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Classic and Contemporary Poetry
POLYHYMNIA: DEDICATION TO THE COUNTESS OF LINDSEY, by WILLIAM BASSE Poet's Biography First Line: This laureat nymph, one of the daughters nine Last Line: While fame has breath her ivory trump to sound. Subject(s): Courts & Courtiers; Daughters; Family Life; Royal Court Life; Royalty; Kings; Queens; Relatives | |||
1. THIS Laureat Nymph, one of the daughters nine Of fruitfull Memory, whose maine delight Is various verse, to honour those who shine In noble deeds, true fame, and vertues bright (And therefore by her Parents both divine By name of Polihymnia stiled right), No more contented with the slender light Of my poore bower, Thus venters to arise Into the rayes of your resplendant eyes. 2. For why, she (like her other sisters) knowes Renowned Ricots garlands still are scene Like to the Bayes that on Pernassus growes, And there shall last eternally as greene: Where Love in friends, and feare in forraigne foes To Norreys name in former dayes, are scene As fresh as if they yesterday had beene: And you (Rare Lady) both in birth and spirit The only heire that all their worthes inherit. 3. Now since the happy humor of this Muse (Happy in choyce of noblenesse so true) Aymes at your vertuous hand, lest she should loose Through my obscuritie the way thereto, She humbly sues that she the light may use Of your bright eyes to lead her unto you Load-star too radiant such prize to view, But noble grace enriches what is poore, The lesse the merit, th' honor is the more. 4. For had not you into this twofold light, Of Muse-befreinding Phbus, and your owne, Commanded them, my slender Poems might In dark obscuritye have slept unknowne. Whence, so by you redeemed, These (as your right, Illustrious Lady) wait on you alone, Their life to lengthen, by depending on Your name and vertues that will live renown'd While Fame has breath her ivory Trump to sound. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...MY AUNT ELLA MAE by MICHAEL S. HARPER THE GOLDEN SHOVEL by TERRANCE HAYES LIZARDS AND SNAKES by ANTHONY HECHT THE BOOK OF A THOUSAND EYES: I LOVE by LYN HEJINIAN CHILD ON THE MARSH by ANDREW HUDGINS MY MOTHER'S HANDS by ANDREW HUDGINS PLAYING DEAD by ANDREW HUDGINS THE GLASS HAMMER by ANDREW HUDGINS INSECT LIFE OF FLORIDA by LYNDA HULL ELEGY ON MR. WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE by WILLIAM BASSE |
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