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PHOEBE'S SONNET, FR. ROSALIND, by                 Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography
First Line: Down a down
Last Line: And so sing I, with down a down.
Subject(s): Love


DOWN a down,
Thus Phyllis sung,
By fancy once distressed:
Whoso by foolish Love are stung
Are worthily oppressed,
And so sing I, with down a down.

When Love was first begot,
And by the mother's will,
Did fall to human lot,
His solace to fulfil,
Devoid of all deceit,
A chaste and holy fire,
Did quicken man's conceit,
And women's breasts inspire.
The gods that saw the good,
That mortals did approve,
With kind and holy mood
Began to talk of Love.
Down a down,
Thus Phyllis sung
By fancy once distressed.

But during this accord,
A wonder strange to hear,
Whilst Love in deed and word,
Most faithful did appear;
False semblance came in place,
By jealousy attended:
And with a double face,
Both love and fancy blended,
Which made the gods forsake,
And men from fancy fly:
And maidens scorn a make,
Forsooth, and so will I.
Down a down,
Thus Phyllis sung,
By fancy once distressed:
Whoso by foolish Love are stung,
Are worthily oppressed.
And so sing I, with down a down.





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