Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, TO THE LADIE LUCIE, COUNTESSE OF BEDFORD, by AEMILIA (BASSANO) LANYER


Poetry Explorer

Classic and Contemporary Poetry

TO THE LADIE LUCIE, COUNTESSE OF BEDFORD, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: Me thinkes I see faire virtue readie stand
Last Line: May be with his eternall glory crownd.
Alternate Author Name(s): Lanier, Emilia
Subject(s): Lucy, Countess Of Bedford (d. 1627); Virtue


Me thinkes I see faire Virtue readie stand,
T'unlocke the closet of your lovely breast,
Holding the key of Knowledge in her hand,
Key of that Cabbine where your selfe doth rest
To let him in, by whom her youth was blest:
The true-love of your soule, your hearts delight,
Fairer than all the world in your cleare sight.

He that descended from celestiall glory,
To taste of our infirmities and sorrowes,
Whose heavenly wisdom read the earthly storie
Of fraile Humanity, which his godhead borrows;
Loe here he comes all stucke with pale deaths arrows:
In whose most pretious wounds your soule may reade
Salvation, while he (dying Lord) doth bleed.

You whose cleare Judgement farre exceeds my skil,
Vouchsafe to entertaine this dying lover,
The Ocean of true grace, whose streames doe fill
All those with Joy, that can his love recover;
About this blessed Arke bright Angels hover:
Where your faire soule may sure and safely rest,
When he is sweetly seated in your brest.

There may your thoughts as servants to your heart,
Give true attendance on this lovely guest,
While he doth to that blessed bowre impart
Flowres of fresh comforts, decke that bed of rest,
With such rich beauties as may make it blest.
And you in whom all raritie is found,
May be with his eternall glory crownd.





Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!


Other Poems of Interest...
Home: PoetryExplorer.net