Delphi Poetry Anthology: The World's Greatest Poems (Delphi Poets Series Book 50) (78 page)
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Authors: Homer,William Shakespeare
Astrophel and Stella I: Loving in Truth
Sir Philip Sidney (1554–1586)
LOVING in truth, and fain in verse my love to show,
That She, dear She, might take some pleasure of my pain;
Pleasure might cause her read, reading might make her know,
Knowledge might pity win, and pity grace obtain;
I sought fit words to paint the blackest face of woe,
5
Studying inventions fine, her wits to entertain;
Oft turning others’ leaves, to see if thence would flow
Some fresh and fruitful showers upon my sunburned brain.
But words came halting forth, wanting Invention’s stay;
Invention, Nature’s child, fled step-dame Study’s blows;
10
And others’ feet still seemed but strangers in my way.
Thus, great with child to speak, and helpless in my throes,
Biting my truant pen, beating myself for spite.
“Fool,” said my Muse to me, “look in thy heart, and write!”
List of Poems in Alphabetical Order
List of Poets in Alphabetical Order
Be Your Words Made, Good Sir, of Indian Ware
Sir Philip Sidney (1554–1586)
BE your words made, good Sir, of Indian ware,
That you allow me them by so small rate?
Or do you cutted Spartans imitate?
Or do you mean my tender ears to spare
That to my questions you so total are?
5
When I demand of Phœnix-Stella’s state,
You say, forsooth, you left her well of late:
O God, think you that satisfies my care?
I would know whether she did sit or walk;
How clothed; how waited on; sighed she, or smiled;
10
Whereof, with whom, how often did she talk;
With what pastime Time’s journey she beguiled;
If her lips deigned to sweeten my poor name:
Say all; and, all well said, still say the same.
List of Poems in Alphabetical Order
List of Poets in Alphabetical Order
Sir Philip Sidney (1554–1586)
COME, Sleep; O Sleep! the certain knot of peace,
The baiting-place of wit, the balm of woe,
The poor man’s wealth, the prisoner’s release,
Th’ indifferent judge between the high and low;
With shield of proof, shield me from out the prease
5
Of those fierce darts Despair at me doth throw:
O make in me those civil wars to cease;
I will good tribute pay, if thou do so.
Take thou of me smooth pillows, sweetest bed,
A chamber deaf to noise and blind to light,
10
A rosy garland and a weary head:
And if these things, as being thine by right,
Move not thy heavy grace, thou shalt in me,
Livelier than elsewhere, Stella’s image see.
List of Poems in Alphabetical Order
List of Poets in Alphabetical Order
Sir Philip Sidney (1554–1586)
WITH how sad steps, O moon, thou climb’st the skies!
How silently, and with how wan a face!
What! may it be that even in heavenly place
That busy archer his sharp arrows tries?
Sure, if that long-with-love-acquainted eyes
5
Can judge of love, thou feel’st a lover’s case:
I read it in thy looks; thy languish’d grace
To me, that feel the like, thy state descries.
Then, even of fellowship, O Moon, tell me,
Is constant love deem’d there but want of wit?
10
Are beauties there as proud as here they be?
Do they above love to be loved, and yet
Those lovers scorn whom that love doth possess?
Do they call ‘virtue’ there — ungratefulness?
List of Poems in Alphabetical Order
List of Poets in Alphabetical Order
Thomas Lodge (1558–1625)
LOVE in my bosom like a bee
Doth suck his sweet:
Now with his wings he plays with me,
Now with his feet.
Within mine eyes he makes his nest,
5
His bed amidst my tender breast;
My kisses are his daily feast
And yet he robs me of my rest:
Ah! wanton, will ye?
And if I sleep, then percheth he
10
With pretty flight,
And makes his pillow of my knee
The livelong night.
Strike I my lute, he tunes the string;
He music plays if so I sing,
15
He lends me every lovely thing,
Yet cruel he my heart doth sting:
Whist, wanton, still ye!
Else I with roses every day
Will whip you hence,
20
And bind you, when you long to play,
For your offence.
I’ll shut mine eyes to keep you in;
I’ll make you fast it for your sin;
I’ll count your power not worth a pin.
