174 HERSELF ALL TREASURE. HERSELF ALL TREASURE. YE tradefull Merchants, that, with weary toyle Do seeke most pretious things to make your gain; And both the Indias of their treasure spoile; What needeth you to seeke so farre in vaine? For loe, my Love doth in herselfe containe All this world's riches that may farre be found: If Saphyres, loe, her eies be Saphyres plaine; If Rubies, loe, hir lips be Rubies sound; If Pearles, hir teeth be Pearles, both pure and round; If Ivorie, her forhead Ivorie weene; If Gold, her locks are finest Gold on ground: If Silver, her faire hands are Silver sheene: But that which fairest is, but few behold- E. Spenser. TO HIS LOVE. 175 TO HIS LOVE. WHEN in the chronicle of wasted time Then in the blazon of sweet beauty's best So all their praises are but prophecies For we, which now behold these present days, 776 THE LOVER UNBELOVED LAMENTS BY NIGHT. THE LOVER UNBELOVED LAMENTS BY NIGHT. ALAS! So all things now do hold their peace! The beasts, the air, the birds their song do cease; For my sweet thoughts sometime do pleasure bring; To live, and lack the thing should rid my pain. H. Howard (Earl of Surrey). LOVE'S SHADOW. 177 LOVE'S SHADOW. FROM you have I been absent in the spring, Of different flowers in odour and in hue, Could make me any summer's story tell, Or from their proud lap pluck them where they grew: Nor praise the deep vermilion in the rose: 12 Elder Poets. 178 LOVE'S OMNIPRESENCE. LOVE'S OMNIPRESENCE. WERE I as base as is the lowly plain, And you, my Love, as high as heaven above, Yet should the thoughts of me your humble swain Were I as high as heaven above the plain, Were you the earth, dear Love, and I the skies, Till heaven wax'd blind, and till the world were donc. Whereso'er I am, below, or else above you, Whereso'er you are, my heart shall truly love you. Joshua Sylvestre. |