SONNETS. I. [TO THE NIGHTINGALE.] O NIGHTINGALE that on yon bloomy spray First heard before the shallow cuckoo's bill, Foretell my hopeless doom, in some grove nigh; Whether the Muse or Love call thee his mate, II. [ON HIS HAVING ARRIVED AT THE AGE OF TWENTY-THREE.] How soon hath Time, the subtle thief of youth, Stolen on his wing my three-and-twentieth year! But my late spring no bud or blossom shew'th. That I to manhood am arrived so near; It shall be still in strictest measure even As ever in my great Task-Master's eye. III. DONNA leggiadra, il cui bel nome onora De' sui atti soavi giammai parco, E i don', che son d' amor saette ed arco, Là onde l'alta tua virtù s' infiora. Quando tu vaga parli, o lieta canti, Che mover possa duro alpestre legno, Guardi ciascun agli occhi ed agli orecchi L'entrata chi di te si truova indegno; Grazia sola di sù gli vaglia, innanti Che'l disio amoroso al cuor s' invecchi. IV. QUAL in colle aspro, all' imbrunir di sera, Va bagnando l' erbetta strana e bella Così Amor meco insù la lingua snella Desta il fior novo di strania favella, Mentre io di te, vezzosamente altera, Canto, dal mio buon popol non inteso, E'l bel Tamigi cangio col bell' Arno. Deh! foss' il mio cuor lento e 'l duro seno CANZONE. RIDONSI donne e giovani amorosi Spuntati ad or ad or alla tua chioma L'immortal guiderdon d'eterne frondi. Canzon, dirotti, e tu per me rispondi : 66 V. DIODATI (e te 'l dirò con maraviglia), Quel ritroso io, ch' amor spreggiar solea Già caddi, ov' uom dabben talor ş' impiglia. Nè treccie d'oro nè guancia vermiglia M' abbaglian sì, ma sotto nova idea Pellegrina bellezza che 'l cuor bea, Portamenti alti onesti, e nelle ciglia Quel sereno fulgor d' amabil nero, Parole adorne di lingua più d'una, E degli occhi suoi avventa sì gran fuoco VI. PER certo i bei vostr' occhi, Donna mia, Da quel lato si spinge ove mi duole, Scossomi il petto, e poi n' uscendo poco Quivi d' attorno o s'agghiaccia o s'ingiela; Ma quanto agli occhi giunge a trovar loco Tutte le notti a me suol far piovose, Finchè mia alba rivien colma di rose. VII. GIOVANE, piano, e semplicetto amante, Poichè fuggir me stesso in dubbio sono, N N L'ebbi fedele, intrepido, costante, Di pensieri leggiadro, accorto, e buono. Tanto del forse e d' invidia sicuro, Di timori, e speranze al popol use, E di cetra sonora, e delle Muse. Sol troverete in tal parte men duro VIII. WHEN THE ASSAULT WAS INTENDED TO THE CITY. CAPTAIN or Colonel, or Knight in Arms, Whose chance on these defenceless doors may seize, Guard them, and him within protect from harms. That call fame on such gentle acts as these, And he can spread thy name o'er lands and seas, Whatever clime the sun's bright circle warms. Lift not thy spear against the Muses' bower: The great Emathian conqueror bid spare The house of Pindarus, when temple and tower Went to the ground; and the repeated air Of sad Electra's poet had the power To save the Athenian walls from ruin bare. IX. [TO A VIRTUOUS YOUNG LADY.] LADY, that in the prime of earliest youth Wisely hast shunned the broad way and the green, And with those few art eminently seen That labour up the hill of heavenly Truth, The better part with Mary and with Ruth Chosen thou hast; and they that overween, And at thy growing virtues fret their spleen, No anger find in thee, but pity and ruth. Thy care is fixed, and zealously attends To fill thy odorous lamp with deeds of light, And hope that reaps not shame. Therefore be sure Thou, when the Bridegroom with his feastful friends Passes to bliss at the mid-hour of night, Hast gained thy entrance, Virgin wise and pure. 547 X. TO THE LADY MARGARET LEY. DAUGHTER to that good Earl, once President Who lived in both unstained with gold or fee, Broke him, as that dishonest victory Killed with report that old man eloquent, XI. ON THE DETRACTION WHICH FOLLOWED UPON MY WRITING CERTAIN TREATISES. A BOOK was writ of late called Tetrachordon, And woven close, both matter, form, and style; Stand spelling false, while one might walk to Mile- Those rugged names to our like mouths grow sleek Thy age, like ours, O soul of Sir John Cheek, Hated not learning worse than toad or asp, When thou taught'st Cambridge and King Edward Greek. XII. ON THE SAME. I DID but prompt the age to quit their clogs When straight a barbarous noise environs me |