomplishment of it sufficient worke for one mans simple head all were it as the rest but rudely wriâ— How then should I without another wit thinck euer to endure so taedious toyle sins that this one is tost with troublous â—it of a proud loue that doth my spirite spoyle Ceasse then till she vouchsafe to grawnt me rest or lend you me another liuing brest SONNET XXXIIII Lyke as a ship that through the Ocean wyde by conduct of some star doth make her way whenas a storme hath dimd her trusty guyde out of her course doth wander far astray So I whose star that wont with her bright ray me to direct with cloudes is ouercast doe wander now in darknesse and dismay through hidden peâ—ils round about me plastâ— Yet hope I well that when this storme is past my Helice the lodestar of my lyfe will shine again and looke on me at last with louely light to cleare my cloudy grief Till then I wander carefull comfortlesse in secret sorow and sad pensiuenesse SONNET XXXV MY hungry eyes through greedy coâ—etize still to behold the obiect of their paine with no contentment can themselues suffize but hauing pine and hauing not complaine For lacking it they cannot lyfe sustayne and hauing it they gaze on it the more in their amazement lyke Narcissus vaine whose eyes him staru'd so plenty makes me poore Yet are mine eyes so filled with the store of that faire sight that nothing else they brooke but lothe the things which they did like before and can no more endure on them to looke All this worlds glory seemeth vayne to me and all their showes but shadowes sauing she SONNET XXXVI TEll me when shall these wearie woes haue end Or shall their ruthlesse torment neuer cease but al my daâ—es in pining languor spend without hope of aswagement or release Is there no meanes for me to purchace peace or make agreement with her thrilling eyes but that their cruelty doth still increace and dayly more augment my miseryes But when ye haue shewed all extremityes then thinke how litle glory ye haue gayned by slaying him whose lyfe though ye despyse mote haue your life in honour long maintayned But by his death which some perhaps will mone ye shall condemned be of many a one SONNET XXXVII WHat guyle is this that those her golden tresses She doth attyre vnder a net of gold and with slâ— skill so cunningly them dresses that which is gold or heare may scarse be told Is it that mens frayle eyes which gaze too bold she may entangle in that golden snare and being caught may craftily enfold theyr weaker harts which are not wel aware Take heed therefore myne eyes how ye doe â—tare hence forth too rashly on that guilefull net in which if euer ye entrapped are out of her bands ye by no meanes shall get Fondnesse it were for any being free to couet fetters though they golden bee SONNET XXXVIII A Rion when through tempests cruel wracke He forth was thrown into the greedy seas through the sweet musick which his harp did make allu'rd a Dolphin him from death to ease But my rude musick which was wont to please some dainty eares cannot with any skill the dreadfull tempest of her wrath appease nor moue the Dolphin from her stubborne will But in her pride she dooth perseuer still all carelesse how my life for her decayse yet with one word she can it saue or spill to spill were pitty but to saue were prayse Chose rather to be praysd for dooing good then to be blam'd for spilling guiltlesse blood SONNET XXXIX SWeet smile the daughter of the Queene of loue Expressing all thy mothers powrefull art with which she wonts to temper angry Ioue when all the gods he threats with thundring dart Sweet is thy vertue as thy selfe sweet art for when on me thou shinedst late in sadnesse a melting pleasance ran through euery part and me reuiued with hart robbing gladnesse Whylest rapt with ioy resembling heauenly madnes my soule was rauisht quite as in a traunce and feeling thence no more her sorowes sadnesse fed on the fulnesse of that chearefull glaunce â—ore sweet than Nectar or Ambrosiall meat seemd euery bit which thenceforth I did eat SONNET XL. MArk when she smiles with amiable cheare And tell me whereto can ye lyken it when on each eyelid sweetly doe appeare an hundred Graces as in shade to sit Lykest it seemeth in my simple wit vnto the fayre sunshine in somers day that when a dreadfull storme away is flit thrugh the broad world doth spred his goodly ray At sight whereof each bird that sits on spray and euery beast
