Died 1607] SIR EDWARD DYER. [From Percy's Reliques.] My mind to me a kingdom is, Such perfect joy therein I find That God or Nature hath assigned; Though much I want, that most would have, I see how plenty surfeits oft, And hasty climbers soonest fall; Mishap doth threaten most of all: Some have too much, yet still they crave; They are but poor, though much they have, They poor, I rich; they beg, I give; I grudge not at another's gain, My wealth is health, and perfect ease; My conscience clear my chief defence ; Nor by deceit to give offence; Would all did so, as well as I ! EDMUND SPENSER. [1553-1598 From the Introduction to the Fairy Queen. Fierce wars and faithful loves shall moralize my song. OPENING OF THE FAIRY QUEEN. A gentle Knight was pricking on the plain, Yclad in mighty arms and silver shield, Wherein old dints of deep wounds did remain, The cruel marks of many a bloody field; Yet arms till that time did he never wield, His angry steed did chide his foaming bit, As much disdaining to the curb to yield; Full jolly knight he seemed, and fair did sit, As one for knightly jousts and fierce encounters fit. And on his breast a bloody cross he bore, The dear remembrance of his dying Lord, For whose sweet sake that glorious badge he wore, And dead, as living, ever him adored; Upon his shield the like was also scored, For sovereign hope, which in his help he had. Right faithful, true he was in deed and word, But of his cheer did seem too solemn sad, Yet nothing did he dread, but ever was y-drad. A lovely lady rode him fair beside, Upon a lowly ass more white than snow, So pure and innocent, as that same lamb, She was in life and every virtuous lore, And by descent from royal lineage came, Of ancient kings and queens, that had of yore Their sceptres stretched from east to western shore, And all the world in their subjection held. Book II., Canto VIII. And is there care in Heaven-and is there love O why should heavenly God to men have such regard? TO HIS BOOK. Go little book: thyself present TO SIR WALTER RALEIGH. To thee that art the summer's nightingale, That may thy tuneful ear unseason quite ? Thou only fit this argument to write In whose high thoughts Pleasure hath built her bower, And dainty Love learned sweetly to indite From THE ELEGY ON SIR PHILIP SIDNEY. [Printed among Spenser's Poems, but said to be by Matthew Roydon.] You knew, who knew not Astrophill? That I should live to say I knew And not have in possession still. Of him you know his merit such, I cannot say you hear-too much. The Muses met him every day, A sweet attractive kind of grace, A full assurance given by looks, I trow that countenance cannot lie, Was never eye did see that face, Was never ear did hear that tongue, But eyes and ears and every thought O God, that such a worthy man, In whom so rare deserts did reign, And we to wish for him in vain! 1554-1586] SIR PHILIP SIDNEY. STELLA. Those looks whose beams be joy, whose motion is delight; That face, whose texture shews what perfect beauty is; That presence, which doth give dark hearts a living light, That grace that Venus weeps that she herself doth miss. ASPIRE TO HIGHER THINGS. Leave me O love which reachest but to dust, In this small course which Birth draws out to Death. Who seeketh Heaven, and comes of Heavenly breath. Then farewell, world, thine uttermost I see, Eternal Love! maintain thy life in me! |