25
— Alas! what hereby shall I win
If he gainsay me?
What if I beat the wanton boy
With many a rod?
He will repay me with annoy,
30
Because a god.
Then sit thou safely on my knee;
Then let thy bower my bosom be;
Lurk in mine eyes, I like of thee;
O Cupid, so thou pity me,
35
Spare not, but play thee!
List of Poems in Alphabetical Order
List of Poets in Alphabetical Order
Thomas Lodge (1558–1625)
LIKE to the clear in highest sphere
Where all imperial glory shines,
Of selfsame colour is her hair
Whether unfolded, or in twines:
Heigh ho, fair Rosaline!
5
Her eyes are sapphires set in snow
Resembling heaven by every wink;
The Gods do fear whenas they glow,
And I do tremble when I think
Heigh ho, would she were mine!
10
Her cheeks are like the blushing cloud
That beautifies Aurora’s face,
Or like the silver crimson shroud
That Phoebus’ smiling looks doth grace;
Heigh ho, fair Rosaline!
15
Her lips are like two budded roses
Whom ranks of lilies neighbour nigh,
Within which bounds she balm encloses
Apt to entice a deity:
Heigh ho, would she were mine!
20
Her neck is like a stately tower
Where Love himself imprison’d lies,
To watch for glances every hour
From her divine and sacred eyes:
Heigh ho, fair Rosaline!
25
Her paps are centres of delight,
Her breasts are orbs of heavenly frame,
Where Nature moulds the dew of light
To feed perfection with the same:
Heigh ho, would she were mine!
30
With orient pearl, with ruby red,
With marble white, with sapphire blue
Her body every way is fed,
Yet soft in touch and sweet in view:
Heigh ho, fair Rosaline!
35
Nature herself her shape admires;
The Gods are wounded in her sight;
And Love forsakes his heavenly fires
And at her eyes his brand doth light:
Heigh ho, would she were mine!
40
Then muse not, Nymphs, though I bemoan
The absence of fair Rosaline,
Since for a fair there’s fairer none,
Nor for her virtues so divine:
Heigh ho, fair Rosaline!
45
Heigh ho, my heart! would God that she were mine!
List of Poems in Alphabetical Order
List of Poets in Alphabetical Order
Thomas Lodge (1558–1625)
LOVE guards the roses of thy lips
And flies about them like a bee;
If I approach he forward skips,
And if I kiss he stingeth me.
Love in thine eyes doth build his bower,
5
And sleeps within their pretty shine;
And if I look the boy will lower,
And from their orbs shoot shafts divine.
Love works thy heart within his fire,
And in my tears doth firm the same;
10
And if I tempt it will retire,
And of my plaints doth make a game.
Love, let me cull her choicest flowers;
And pity me, and calm her eye;
Make soft her heart, dissolve her lowers;
15
Then will I praise thy deity.
But if thou do not, Love, I’ll truly serve her
In spite of thee, and by firm faith deserve her.
List of Poems in Alphabetical Order
List of Poets in Alphabetical Order
George Peele (1558–1597)
Œnone.
FAIR and fair, and twice so fair,
As fair as any may be;
The fairest shepherd on our green,
A love for any lady.
Paris.
Fair and fair, and twice so fair,
5
As fair as any may be;
Thy love is fair for thee alone,
And for no other lady.
Œnone.
My love is fair, my love is gay,
As fresh as bin the flowers in May,
10
And of my love my roundelay,
My merry, merry, merry roundelay.
Concludes with Cupid’s curse, —
‘They that do change old love for new
Pray gods they change for worse!’
15
Ambo Simul.
They that do change old love for new,
Pray gods they change for worse!
Œnone.
Fair and fair, etc.
Paris.
Fair and fair, etc.
Thy love is fair, etc.
20
Œnone.
My love can pipe, my love can sing,
My love can many a pretty thing,
And of his lovely praises ring
My merry, merry, merry roundelays
Amen to Cupid’s curse, —
25
‘They that do change,’ etc.
Paris.
They that do change, etc.
Ambo.
Fair and fair, etc.
List of Poems in Alphabetical Order
List of Poets in Alphabetical Order