 | The Poems and Sonnets of Henry Constable |  |
xlv
TO PARTICULAR LADIES WHOME HE MOST HONOURED.
xlvi
TO THE PRINCESS OF ORANGE.
If nature for her workes proud ever were,
It was for this: that she created yow;
Youre sacred head, which wisdome doth indue,
Is only fitte a diademe to weare.
It was for this: that she created yow;
Youre sacred head, which wisdome doth indue,
Is only fitte a diademe to weare.
Your lilie hand, which fayrer doth appeare
Then ever eye beheld in shape and hue,
Vnto no other use by right is due
Except it be a scepter for to beare.
Then ever eye beheld in shape and hue,
Vnto no other use by right is due
Except it be a scepter for to beare.
Your cherrie lips by Nature framed be
Hearts to commaund; youre eye is only fitte
With his wise lookes kingdomes to oversee;
O happie land, whose soveraigne thou hadst beene!
But God on earth full blisse will not permitte,
And this is only cause: yow are no Queene.
Hearts to commaund; youre eye is only fitte
With his wise lookes kingdomes to oversee;
O happie land, whose soveraigne thou hadst beene!
But God on earth full blisse will not permitte,
And this is only cause: yow are no Queene.
xlvii
TO THE COUNTESSE OF SHREWSBURYE.
Playnlie I write because I will write true;
If ever Marie but the Virgin were
Meete in the realme of heaven a crowne to beare,
I, as my creed, believe that it is you!
If ever Marie but the Virgin were
Meete in the realme of heaven a crowne to beare,
I, as my creed, believe that it is you!
And for the world this Ile and age shall rue
The bloud and fire was shed and kindled heere,
When woemen of youre name the crowne did beare,
And youre high worth not crownd with honoure due.
The bloud and fire was shed and kindled heere,
When woemen of youre name the crowne did beare,
And youre high worth not crownd with honoure due.
But God, which meant for rebell fayth and sin
His foes to punish, and his owne to trye,
Would not youre sacred name imploy therein;
For good and bad he would should you adore,
Which never any burnt but with youre eye,
And maketh them you punish love you more.
His foes to punish, and his owne to trye,
Would not youre sacred name imploy therein;
For good and bad he would should you adore,
Which never any burnt but with youre eye,
And maketh them you punish love you more.
xlviii
TO THE COUNTESSES OF CUMBERLAND AND WARWICK, SISTERS.
You sister Muses! doe not ye repine
That I two sisters doe with nyne compare;
For eyther of these sacred two more rare
In vertue is then all the heavenly nyne.
That I two sisters doe with nyne compare;
For eyther of these sacred two more rare
In vertue is then all the heavenly nyne.
But if ye aske which one is more devine,
I say: like to theyre owne twin-eyes they are.
Where eyther is as cleere as clearest starre,
Yet neyther doth more cleare then other shine.
I say: like to theyre owne twin-eyes they are.
Where eyther is as cleere as clearest starre,
Yet neyther doth more cleare then other shine.
Sisters of spotlesse fame! of whome alone
Malitiouse tongues take pleasure to speake well;
How should I yow commend, when eyther one
All things in heaven and earth so far excell?
The highest prayse that I can give is this:
That one of you like to the other is.
Malitiouse tongues take pleasure to speake well;
How should I yow commend, when eyther one
All things in heaven and earth so far excell?
The highest prayse that I can give is this:
That one of you like to the other is.
xlix
TO MY LADIE ARBELLA.
That worthie Marquesse, pride of Italie!
Whoe for all worth, and for her wit & phrase,
Both best deserv'd, and best desert could prayse,
Immortall Ladie! is reviv'd in thee.
Whoe for all worth, and for her wit & phrase,
Both best deserv'd, and best desert could prayse,
Immortall Ladie! is reviv'd in thee.
But thinke not strange that thy divinitie
I by some goddesse' title doe not blaze,
But through a woeman's name thy glorie rayse;
For things unlike of unlike prayses be.