former liues amend the old yeares sinnes forepast let vs eschew and fly the faults with which we did offend Then shall the new yeares ioy forth freshly send into the glooming world his gladsome ray and all these stormes which now his beauty blend shall turne to caulmes and tymely cleare away So likewise loue cheare you your heauy spright and chaunge old yeares annoy to new delight SONNET LXIII AFter long stormes and tempests sad assay Which hardly I endured heretofore in dread of death and daungerous dismay with which my silly barke was tossed sore I doe at length descry the happy shore in which I hope ere long for to arryue fayre soyle it seemes from far fraught with store of all that deare and daynty is alyue Most happy he that can at last atchyue the ioyous safety of so sweet a rest whose least delight sufficeth to depriue remembrance of all paines which him opprest All paines are nothing in respect of this all sorrowes short that gaine eternall blisse SONNET LXIIII. COmming to kisse her lyps such grace I found Me seemd I smelt a gardin of sweet flowres that dainty odours from thâ—m threw around for damzels fit to decke their louers bowres Her lips did smell lyke vnto Gillyflowers her ruddy cheekes lyke vnto Roses red her snowy browes lyke budded Bellamoures her louely eyes lyke Pincks but newly spred Her goodly bosome lyke a Strawberry bed her neck lyke to a bounch of Cullambynes her brest lyke lillyes ere theyr leaues be shed her nipples lyke yoâ—g blossomd Iessemynes Such â—ragrant flowres doe giue most odorous smell but her sweet odour did them all excell SONNET LXV THe doubt which ye misdeeme fayre loue is vaine That sondly feare to loose your liberty when loosing one two liberties ye gayne and make him bond that bondage earst dyd fly Sweet be the bands the which true loue doth tye without constraynt or dread of any ill the gentle birde feeles no captiuity within her cage but singes and feeds her fill There pride dare not approch nor discord spill the league twixt them that loyal loue hath bound but simple truth and mutuall good will seekes with sweet peace to salâ—e each others wouÌ„d There fayth doth fearlesse dwell in brasen towre and spotlesse pleasure builds her sacred bowre SONNET LXVI TO all those happy blessings which ye haue with plenteous hand by heauen vpon you thrown this one disparagement they to you gaue that ye your loue lent to so meane a one Yee whose high worths surpassing paragon could not on earth haue found one fit for mate ne but in heauen matchable to none whâ— did ye stoup vnto so lowly state But ye thereby much greater glory gate then had ye sorted with a princes pere for now your light doth more it selfe dilate and in my darknesse greater doth appeare Yet since your light hath once enlumind me with my reflex yours shall encreased be SONNET LXVII Lyke as a huntsman after weary chace Seeing the game from him escapt away sits downe to rest him in some shady place with panting hounds beguiled of their pray So after long pursuit and vaine assay when I all weary had the chace forsooke the gentle deare returnd the selfe-same way thinking to quench her thirst at the next brooke There she beholding me with mylder looke sought not to fly but fearelesse sâ—ill did bide till I in hand her yet halfe trembling tooke and with her owne goodwill hir fyrmely tyde Strange thing me seemd to see a beast so wâ—ld so goodly wonne with her owne will beguyld SONNET LXVIII MOst glorious Lord of lyfe that on this day Didst make thy triumph ouer death and sin and hauing harrowd hell didst bring away captiuity thence captiue vs to win This ioyous day deare Lord with ioy begin and grant that we for whom tbou diddest dye being with thy deare blood clene washt from sin may liue for euer in felicity And that thy loue we weighing worthily may likewise loue thee for the same againe and for thy sake that all lyke deare didst buy with loue may one another entertayne So let vs loue deare loue lyke as we ought loue is the lesson which the Lord vs taught SONNET LXIX THe famous warriors of the anticke world Vsed Trophees to â—rect in stately wize in which they would the records haue enrold of theyr great deeds and valarous emprize What trophee then shall I most fit deuize in which I may record the memory of my loues conquest peerelesse beauties priseâ— adorn'd with honour loue and chastity Euen this verse vowd to eternity shall be thereof immortall moniment and tell her prayse