 | The Complete Works of Sir Philip Sidney |  |
329
[THE LADY OF MAY]
330
SUPPLICATION.
Most gracious Soveraigne,
To one whose state is raised over all,
Whose face doth oft the bravest sort enchaunt,
Whose mind is such, as wisest minds appall,
Who in one selfe these diverse gifts can plant;
How dare I wretch seeke there my woes to rest,
Where eares be burnt, eyes dazled, harts opprest?
Whose face doth oft the bravest sort enchaunt,
Whose mind is such, as wisest minds appall,
Who in one selfe these diverse gifts can plant;
How dare I wretch seeke there my woes to rest,
Where eares be burnt, eyes dazled, harts opprest?
Your state is great, your greatnesse is our shield,
Your face hurts oft, but still it doth delight,
Your mind is wise, your wisedome makes you mild,
Such planted gifts enrich even beggers sight:
So dare I wretch, my bashfull feare subdue,
And feede mine eares, mine eyes, my hart in you.
Your face hurts oft, but still it doth delight,
Your mind is wise, your wisedome makes you mild,
Such planted gifts enrich even beggers sight:
So dare I wretch, my bashfull feare subdue,
And feede mine eares, mine eyes, my hart in you.
333
[Come Espilus, come now declare thy skill]
Therion.Come Espilus, come now declare thy skill,
Shew how thou canst deserve so brave desire,
Warme well thy wits, if thou wilt win her will,
For water cold did never promise fire:
Great sure is she, on whom our hopes do live,
Greater is she who must the judgement give.
Espilus.
Tune up my voice, a higher note I yeeld,
To high conceipts the song must needes be high,
More high then stars, more firme then flintie field
Are all my thoughts, on which I live or die:
Sweete soule, to whom I vowed am a slave,
Let not wild woods so great a treasure have.
Therion.
The highest note comes oft from basest mind,
As shallow brookes do yeeld the greatest sound,
Seeke other thoughts thy life or death to find;
Thy stars be fal'n, plowed is thy flintie ground:
Sweete soule let not a wretch that serveth sheepe,
Among his flocke so sweete a treasure keepe.
Espilus.
Two thousand sheepe I have as white as milke,
Though not so white as is thy lovely face,
The pasture rich, the wooll as soft as silke,
All this I give, let me possesse thy grace,
But still take heede least thou thy selfe submit
To one that hath no wealth, and wants his wit.
334
Two thousand deere is wildest woods I have,
Them can I take, but you I cannot hold:
He is not poore who can his freedome save,
Bound but to you, no wealth but you I would:
But take this beast, if beasts you feare to misse,
For of his beasts the greatest beast he is.
338
[Silvanus long in love, and long in vaine]
Silvanus long in love, and long in vaine,
At length obtaind the point of his desire,
When being askt, now that he did obtaine
His wished weale, what more he could require:
Nothing sayd he, for most I joy in this,
That Goddesse mine, my blessed being sees.
At length obtaind the point of his desire,
When being askt, now that he did obtaine
His wished weale, what more he could require:
Nothing sayd he, for most I joy in this,
That Goddesse mine, my blessed being sees.
When wanton Pan deceiv'd with Lions skin,
Came to the bed, where wound for kisse he got,
To wo and shame the wretch did enter in,
Till this he tooke for comfort of his lot,
Poore Pan (he sayd) although thou beaten be,
It is no shame, since Hercules was he.
Came to the bed, where wound for kisse he got,
To wo and shame the wretch did enter in,
Till this he tooke for comfort of his lot,
Poore Pan (he sayd) although thou beaten be,
It is no shame, since Hercules was he.
Thus joyfully in chosen tunes rejoyce,
That such a one is witnesse of my hart,
Whose cleerest eyes I blisse, and sweetest voyce,
That see my good, and judgeth my desert:
Thus wofully I in wo this salve do find,
My foule mishap came yet from fairest mind.
That such a one is witnesse of my hart,
Whose cleerest eyes I blisse, and sweetest voyce,
That see my good, and judgeth my desert:
Thus wofully I in wo this salve do find,
My foule mishap came yet from fairest mind.
FINIS.
| The Complete Works of Sir Philip Sidney | |