FREE BOOKS

Author's List




PREV.   NEXT  
|<   401   402   403   404   405   406   407   408   409   410   411   412   413   414   415   416   417   418   419   420   421   422   423   424   425  
426   427   428   429   430   431   432   433   434   435   436   437   438   439   440   441   442   443   444   445   446   447   448   449   450   >>   >|  
with a queen; More wanton, too: For kings have many griefs, affects to move, Where shepherds have no greater grief than love: Upon his couch of straw he sleeps as sound As doth the king upon his bed of down; More sounder, too: For cares cause kings full oft their sleep to spill, Where weary shepherds lie and snort their fill: Thus, with his wife, he spends the year as blithe As doth the king at every tide or sithe, And blither, too: For kings have wars and broils to take in hand, Where shepherds laugh and love upon the land: Ah then, ah then, Since country loves such sweet desires do gain, What lady would not love a shepherd swain? Robert Greene [1560?-1592] "TRUTH DOTH TRUTH DESERVE" From the "Arcadia" Who doth desire that chaste his wife should be, First be he true, for truth doth truth deserve: Then such be he as she his worth may see, And one man still credit with her preserve. Not toying kind, nor causelessly unkind; Not stirring thoughts, nor yet denying right; Not spying faults, nor in plain errors blind; Never hard hand, nor ever reins too light. As far from want, as far from vain expense (The one doth force, the latter doth entice); Allow good company, but keep from thence All filthy mouths that glory in their vice. This done, thou hast no more, but leave the rest To virtue, fortune, time, and woman's breast. Philip Sidney [1554-1586] THE MARRIED LOVER From "The Angel in the House" Why, having won her, do I woo? Because her spirit's vestal grace Provokes me always to pursue, But, spirit-like, eludes embrace; Because her womanhood is such That, as on court-days subjects kiss The Queen's hand, yet so near a touch Affirms no mean familiarness; Nay, rather marks more fair the height Which can with safety so neglect To dread, as lower ladies might, That grace could meet with disrespect; Thus she with happy favor feeds Allegiance from a love so high That thence no false conceit proceeds Of difference bridged, or state put by; Because, although in act and word As lowly as a wife can be, Her manners, when they call me lord, Remind me 'tis by courtesy; Not with her least consent of will, Which would my proud affection hurt, But by the noble style that still Imputes an unattained desert; Because her gay and lofty brows, When all is won which hope can ask, Reflect a light of hopeless snows That bright in virgin ether bask; Because, though free of the outer court I a
PREV.   NEXT  
|<   401   402   403   404   405   406   407   408   409   410   411   412   413   414   415   416   417   418   419   420   421   422   423   424   425  
426   427   428   429   430   431   432   433   434   435   436   437   438   439   440   441   442   443   444   445   446   447   448   449   450   >>   >|  



Top keywords:
Because
 

shepherds

 

spirit

 

MARRIED

 
familiarness
 

height

 
Sidney
 

Philip

 
breast
 
Affirms

embrace

 

womanhood

 

vestal

 

Provokes

 

eludes

 
pursue
 
subjects
 

proceeds

 

Imputes

 
unattained

desert

 

consent

 

affection

 

virgin

 

bright

 

hopeless

 

Reflect

 

courtesy

 
Allegiance
 
conceit

disrespect

 
neglect
 

ladies

 

difference

 

manners

 

Remind

 

bridged

 
safety
 

expense

 
broils

blither

 

blithe

 

country

 
shepherd
 
Robert
 

Greene

 

desires

 

spends

 

sleeps

 

greater