ROBERT GREENE. 1560-1592. ["Menaphon." 1587.] DORON'S DESCRIPTION OF SAMELA. LIKE to Diana in her summer weed, Girt with a crimson robe of brightest dye, Goes fair Samela; Whiter than be the flocks that straggling feed, When washed by Arethusa faint they lie, Is fair Samela. As fair Aurora in her morning gray, Like lovely Thetis on a calméd day, When as her brightness Neptune's fancy move, Shines fair Samela; Her tresses gold, her eyes like glassy streams, Of fair Samela; Her cheeks, like rose and lily yield forth gleams, Her brows' bright arches framed of ebony; Thus fair Samela Passeth fair Venus in her bravest hue, Pallas in wit; all three, if you well view, For beauty, wit, and matchless dignity Yield to Samela. ["Pandosto. The Triumph of Time." 1588.] THE PRAISE OF FAWNIA. Ah, were she pitiful as she is fair, That seems to melt even with the mildest touch, Then knew I where to seat me in a land, Under wide heavens, but yet (I know) not such. So as she shows, she seems the budding rose, Yet sweeter far than is an earthly flower, Sovereign of beauty, like the spray she grows, Compassed she is with thorns and cankered flower, Yet were she willing to be plucked and worn, She would be gathered, though she grew on thorn. Ah, when she sings, all music else be still, She comforts all the world as doth the sun, O glorious sun, imagine me the west, Shine in my arms, and set thou in my breast! SAMUEL DANIEL. 1562-1619. DELIA. THE biographers of Daniel have not been able to ascertain the name of the lady who was his first love, and whom he celebrated under the poetical name of Delia. We learn from the sonnets that she lived on the River Avon, ("But Avon, poor in fame and poor in waters, Shall have my songs, where Delia hath her seat,") and that his love was not returned. He married Justina Florio, the sister of John Florio, a noted philologist of the time- -the Holofernes of Shakespeare's "Love's LABOUR LOST." Daniel's sonnets were published in 1592. Unto the boundless ocean of thy beauty, Runs this poor river, charged with streams of zeal, Returning thee the tribute of my duty, Which here my love, my youth, my plaints reveal. Here I unclasp the book of my charged soul, Where I have cast th' accounts of all my care: Here have I summed my sighs; here I enroll Look on the dear expences of my youth, And see how just I reckon with thine eyes: Fair is my love, and cruel as she's fair; Her brow shades frowns, although her eyes are sunny; Her smiles are lightning, though her pride despair; And her disdains are gall, her favours honey. A modest maid, decked with a blush of honour; Whose feet do tread green paths of youth and love; The wonder of all eyes that look upon her; Sacred on earth; designed a saint above! Chastity and beauty, which were deadly foes, Live reconciléd friends within her brow: And had she pity to conjoin with those, Then who had heard the plaints I utter now? For had she not been fair, and thus unkind, My muse had slept, and none had known my mind. Restore thy tresses to the golden ore; Yield Citherea's son those arks of love: And thy sweet voice give back unto the spheres: Look, Delia, how w' esteem the half-blown rose, No sooner spreads her glory in the air, But straight her wide-blown pomp comes to decline; She then is scorned that late adorned the fair: Whose springing grace adorns thy glory now; But love whilst that thou may'st be loved again, Now whilst that May hath filled thy lap with flowers; And whilst thou spread'st unto the rising sun, And that thy brightness sets at length to West, When thou wilt close up that which now thou show'st, And think the fame becomes thy fading best, Which then shall most inveil and shadow most. Men do not weigh the stalk for what it was, When men shall find thy flower, thy glory pass, Though spent thy flame, in me the heat remaining: That fire can burn when all the matter's spent: |