to all posterity that may admire such worlds rare wonderment The happy purchase of my glorious spoile gotten at last with labour and long toyle SONNET LXX FResh spring the herald of loues mighty king In whose cote armour richly are displayd all sorts of flowers the which on earth do spring in goodly colours gloriously arrayd Goe to my loue where she is carelesse layd yet in her winters bowre not well awake tell her the ioyous time wil not be staid vnlesse she doe him by the forelock take Bid her therefore her selfe soone ready make to wayt on loue amongst his louely crew where euery one that misseth then her make shall be by him amearst with penance dew Make hast therefore sweet loue whilest it is primeâ— for none can call againe the passed time SONNET LXXI I Ioy to see how in your drawen work Your selfe vnto the Bee ye doe compare and me vnto the Spyder that doth lurke in close awayt to catch her vnaware Right so your selfe were caught in cunning snare of a deare foe and thralled to his loue in whose streight bands ye now captiued are so firmely that ye neuer may remoue But as your worke is wouen all about with woodbynd flowers and fragrant Eglantine so sweet your prison you in time shall proue with many deare delights bedecked â—yne And all thensforth eternall peace shall see betweene the Spyder and the gentle Bee SONNET LXXII OFt when my spirit doth spred her bolder winges In mind to mount vp to the purest sky it down is weighd with thoght of earthly things and clogd with burden of mortality Where when that souerayne beauty it doth spy resembling heauens glory in her light drawne with sweet pleasures bayt it back doth fly and vnto heauen forgets her former flight There my fraile fancy fed with full delight doth bath in blisse and mantleth most at ease ne thinks of other heauen but how it might her harts desire with most contentment please Hart need not wish none other happinesse but here on earth to haue such heuens blisse SONNET LXXIII BEing my selfe captyued here in care My hart whom none with seruile bands can tye but the fayre tresses of your golden hayre breaking his priâ—on forth to you doth fly Lyke as a byrd that in ones hand doth spy desired food to it doth make his slight euen so my
Kindled aboue vnto the maker neere no eies but ioyes in which al powers conspire that to the world naught else be counted deare Thrugh your bright beams doth not y e blinded guest shoot out his darts to base affections wound but Angels come to lead fraile mindes to rest in chast desires on heauenly beauty bound You frame my thoughts and fashion me within you stop my toung and teach my hart to speake you calme the storme that passion did begin stroÌ„g thrugh your cause but by your vertue weak Dark is the world where your light shined neuer well is he borne that may behold you euer SONNET IX LOng-while I sought to what I might compare those powrefull eies which lighteÌ„ my dark spright yet find I nought on earth to which I dare resemble th'ymage of their goodly light Not to the Sun for they doo shine by night nor to the Moone for they are changed neuer nor to the Starres for they haue purer sight nor to the fire for they consume not euer Nor to the lightning for they still perseuer nor to the Diamond for they are more tender nor vnto Christall for nought may them seuer nor vnto glasse such basenesse mought offend her Then to the Maker selfe they likest be whose light doth lighten all that here we see SONNET X. VNrighteous Lord of loue what law is this That me thou makest thus tormented be the whiles she lordeth in licentious blisse of her freewill scorning both thee and me See how the Tyrannesse doth ioy to see the huge massacres which her eyes do make and humbled harts brings captiues vnto thee that thou of them mayst mightie vengeance take But her proud hart doe thou a little shake and that high look with which she doth comptroll all this worlds pride bow to a baser make and al her faults in thy black booke enroll That I may laugh at her in equall sort as she doth laugh at me makes my pain her sport SONNET XI DAyly when I do seeke and sew for peace And hostages doe offer for my truth she cruell warriour doth her selfe addresse to battell and the weary war renew'th Ne wilbe moou'd with reason or with rewth to graunt small respit to my restlesse toile but greedily her fell intent poursewth Of my poore life to make vnpitteid spoile Yet my poore life all sorrowes to assoyle