F

SONNET. LVI.

AYRE/ ye be fure, but cruell and vnkind,
as is a Tygre that with greedinesse

hunts after bloud, when he by chance doth find
a feeble beast, doth felly him oppresse.

Fayre be ye fure but proud and pitilesse,

as is a storme, that all things doth prostrate : finding a tree alone all comfortlesse,

beats on it strongly it to ruinate.

Fayre be ye fure, but hard and obftinate,
as is a rocke amidst the raging floods :
gaynft which a ship of fuccour defolate,
doth fuffer wreck both of her felfe and goods.
That ship, that tree, and that same beast am I,
whom ye doe wreck, doe ruine, and destroy.

S

SONNET. LVII.

WEET/warriour when shall I haue peace with you? High time it is, this warre now ended were: which I no lenger can endure to sue,

ne your inceffant battry more to beare: So weake my powres, fo fore my wounds appeare, that wonder is how I fhould liue a iot, feeing my hart through launched euery where with thousand arrowes, which your eies haue shot : Yet shoot ye sharpely ftill, and spare me not, but glory thinke to make these cruel stoures. ye cruell one, what glory can be got, in flaying him that would liue gladly yours? Make peace therefore, and graunt me timely grace : that al my wounds wil heale in little space.

106

WEA

AMORETTI.

SONNET. LVIII.

By her that is most assured to her felfe. EAKE/is th' affurance that weake flesh reposeth, In her owne powre and scorneth others ayde: that foonest fals when as the most supposeth, her felfe affurd, and is of nought affrayd. All flesh is frayle, and all her ftrength vnftayed like a vaine bubble blowen vp with ayre: deuouring tyme & changeful chance haue prayd, her glories pride that none may it repayre. Ne none fo rich or wife, fo ftrong or fayre, but fayleth trusting on his owne assurance: and he that ftandeth on the hyghest stayre fals lowest for on earth nought hath enduraunce. Why then doe ye proud fayre, misdeeme so farre, that to your selfe ye most assured arre.

SONNET. LIX.

'HRISE / happie she, that is so well assured

TH

Vnto her felfe and fetled fo in hart:

that nether will for better be allured,

ne feard with worse to any chaunce to start, But like a fteddy fhip doth strongly part

the raging waues, and keepes her course aright: ne ought for tempeft doth from it depart, ne ought for fayrer weathers false delight. Such felfe affurance need not feare the spight, of grudging foes, ne fauour seek of friends : but in the stay of her owne stedfast might, nether to one her selfe nor other bends. Moft happy fhe that most assured doth rest,

but he most happy who such one loues best.

SONNET. LX.

t in course of heauenly spheares are skild,
y planet point his fundry yeare:
circles voyage is fulfild,

hree score yeares doth run his fpheare
inged God his planet cleare,

e to moue, one yeare is spent :
doth longer vnto me appeare,
fe fourty which my life outwent.
t count, which louers books inuent,
re of Cupid fourty yeares containes:
naue wafted in long languishment,
nd the longer for my greater paines.
‚ loues fayre Planet short her wayes
ɩre ensuing, or else short my dayes.

SONNET. LXI.

/glorious image of the makers beautie, My fouerayne saynt, the Idoll of my thought, not henceforth aboue the bounds of dewtie cufe of pride, or rafhly blame for ought.

eing as she is diuinely wrought,

1 of the brood of Angels heuenly borne: d with the crew of bleffed Saynts vpbrought, ch of which did her with theyr guifts adorne; bud of ioy, the bloffome of the morne, he beame of light, whom mortal eyes admyre: eason is it then but she should scorne, gs, that to her loue too bold afpire? nly formes ought rather worshipt be, e be lou'd by men of meane degree.

108

TH

AMORETTI.

SONNET. LXII.

HE/ weary yeare his race now hauing run, The new begins his compast course anew: with fhew of morning mylde he hath begun, betokening peace and plenty to enfew,

So let vs, which this chaunge of weather vew, chaunge eeke our mynds and former liues amend the old yeares finnes forepast let vs eschew, and fly the faults with which we did offend. Then shall the new yeares ioy forth freshly send, into the glooming world his gladfome ray: and all these stormes which now his beauty blend, shall turne to caulmes and tymely cleare away. So likewife loue cheare you your heauy spright, and chaunge old yeares annoy to new delight.

A

SONNET. LXIII.

FTER / long ftormes and tempests sad assay,
Which hardly I endured heretofore :

in dread of death and daungerous dismay,
with which my filly barke was toffed fore.
I doe at length descry the happy shore,
in which I hope ere long for to arryue.

fayre foyle it seemes from far & fraught with store of all that deare and daynty is alyue.

Moft happy he that can at last atchyue
the ioyous fafety of so sweet a rest:
whose least delight sufficeth to depriue
remembrance of all paines which him oppreft.

All paines are nothing in respect of this,
all forrowes fhort that gaine eternall bliffe.