Silvia Who hath the hair, which loosest fastest tieth? Who hath the voice, which soul from senses sunders? 499 Doubt you to whom my Muse these notes intendeth, WHO is Silvia? What is she? That all our swains commend her? Holy, fair, and wise is she; The heaven such grace did lend her, Is she kind as she is fair? For beauty lives with kindness: To help him of his blindness; Then to Silvia let us sing, William Shakespeare [1564-1616] CUPID AND CAMPASPE CUPID and my Campaspe played He stakes his quiver, bow, and arrows, The coral of his lip, the rose Growing on's cheek (but none knows how); O Love! has she done this to thee? John Lyly [1554?-1606] APOLLO'S SONG From "Midas" My Daphne's hair is twisted gold, Bright stars apiece her eyes do hold, My Daphne's brow enthrones the Graces, On Daphne's cheek grow rose and cherry, Daphne's snowy hand but touched does melt, My Daphne's music charms all ears. These glories now are turned to bays. John Lyly [1554?-1606] 'FAIR IS MY LOVE FOR APRIL'S IN HER FACE" From "Perimedes " FAIR is my love for April's in her face, Her lovely breasts September claims his part, And lordly July in her eyes takes place, But cold December dwelleth in her heart; Blest be the months that set my thoughts on fire, Like Phoebus' fire, so sparkle both her eyes, As earth, her heart, cold, dateth me to death: In pomp sits mercy seated in her face, Love 'twixt her breasts his trophies doth imprint, Her eyes shine favor, courtesy, and grace, But touch her heart, ah, that is framed of flint! Therefore my harvest in the grass bears grain; The rock will wear, washed with a winter's rain. Robert Greene [1560?-1592] SAMELA From "Menaphon" LIKE to Diana in her summer weed, Girt with a crimson robe of brightest dye, Goes fair Samela; Whiter than be the flocks that straggling feed, As fair Aurora in her morning-gray, Like lovely Thetis on a calmèd day, Whenas her brightness Neptune's fancy move, Her tresses gold, her eyes like glassy streams, Her cheeks like rose and lily yield forth gleams; Her brows bright arches framed of ebony: Thus fair Samela Passeth fair Venus in her bravest hue, Pallas, in wit,-all three, if you well view, Yield to Samela. Robert Greene [1560?-1592] DAMELUS' SONG OF HIS DIAPHENIA DIAPHENIA like the daffadowndilly, White as the sun, fair as the lily, Heigh ho, how I do love thee! I do love thee as my lambs Are beloved of their dams; How blest were I if thou would'st prove me. Diaphenia like the spreading roses, I do love thee as each flower Loves the sun's life-giving power; For dead, thy breath to life might move me. Diaphenia like to all things blessed, Dear joy, how I do love thee! Then in requite, sweet virgin, love me! Henry Constable [1562-1613] ROSALINE LIKE to the clear in highest sphere Where all imperial glory shines, Of selfsame color is her hair Whether unfolded or in twines: Rosaline Heigh ho, fair Rosaline! Heigh ho, would she were mine! Her cheeks are like the blushing cloud That Phoebus' smiling looks doth grace: Her lips are like two budded roses Whom ranks of lilies neighbor nigh, Within whose bounds she balm encloses Apt to entice a deity: Heigh ho, would she were mine! Her neck like to a stately tower Her paps are centres of delight, Her breasts are orbs of heavenly frame, With orient pearl, with ruby red, With marble white, with sapphire blue, Her body every way is fed, Yet soft to touch and sweet to view: Heigh ho, fair Rosaline! Nature herself her shape admires; Heigh ho, would she were mine! 503 |