Sonnet XXXVII
WHat guyle is this, that those her golden tresses, She doth attyre vnder a net of gold: And with sly skill so cunningly them dresses, That which is gold or heare, may scarse be
Sonnet LVIII By Her That Is Most Assured To Her Selfe
WEake is th’assurance that weake flesh reposeth, In her owne powre and scorneth others ayde: That soonest fals when as she most supposeth, Her selfe assurd, and is of nought affrayd. All flesh is
Sonnet LXXXVII
SInce I did leaue the presence of my loue, Many long weary dayes I haue outworne: And many nights, that slowly seemd to moue, Theyr sad protract from euening vntill morne. For when as
Sonnet LXXIIII
MOst happy letters fram’d by skilfull trade, With which that happy name was first defynd: The which three times thrise happy hath me made, With guifts of body, fortune and of mind. The first
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
Sonnet IX
LOng-while I sought to what I might compare Those powrefull eies, which lighte[n] my dark spright, Yet find I nought on earth to which I dare Resemble th’ymage of their goodly light. Not to
Sonnet LXI
THe glorious image of the makers beautie, My souerayne faynt, the Idoll of my thought, Dare not henceforth aboue the bounds of dewtie, T’accuse of pride, or rashly blame for ought. For being as
Poem 20
BVt let stil Silence trew night watches keepe, That sacred peace may in assurance rayne, And tymely sleep, when it is tyme to sleepe, May poure his limbs forth on your pleasant playne, The
Ice and Fire
My love is like to ice, and I to fire: How comes it then that this her cold so great Is not dissolved through my so hot desire, But harder grows the more I
Sonnet XXXVIII
ARion, 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
Visions of the worlds vanitie
One day, whiles that my daylie cares did sleepe, My spirit, shaking off her earthly prison, Began to enter into meditation deepe Of things exceeding reach of common reason; Such as this age, in
Amoretti LXVII: Like as a Huntsman
Like as a huntsman after weary chase, Seeing the game from him escap’d away, Sits down to rest him in some shady place, With panting hounds beguiled of their prey: So after long pursuit
Sonnet LXXXV
THe world that cannot deeme of worthy things, When I doe praise her, say I doe but flatter: So does the Cuckow, when the Mauis sings, Begin his witlesse note apace to clatter. But
Poem 96
SHe tooke him streight full pitiously lamenting, And wrapt him in her smock: She wrapt him softly, all the while repenting, That he the fly did mock. She drest his wound and it embaulmed
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
Sonnet LI
DOe I not see that fayrest ymages Of hardest Marble are of purpose made? For that they should endure through many ages, Ne let theyr famous moniments to fade. Why then doe I, vntrainde
Poem 90
IN youth before I waxed old. The blynd boy Venus baby, For want of cunning made me bold, In bitter byue to grope for honny. But when he saw me stung and cry, He
Sonnet XLIII
SHall I then silent be or shall I speake? And if I speake, her wrath renew I shall: And if I silent be, my hart will breake, Or choked be with ouerflowing gall. What
Poem 22
ANd thou great Iuno, which with awful might The lawes of wedlock still dost patronize, And the religion of the faith first plight With sacred rites hast taught to solemnize: And eeke for comfort
The Faerie Queene, Book I, Canto IV (excerpts)
CANTO IIII To sinfull house of Pride, Duessa Guides the faithfull knight, Where brothers death to wreak Sansjoy Doth chalenge him to fight. I Young knight, what ever that dost armes professe, And through
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
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
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 gentle wit, And vertuous mind is much more praysd
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 prison forth to you doth fly. Lyke as
Sonnet LXXX
AFter so long a race as I haue run Through Faery land, which those six books co[m]pile Giue leaue to rest me being halfe fordonne, And gather to my selfe new breath awhile. Then
Sonnet XXXV
MY hungry eyes through greedy couetize, 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,
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
The Faerie Queene, Book VI, Canto X
THE SIXTE BOOKE OF THE FAERIE QUEENE Contayning THE LEGEND OF S. CALIDORE OR OF COURTESIECANTO X Calidore sees the Graces daunce, To Colins melody: The whiles his Pastorell is led, Into captivity.
Amoretti LXXIX: Men Call you Fair
Men call you fair, and you do credit it, For that your self ye daily such do see: But the true fair, that is the gentle wit, And vertuous mind, is much more prais’d
Sonnet LXIIII
COmming to kisse her lyps, (such grace I found) Me seemd I smelt a gardin of sweet flowres: That dainty odours from them threw around For damzels fit to decke their louers bowres. Her
Poem 21
WHo is the same, which at my window peepes? Or whose is that faire face, that shines so bright, Is it not Cinthia, she that neuer sleepes, But walkes about high heauen al the
Poem 7
NOw is my loue all ready forth to come, Let all the virgins therefore well awayt, And ye fresh boyes that tend vpon her groome Prepare your selues; for he is comming strayt. Set
Poem 95
VNto his mother straight he weeping came, And of his griefe complayned: Who could not chose but laugh at his fond game, Though sad to see him pained. Think now (quod she) my sonne
Poem 2
EArly before the worlds light giuing lampe, His golden beame vpon the hils doth spred, Hauing disperst the nights vnchearefull dampe, Doe ye awake and with fresh lusty hed, Go to the bowre of
Poem 93
TO whom his mother closely smiling sayd, Twixt earnest and twixt game: See thou thy selfe likewise art lyttle made, If thou regard the same. And yet thou suffrest neyther gods in sky, Nor
Astrophel
A Pastorall Elegie vpon the death of the most Noble and valorous Knight, Sir Philip Sidney. Dedicated To the most beautifull and vertuous Ladie, the Countesse of Essex. Shepheards that wont on pipes of
So Let Us Love
Most glorious Lord of life! that on this day Didst make thy triumph over death and sin, And having harrowed hell, didst bring away Captivity thence captive, us to win: This joyous day, dear
Sonnet XVII
THe glorious portraict 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
Amoretti LXXV: One Day I Wrote Her Name
One day I wrote her name upon the strand, But came the waves and washed it away: Again I wrote it with a second hand, But came the tide, and made my pains his
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
Poem 18
NOw welcome night, thou night so long expected, That long daies labour doest at last defray, And all my cares, which cruell loue collected, Hast sumd in one, and cancelled for aye: Spread thy
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
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,
The Faerie Queene, Book III, Canto VI
THE THIRD BOOKE OF THE FAERIE QUEENE Contayning THE LEGENDE OF BRITOMARTIS OR OF CHASTITIECANTO VI The birth of faire Belphoebe and Of Amoret is told. The Gardins of Adonis fraught With pleasures manifold.
The Faerie Queene: Book I, Canto I
THE FIRST BOOKE OF THE FAERIE QUEENE Contayning THE LEGENDE OF THE KNIGHT OF THE RED CROSSE, OR OF HOLINESSEProemi Lo I the man, whose Muse whilome did maske, As time her taught in
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 forlorne. The bay (quoth she) is
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
Sonnet LXXXIII
MY hungry eyes, through greedy couetize, 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,
Poem 5
WAke now my loue, awake; for it is time, The Rosy Morne long since left Tithones bed, All ready to her siluer coche to clyme, And Phoebus gins to shew his glorious hed. Hark
Sonnet 81
Fair is my love, when her fair golden hears With the loose wind the waving chance to mark: Fair when the rose in her red cheeks appears, Or in her eyes the fire of
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 durefull Oake, whose