 | The Poems and Sonnets of Henry Constable |  |
lv
To the COUNTESSE of SHREWSBURYE, UPON OCCASION OF HIS DEARE MISTRESSE, WHO LIV'D UNDER HER GOVERNMENT.
True, worthie Dame! if I thee chieftayne call
Of Venus' host, let others think no ill;
I graunt that they be fayre, but what prince will
Chuse onlie by the force a generall?
Of Venus' host, let others think no ill;
I graunt that they be fayre, but what prince will
Chuse onlie by the force a generall?
Beauties be but the forces wherewithall
Ladies the hearts of private persons kill;
But these fayre forces to conduct with skill
Venus chose yow the chiefest of them all.
Ladies the hearts of private persons kill;
But these fayre forces to conduct with skill
Venus chose yow the chiefest of them all.
To yow then, yow, the fayrest of the wise,
And wisest of the fayre, I doe appeale.
A warrioure of youre campe by force of eyes
Mee pris'ner tooke, and will with rigor deale,
Except yow pity in youre heart will place;
At whose white hands I only seeke for grace.
And wisest of the fayre, I doe appeale.
A warrioure of youre campe by force of eyes
Mee pris'ner tooke, and will with rigor deale,
Except yow pity in youre heart will place;
At whose white hands I only seeke for grace.
| The Poems and Sonnets of Henry Constable | |