| Seccombe and Arber, comps. Elizabethan Sonnets. 1904. | | | | Parthenophil and Parthenophe | | Sonnet XLVIII. I wish no rich refined Arabian gold! | | Barnabe Barnes (1569?–1609) |
| | | I WISH no rich refined Arabian gold! | |
| Nor orient Indian pearl, rare Nature’s wonder! | |
| No diamonds, th’ Egyptian surges under! | |
| No rubies of America, dear sold! | |
| Nor saphires, which rich Afric sands enfold! | 5 |
| (Treasures far distant, from this isle asunder) | |
| Barbarian ivories, in contempt I hold! | |
| But only this; this only, VENUS, grant! | |
| That I, my sweet PARTHENOPHE may get! | |
| Her hairs, no grace of golden wires want; | 10 |
| Pure pearls, with perfect rubines are inset; | |
| True diamonds, in eyes; saphires, in veins: | |
| Nor can I, that soft ivory skin forget! | |
| England, in one small subject, such contains! | | | | |
|
|
