Classic and Contemporary Poetry
POLYHYMNIA: VERSES TO LORD NORREYS, SELECTION, by WILLIAM BASSE Poet's Biography First Line: O true nobilitie, and rightly grac'd Last Line: Appearance. Subject(s): Courts & Courtiers; Norreys, Francis. 3d Lord (1574-1603); Royal Court Life; Royalty; Kings; Queens | ||||||||
5. O TRUE nobilitie, and rightly grac'd With all the jewels that on thee depend; Where goodnesse doth w greatnesse live embraced, And outward stiles on inward worth attend; Where ample lands in ample hands are plac'd, And ancient deeds with ancient coats descend: Where noble bloud combin'd with noble spirit Forefathers fames doth, with their formes, inherit: 6. Where ancestors examples are perus'd Not in large tomes or costly tombs alone, But in their heires; and, being dayly us'd, Are (like their robes) more honourable growne: Where Loyalty with Piety is infus'd, And publique rights are cherished w@5th their owne; Where worth still finds respect; good friend, good word; Desart, reward. And such is Ricot's Lord. 7. But what make I (vaine voyce) in midst of all The Quires that have already sung the fame Of this great House, and those that henceforth shall (As that will last) for ever sing the same? But if on me my garland justly fall, I justly owe my musique to this name: For he unlawfully usurps the Bayes, That has not sung in noble Norrey's prayse. 8. In playne (my honour'd Lord) I was not borne, Audacious vowes, or forraigne legs,^1^ to use; Nature denyed my outside to adorne, And I of art to learne outsides refuse. Yet, haveing of them both enough to scorne Silence & vulgar prayse, this humble Muse, And her meane favourite, at yo@5r command Chose, in this kinde, to kisse your noble hand. ^FOOTNOTE^ ^1^ "Forraigne legs," i.e., gestures of courtesy. Cf. Sword and Buckler, st. 5, p. 10, "a legging foote," and st. 63, p. 26. This stanza, if it may be trusted, affords us the only hint we have of Basse's personal appearance. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...BOTHWELL: PART 4 by WILLIAM EDMONSTOUNE AYTOUN IN PHARAOH'S TOMB by HAYDEN CARRUTH FOR THE INVESTITURE by CECIL DAY LEWIS ELEGY ASKING THAT IT BE THE LAST; FOR INGRID ERHARDT, 1951-1971 by NORMAN DUBIE L,ENVOI: IN OUR TIME by ERNEST HEMINGWAY VASHTI by JAMES WELDON JOHNSON LINES ON CARMEN SYLVA by EMMA LAZARUS TO CARMEN SYLVA (QUEEN OF ROUMANIA) by EMMA LAZARUS ELEGY ON MR. WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE by WILLIAM BASSE |
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