I by some goddesse' title doe not blaze,
But through a woeman's name thy glorie rayse;
For things unlike of unlike prayses be.
When we prayse men, we call them gods; but when
We speake of gods we liken them to men;
Not them to prayse, but only them to knowe.
Not able thee to prayse, my drift was this:
Some earthlye shadowe of thy worth to showe,
Whose heavenly selfe above world's reason is.
We speake of gods we liken them to men;
Not them to prayse, but only them to knowe.
Not able thee to prayse, my drift was this:
Some earthlye shadowe of thy worth to showe,
Whose heavenly selfe above world's reason is.
l
TO THE LADY ARBELLA.
Only hope of oure age! that vertues dead
By youre sweet breath should be reviv'd againe;
Learning, discourag'd longe by rude disdaine,
By youre white hands is only cherished.
By youre sweet breath should be reviv'd againe;
Learning, discourag'd longe by rude disdaine,
By youre white hands is only cherished.
Thus others' worth by yow is honoured;
But whoe shall honoure youres; poore wits! in vayne
We seeke to paye the debts which you pertayne,
Till from youre selfe some wealth be borrowed.
But whoe shall honoure youres; poore wits! in vayne
We seeke to paye the debts which you pertayne,
Till from youre selfe some wealth be borrowed.
Lend some youre tongues, that every nation may
In his owne heare youre vertuous prayses blaz'd;
Lend them youre wit, youre judgment, memorye,
Least they themselves should not knowe what to say;
And, that thow mayst be lov'd as much as prays'd,
My hearte thow mayst lend them, which I gave thee.
In his owne heare youre vertuous prayses blaz'd;
Lend them youre wit, youre judgment, memorye,
Least they themselves should not knowe what to say;
And, that thow mayst be lov'd as much as prays'd,
My hearte thow mayst lend them, which I gave thee.
li
TO MY LADIE RICH.
O that my songe like to a ship might be,
To beare aboute the world my Lady's fame;
That, charged with the riches of her name,
The Indians might oure country's treasure see!
To beare aboute the world my Lady's fame;
That, charged with the riches of her name,
The Indians might oure country's treasure see!
No treasure, they would say, is rich but she;
Of all theyre golden parts they would have shame,
And hap'lye, that they might but see the same,
To give theyre gold for nought they would agree.
Of all theyre golden parts they would have shame,
And hap'lye, that they might but see the same,
To give theyre gold for nought they would agree.
This wished voyage, though it I begin,
Withoute youre beauty's helpe cannot prevayle;
For as a ship doth beare the men therein,
And yet the men doe make the ship to sayle,
Your beauties so, which in my verse apeare,
Doe move my verse and it your beauties beare.
Withoute youre beauty's helpe cannot prevayle;
For as a ship doth beare the men therein,
And yet the men doe make the ship to sayle,
Your beauties so, which in my verse apeare,
Doe move my verse and it your beauties beare.
lii
TO THE LADIE RICH.
Heraulds at armes doe three perfections quote,
To wit: most faire, most ritch, most glittering;
So, when those three concurre within one thing,
Needes must that thing of honor be a note.
To wit: most faire, most ritch, most glittering;
So, when those three concurre within one thing,
Needes must that thing of honor be a note.
Lately I did behold a ritch, faire coate,
Which wished Fortune to mine eyes did bring,
A lordly coate, yet worthy of a King,
In which one might all these perfections note:
Which wished Fortune to mine eyes did bring,
A lordly coate, yet worthy of a King,
In which one might all these perfections note:
A field of lyllies roses proper bare,
Two starres in chiefe; the Crest was waves of gold.
How glittring 'twas might by the starres appeare,
The lillies made it faire for to behold;
And ritch it was, as by the gold appeareth.
But happy he that in his armes it weareth.
Two starres in chiefe; the Crest was waves of gold.
How glittring 'twas might by the starres appeare,
The lillies made it faire for to behold;
And ritch it was, as by the gold appeareth.
But happy he that in his armes it weareth.
| The Poems and Sonnets of Henry Constable | |