I would her yield her wrath to pacify but then she seekes with torment and turmoyle to force me liue and will not let me dy All paine hath end and euery war hath peace but mine no price nor prayer may surcease SONNET XII ONe day I sought with her hart-thrilling eies to make a truce and termes to entertaine all fearelesse then of so false enimies which sought me to entrap in treasons traine So as I then disarmed did remaine a wicked ambush which lay hidden long in the close couert of her guilefull eyen thence breaking forth did thick about me throng Too feeble I t'abide the brunt so strong was forst to yeeld my selfe into their hands who me captiuing streight with rigorous wrong haue euer since me kept in cruell bands So Ladie now to you I doo complaine against your eies that iustice I may gaine SONNET XIII IN that proud port which her so goodly graceth whiles her faire face she reares vp to the skie and to the ground her eie lids low embaseth most goodly temperature ye may descry Myld humblesse mixt with awfull maiesty for looking on the earth whence she was borne her minde remembreth her mortalitie what so is fayrest shall to earth returne But that same lofty countenance seemes to scorne base thing thinke how she to heauen may clime treading downe earth as lothsome and forlorne that hinders heauenly thoughts with drossy slime Yet lowly still vouchsafe to looke on me such lowlinesse shall make you lofty be SONNET XIIII REtourne agayne my forces late dismayd Vnto the siege by you abandon'd quite great shame it is to leaue like one afrayd so fayre a peece for one repulse so light Gaynst such strong castles needeth greater might then those small forts which ye were wont belay such haughty mynds enur'd to hardy fight disdayne to yield vnto the first assay Bring therefore all the forces that ye may and lay incessant battery to her heart playnts prayers vowes ruth sorrow and dismay those engins can the proudest loue conuert And if those fayle fall downe and dy before her so dying liue and liuing do adore her SONNET XV. YE tradefull Merchants that with weary toyle do seeke most pretious things to make your gaâ—â—â— and both the Indias of their treasures spoile what needeth you to seeke so farre in vaine For loe my loue doth in her selfe containe all this worlds riches that may farre be found if Saphyres loe her eies be Saphyres plaine if Rubies loe hir lips be Rubies sound If Pearles hir teeth be pearles both pure and round if Yuorie her forhead yuory weene if Gold her locks are finest gold on ground if siluer her faire hands are siluer sheene But that which fairest is but few behold her mind adornd with vertues manifold SONNET XVI ONe day as I vnwarily did gaze on those fayre eyes my loues immortall light the whiles my stonisht hart stood in amaze through sweet illusion of her lookes delight I mote perceiue how in her glauncing sight legions of loues with little wings did fly darting their deadly arrowes fyry bright at euery rash beholder passing by One of those archers closely I did spy ayming his arrow at my very hart when suddenly with twincle of her eye the Damzell broke his misintended dart Had she not so doon sure I had bene slayne yet as it was I hardly scap't with paine SONNET XVII THe glorious pourtraict of that Angels face Made to amaze weake mens confused skil and this worlds worthlesse glory to embase what pen what pencill can expresse her fill For though he colours could deuize at will and eke his learned hand at pleasure guide least trembling it his wormanship should spill yet many wondrous things there are beside The sweet eye-glaunces that like arrowes glide the charming smiles that rob sence from the hart the louely pleasance and the lofty pride cannot expressed be by any art A greater craftesmans hand thereto doth neede that can expresse the life of things indeed SONNET XVIII THe rolling wheele that runneth often round The hardest steele in tract of time doth teare and drizling drops that often doe redound the firmest flint doth in continuance weare Yet cannot I with many a dropping teare and long intreaty soften her hard hart that she will once vouchsafe my plaint to heare or looke with pitty on my payneful smart But when I pleade she bids me play my part and when I weep she sayes teares are but water and when I sigh she sayes I know the art and when I waile she turnes hir selfe to laughter So doe I weepe and wayle and pleade in vaine whiles