Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, AMORETTI: 17, by EDMUND SPENSER


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AMORETTI: 17, by                 Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography
First Line: The glorious portrait of that angel's face
Last Line: That can expresse the life of things indeed.
Alternate Author Name(s): Clout, Colin
Variant Title(s): Her Portrait
Subject(s): Beauty; Virtue


The glorious pourtrait of that angels face,
Made to amaze weake mens confused skil,
And this worlds worthlesse glory to embase,
What pen, what pencill, can expresse her fill?
For though he colours could devize at will,
And eke his learned hand at pleasure guide,
Least, trembling, it his workmanship should spill,
Yet many wondrous things there are beside.
The sweet eye-glaunces, that like arrowes glide,
The charming smiles, that rob sence from the hart,
The lovely pleasance, and the lofty pride,
Cannot expressed be by any art.
A greater craftesmans hand thereto doth neede,
That can expresse the life of things indeed.





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