Upon your bridal day, which is not long: Sweet Thames! run softly, till I end my song." ΙΙΟ So ended she; and all the rest around So forth those joyous birds did pass along, Yet did by signs his glad affection show, And all the fowl which in his flood did dwell And their best service lend, Against their wedding day, which was not long: Sweet Thames! run softly, till I end my Whose dreadful name late through all Spain did thunder, And Hercules' two pillars standing near Fair branch of honour, flower of chivalry! 150 That through thy prowess and victorious arms Which some brave muse may sing 160 Upon the bridal day, which is not long: Sweet Thames! run softly, till I end my song. From those high towers this noble lord issuing, Above the rest were goodly to be seen That like the twins of Jove they seemed in sight, Which deck the baldrick of the heavens bright; They two, forth pacing to the river's side, Received those two fair brides, their love's Either by chance, against the course of kind, Or through unaptness in the substance found, Which it assumed of some stubborn ground, That will not yield unto her form's direction, But is deformed with some foul imperfection. 150 And oft it falls (ay me, the more to rue!) Yet nathemore is that fair beauty's blame, May be corrupt, and wrested unto will: FROM AN HYMN OF HEAVENLY BEAUTY 160 You that do search for every purling spring Near thereabouts, into your poesie wring; 1 You take wrong ways; those far-fet 2 helps be such As do bewray a want of inward touch,3 ΙΟ And sure, at length stol'n goods do come to light: But if, both for your love and skill, your name You seek to nurse at fullest breasts of Fame, Stella behold, and then begin to endite. XXXI With how sad steps, O Moon, thou climb'st the skies! How silently, and with how wan a face! What, may it be that even in heav'nly place That busy archer 4 his sharp arrows tries! Sure, if that long-with-love-acquainted eyes Can judge of love, thou feel'st a lover's case, I read it in thy looks; thy languished grace, 1 force 2 far-fetched 3 feeling 4 Cupid Apollo great, whose beams the greater world do light, And in our little world do clear our inward sight, Which ever shine, though hid from earth by earthly shade, Whose lights do ever live, but in our darkness fade; Thou god whose youth was decked with spoil of Python's skin 5 (So humble knowledge can throw down the snakish sin); Latona's son, whose birth in pain and travail long Doth teach, to learn the good what travails do belong; In travail of our life (a short but tedious space), While brickle hour-glass runs, guide thou our panting pace: ΙΟ Give us foresightful minds; give us minds to obey What foresight tells; our thoughts upon thy knowledge stay. Let so our fruits grow up that Nature be maintained, But so our hearts keep down, with vice they be not stained. Let this assuréd hold our judgments overtake, That nothing wins the heaven but what doth earth forsake. 16 1 brittle |