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THE FAERIE QUEENE: DEDICATORY SONNET TO.. SIR WALTER RALEIGH by EDMUND SPENSER

Poet Analysis

First Line: TO THEE THAT ART THE SOMMERS NIGHTINGALE
Last Line: LET THY FAIRE CINTHIAS PRAISES BEE THUS RUDELY SHOWNE.
Subject(s): RALEIGH, SIR WALTER (1552-1618);
TO THE RIGHT NOBLE AND VALOROUS
KNIGHT, SIR WALTER RALEIGH,
LORD WARDEIN OF THE STANNERYES,
AND LIEFTENAUNT
OF CORNEWAILE

To thee that art the sommers Nightingale,
Thy soveraine Goddesses most deare delight,
Why doe I send this rusticke madrigale,
That may thy tunefull eare unseason quite?
Thou onely fit this argument to write,
In whose high thoughts Pleasure hath built her bowre,
And dainty Love learnd sweetly to endite.
My rimes I know unsavory and sowre,
To tast the streames, that like a golden showre
Flow from thy fruitfull head, of thy loves praise;
Fitter perhaps to thonder martiall stowre,
When so thee list thy lofty Muse to raise:
Yet till that thou thy poeme wilt make knowne,
Let thy faire Cinthias praises bee thus rudely showne.



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