Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, LA GIALLETTA GALLANTE OR THE SUN-BURN'D EXOTIC BEAUTY, by EDWARD HERBERT


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

LA GIALLETTA GALLANTE OR THE SUN-BURN'D EXOTIC BEAUTY, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: Child of the sun, in whom his rays appear
Last Line: And by thy gold show like some copper-mine.
Alternate Author Name(s): Cherbury, 1st Baron Herbert Of; Herbert Of Cherbury, Edward Herbert, 1st Baron; Herbert Of Cherbury, Lord
Subject(s): Beauty; Sunbathing


CHILD of the sun, in whom his rays appear
Hatch'd to that lustre as doth make thee wear
Heav'n's livery in thy skin, what need'st thou fear
The injury of air and change of clime,
When thy exalted form is so sublime
As to transcend all power of change or time?

How proud are they that in their hair but show
Some part of thee, thinking therein they owe
The greatest beauty Nature can bestow,
When thou art so much fairer to the sight,
As beams each-where diffused are more bright
Than their deriv'd and secondary light!

But thou art cordial both to sight and taste,
While each rare fruit seems in his time to haste
To ripen in thee, till at length they waste
Themselves to inward sweets, from whence again
They, like elixirs, passing through each vein,
An endless circulation do maintain.

How poor are they, then, whom if we but greet,
Think that raw juice which in their lips we meet
Enough to make us hold their kisses sweet,
When that rich odour which in thee is smelt
Can itself to a balmy liquor melt,
And make it to our inward senses felt!

Leave then thy country soil and mother's home,
Wander a planet this way, till thou come
To give our lovers here their fatal doom;
While if our beauties scorn to envy thine,
It will be just they to a jaundice pine,
And by thy gold show like some copper-mine.





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