 | The Poems and Sonnets of Henry Constable |  |
lxxxvi
TO GOD THE SONNE.
Greate Prynce of heaven, begotten of that Kyng
Who rules the kyngdome that himself dyd make;
And of that vyrgyn-Queene man's shape did take,
Which from kynge Davyd's royal stock dyd sprynge;
Who rules the kyngdome that himself dyd make;
And of that vyrgyn-Queene man's shape did take,
Which from kynge Davyd's royal stock dyd sprynge;
No mervayle though thy byrth mayd angells synge,
And angells' dyttes shepehyrdes' pipes awake;
And kynges lyke shepehyrdes, humbled for thy sake,
Kneele at thy feete, & guyftes of homage brynge.
And angells' dyttes shepehyrdes' pipes awake;
And kynges lyke shepehyrdes, humbled for thy sake,
Kneele at thy feete, & guyftes of homage brynge.
For heaven & earth, the hyghe & lowe estate,
As partners of thy byrth make æquall clayme:
Angells, because in heaven God the begatt,
Sheepehyrdes & kynges, because thy mother came
From pryncely race, & yet, by povertye,
Mayd glory shyne in her humillitye.
As partners of thy byrth make æquall clayme:
Angells, because in heaven God the begatt,
Sheepehyrdes & kynges, because thy mother came
From pryncely race, & yet, by povertye,
Mayd glory shyne in her humillitye.
| The Poems and Sonnets of Henry Constable | |