The Castell of Pleasure by William Nevill: The text of the first issue of the poem with variant readings from the reprint of 1518; Together with introduction, notes and glossary by Roberta D. Cornelius |
 |
|
Desyre. |
 | The Castell of Pleasure |  |
Desyre.
O precyous pryncesse of preelecte pulcrytude
I can not compasse your compassyble kyndnes
Whan it hath pleased your benygnyte & gratytude
That I myght entre your gardyn my mynde to expres
I am of no suche abylyte as ye make me doubtles
But syth ye haue enhabled me of your benygnyte
God rewarde you that it hathe pleased you to enhaunce my dygnyte.
I can not compasse your compassyble kyndnes
Whan it hath pleased your benygnyte & gratytude
That I myght entre your gardyn my mynde to expres
I am of no suche abylyte as ye make me doubtles
But syth ye haue enhabled me of your benygnyte
God rewarde you that it hathe pleased you to enhaunce my dygnyte.
The eternall god rewarde you accordyngly
Yf ony of his powers regarde folkes petyouse
Yf Iustyce be in ony place acquyted duely
O what worlde brought forth your body delycyouse
What parentes gate suche one to be so amerouse
Your countenaunce doeth reioyse me & encreseth my myrthe
Your vertue proueth your parentage to be of noble byrthe
Yf ony of his powers regarde folkes petyouse
Yf Iustyce be in ony place acquyted duely
O what worlde brought forth your body delycyouse
What parentes gate suche one to be so amerouse
Your countenaunce doeth reioyse me & encreseth my myrthe
Your vertue proueth your parentage to be of noble byrthe
As longe as the flodes renne with water vyolent
As longe as shadowes shall about hylles appere
And whyle there shall be ony sterres in the fyrmament
So longe shall your loue my herte and body stere
Your honour and name shall be expressed without fere
Syth ye be not varyaunt but stedfast and substancyall
Therfore god you acquyte with Ioye perpetuall.
As longe as shadowes shall about hylles appere
And whyle there shall be ony sterres in the fyrmament
So longe shall your loue my herte and body stere
Your honour and name shall be expressed without fere
Syth ye be not varyaunt but stedfast and substancyall
Therfore god you acquyte with Ioye perpetuall.
| The Castell of Pleasure | |