IIII.
[Sweete Venus if as nowe thou stand my friende]
The chiefe grounde and matter of this Sonnet standeth
vppon the rehearsall of such thinges as by
reporte of the Poets, are dedicated vnto Venus,
whereof the Authour sometime wrote these three
Latine verses.
Mons Erycinus, Acidalius fons, alba columba,
Hesperus, ora Pathos, Rosa, Myrtus, & insula Cyprus,
Idaliumque nemus; Ueneri hæc sunt omnia sacra.
And Forcatulus the French Poet wrote vppon the same particulars, but more at large, he beginneth thus,
Est arbor Veneri Myrtus gratissima, flores
Tam Rosa, quam volucres alba columba præit.
Igniferum cœli præcunctis diligit astris:
Hesperon, Idalium sæpè adit vna nemus. &c.
Sweete
Venus if as nowe thou stand my friende,
As once thou didst vnto Kinge Priams sonne,
My ioyfull muse shall neuer make an end
Of praising thee, and all that thou hast done:
Nor this my penne shall euer cease to write
Of ought, wherin sweete Venus takes delite.
My temples hedged in with Myrtle bowes
Shall set aside Apolloes Lawrell tree,
Materna redimitus tempora Mirto. Virg.
As did Anchises sonne, when both his browes
With Myrtle hee beset, to honour thee:
Then will I say, the Rose of flowres is best,
And siluer Dooues for birdes excell the rest.
Ile praise no starre but Hesperus alone,
Nor any hill but Erycinus mounte,
Nor any woodde but Idaly alone,
Nor any spring but Acidalian founte,
Nor any land but onely Cyprus shoare,
Nor Gods but Loue, & what would Venus more?
