Michael Drayton (1563-1631). Bright Star of Beauty. William Stanley Braithwaite, ed. 1907. The Book of Elizabethan Verse

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William Stanley Braithwaite, ed. The Book of Elizabethan Verse. 1907.

Bright Star of Beauty

By Michael Drayton (1563–1631)


To the Lady L. S. BRIGHT star of beauty, on whose eye-lids sit
A thousand nymph-like and enamoured graces,
The goddesses of memory and wit,
Which in due order 1 take their several places;
In whose dear bosom, sweet, delicious Love	5
Lays down his quiver, that he once did bear;
Since he that blessed paradise did prove,
Forsook his mother’s 2 lap to sport him there.
Let others strive to entertain with words,
My soul is of another temper made; 3	10
I hold it vile that vulgar wit affords,
Devouring time my faith 4 shall not invade:
Still let my praise be honoured thus by you, 5
Be you most worthy, whilst I be most true.

Note 1. Which in due order: then in order. [back]

Note 2. Forsook his mother’s: and leaves his mother’s. [back]

Note 3. Of another temper made: of braver mettle made. [back]

Note 4. Devouring time my faith: in me’s that faith. [back]

Note 5. Still let my praise be honoured thus by you: let what I praise, be still be made good by you. On whose eye-lids sit, etc. “Cf. Spenser, Faery Queene, ii., 3, 25: ‘Upon her eye-lids many graces sat…. working belgards and amorous retrate.’” Cf. also Ford and Dekker’s The Sun’s Darling, act iii. Sc. 2. “I am indebted for these parallels to Professor Kittredge.” (Prof. Schelling, A Book of Elizabethan Lyrics.) [back]

CONTENTS · GLOSSARY · BIBLIOGRAPHIC RECORD

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