 | The poems of Queen Elizabeth I |  |
6
Poems of Doubtful Authorship
CHRIST WAS THE WORD
Christ was the Word that spake it;He took the bread and brake it,
And what the Word did make it,
That I believe and take it.
FOUR KNIGHTS OF NOTTINGHAMSHIRE
Gervase the gentle, Stanhope the stout,Markham the lion, and Sutton the lout.
REBUS ON NOEL'S NAME
The word of denial and the letter of fiftyMakes the gentleman's name that will never be thrifty. Noel's reply:
The foe to the stomach and the word of disgrace
Shows the gentleman's name with the bold face.
7
REPLY TO RALEIGH
[Fain would I climb yet fear I to fall.]If thy heart fail thee, climb not at all.
AN ENGLISH HEXAMETER
Persius a crab-staff, bawdy Martial, Ovid a fine wag.WHEN I WAS FAIR AND YOUNG
When I was fair and young, then favor graced me.
Of many was I sought their mistress for to be,
But I did scorn them all and answered them therefore:
Go, go, go, seek some other where, importune me no more.
Of many was I sought their mistress for to be,
But I did scorn them all and answered them therefore:
Go, go, go, seek some other where, importune me no more.
How many weeping eyes I made to pine in woe,
How many sighing hearts I have not skill to show,
But I the prouder grew and still this spake therefore:
Go, go, go, seek some other where, importune me no more.
How many sighing hearts I have not skill to show,
But I the prouder grew and still this spake therefore:
Go, go, go, seek some other where, importune me no more.
Then spake fair Venus' son, that brave victorious boy,
Saying: You dainty dame, for that you be so coy,
I will so pluck your plumes as you shall say no more:
Go, go, go, seek some other where, importune me no more.
Saying: You dainty dame, for that you be so coy,
I will so pluck your plumes as you shall say no more:
Go, go, go, seek some other where, importune me no more.
As soon as he had said, such change grew in my breast
That neither night nor day I could take any rest.
Wherefore I did repent that I had said before:
Go, go, go, seek some other where, importune me no more.
That neither night nor day I could take any rest.
Wherefore I did repent that I had said before:
Go, go, go, seek some other where, importune me no more.
8
EPITAPH MADE BY THE QUEEN'S MAJESTY AT THE DEATH OF THE PRINCESS OF ESPINOYE
When the warrior Phoebus goeth to make his roundWith a painful course to t'other hemisphere,
A dark shadow, a great horror and a fear
In I know not what clouds environ the ground.
And even so for Pinoy, that fair virtuous lady
(Although Jupiter have in this horizon
Made a star of her by the Ariadnian crown),
Mourns, dolor and grief accompany our body.
O Atropos, thou hast done a work perverst,
And as a bird that hath lost both young and nest
About the place where it was makes many a turn,
Even so doth Cupid, that infant god of amor,
Fly about the tomb where she lies all in dolor,
Weeping for her eyes wherein he made sojourn.
NOW LEAVE AND LET ME REST
Now leave and let me rest,
Dame Pleasure be content;
Go choose among the best,
My doting days be spent.
By sundry signs I see
Thy proffers are but vain,
And wisdom warneth me
That pleasure asketh pain.
Dame Pleasure be content;
Go choose among the best,
My doting days be spent.
By sundry signs I see
Thy proffers are but vain,
And wisdom warneth me
That pleasure asketh pain.
And Nature that doth know
How time her steps doth try
Gives place to painful woe
And bids me learn to die.
Since all fair earthly things
Soon ripe will soon be rot,
And all that pleasant springs
Soon withered, soon forgot.
How time her steps doth try
Gives place to painful woe
And bids me learn to die.
Since all fair earthly things
Soon ripe will soon be rot,
9
Soon withered, soon forgot.
And youth that yields new joys
That wanton lust desires
In age repents the toys
That reckless youth requires.
All which delights I leave
To such as folly trains
By pleasure to deceive
Till they do feel the pains.
That wanton lust desires
In age repents the toys
That reckless youth requires.
All which delights I leave
To such as folly trains
By pleasure to deceive
Till they do feel the pains.
And from vain pleasures past
I fly and fain would know
The happy life at last
Whereto I hope to go,
For words or wise reports
Or yet examples gone
Can bridle youthful sports
Till age comes stealing on.
I fly and fain would know
The happy life at last
Whereto I hope to go,
For words or wise reports
Or yet examples gone
Can bridle youthful sports
Till age comes stealing on.
The pleasant courtly games
That I delighted in,
Mine elder age now shames
Such follies to begin,
And all the fancies strange
That fond delight brought forth
I do intend to change
And count them nothing worth.
That I delighted in,
Mine elder age now shames
Such follies to begin,
And all the fancies strange
That fond delight brought forth
I do intend to change
And count them nothing worth.
For I by process worn
Am taught to know the skill
What might have been forborne
In my young reckless will.
By which good proof I fleet.
From will to wit again
In hope to set my feet
In surety to remain.
Am taught to know the skill
What might have been forborne
In my young reckless will.
By which good proof I fleet.
From will to wit again
In hope to set my feet
In surety to remain.
| The poems of Queen Elizabeth I | |