Stella, the onely planet of my light, Light of my life, and life of my desire, Chiefe good whereto my hope doth only aspire, World of my wealth, and heau'n of my delight;...
My Muse may well grudge at my heau'nly ioy, Yf still I force her in sad rimes to creepe: She oft hath drunk my teares, now hopes to enioy Nectar of mirth, since I Ioues cup do keepe....
Who will in fairest booke of Nature know How vertue may best lodg'd in Beautie be, Let him but learne of Loue to reade in thee, Stella, those faire lines which true goodnesse show....
Desire, though thou my old companion art, And oft so clings to my pure loue that I One from the other scarcely can discrie, While each doth blowe the fier of my hart;...
Loue, still a Boy, and oft a wanton is, School'd onely by his mothers tender eye; What wonder then if he his lesson misse, When for so soft a rodde deare play he trye?...
I neuer dranke of Aganippe well, Nor euer did in shade of Tempe sit, And Muses scorne with vulgar brains to dwell; Poore Layman I, for sacred rites vnfit. Some doe I heare of Poets fury tell,...
Of all the Kings that euer here did raigne, Edward, nam'd fourth, as first in praise I name: Not for his faire outside, nor well-lin'd braine, Although lesse gifts impe feathers oft on fame....
She comes, and streight therewith her shining twins do moue Their rayes to me, who in their tedious absence lay Benighted in cold wo; but now appears my day, The only light of ioy, the only warmth of loue....
Those lookes, whose beames be ioy, whose motion is delight; That face, whose lecture shews what perfect beauty is; That presence, which doth giue darke hearts a liuing light;...
O how the pleasant ayres of true loue be Infected by those vapours which arise From out that noysome gulfe, which gaping lies Betweene the iawes of hellish Ielousie! A monster, others harme, selfe-miserie,...
Sweet-swelling lip, well maist thou swell in pride, Since best wits thinke it wit thee to admire; Natures praise, Vertues stall; Cupids cold fire, Whence words, not words but heau'nly graces slide;...
O kisse, which dost those ruddie gemmes impart, Or gemmes or fruits of new-found Paradise, Breathing all blisse, and sweetning to the heart, Teaching dumbe lips a nobler exercise;...
Nymph of the garden where all beauties be, Beauties which do in excellencie passe His who till death lookt in a watrie glasse, Or hers whom nakd the Troian boy did see;...
Good brother Philip, I haue borne you long; I was content you should in fauour creepe, While craftely you seem'd your cut to keepe, As though that faire soft hand did you great wrong:...
High way, since you my chiefe Pernassus be, And that my Muse, to some eares not vnsweet, Tempers her words to trampling horses feete More oft then to a chamber-melodie....
Now that of absence the most irksom night With darkest shade doth ouercome my day; Since Stellaes eyes, wont to giue me my day, Leauing my hemisphere, leaue me in night;...
I see the house, (my heart thy selfe containe!) Beware full sailes drowne not thy tottring barge, Least ioy, by nature apt sprites to enlarge, Thee to thy wracke beyond thy limits straine;...
Alas, whence came this change of lookes? If I Haue chang'd desert, let mine owne conscience be A still-felt plague to selfe-condemning mee; Let woe gripe on my heart, shame loade mine eye:...
When I was forst from Stella euer deere, Stella, food of my thoughts, hart of my hart; Stella, whose eyes make all my tempests cleere, By Stellas lawes of duetie to depart;...