| |
| WHEN I did think to write of war, | |
| And martial chiefdens of the field, | |
| DIANA did enforce to yield | |
| My Muse to praise the Western Star! | |
| But PALLAS did my purpose bar, | 5 |
| My Muse as too weak, it to wield! | |
| |
| ELIZA’s praises were too high! | |
| Divinest Wits have done their best! | |
| And yet the most have provèd least; | |
| Such was her Sacred Majesty! | 10 |
| Love’s Pride! Grace to Virginity! | |
| O could my Muse, in her praise rest! | |
| |
| VENUS directed me to write | |
| The praise of peerless Beauty’s Wonder! | |
| A theme more fit for voice of thunder! | 15 |
| PARTHENOPHE, from whose eyes bright, | |
| Ten thousand Graces dared my might, | |
| And willed me, five degrees write under! | |
| |
| But yet her Fancy wrought so much, | |
| That my Muse did, her praise adventure! | 20 |
| Wherein, of yore, it durst not enter. | |
| And now her beauty gives that touch | |
| Unto my Muse, in number such; | |
| Which makes me more and more repent her! | |
| |
