Edmund Spenser Important RTC IGNOU MEG 01 British Poetry

 

 Important RTC

1 Ye learned sisters which have oftentimes

Beene to me ayding, others to adorne:

Whom ye thought worthy of your gracefull rymes,

That even the greatest did not greatly scorne

To heare theyr names sung in your simple layes,

But joyed in theyr prayse

 

 

2 Now lay those sorrowfull complaints aside,

And having all your heads with girland crownd,

Helpe me mine owne loves prayses to resound,

Ne let the same of any be envide:

So Orpheus did for his owne bride,

So I unto my selfe alone will sing,

The woods shall to me answer and my Eccho ring

 

3 Bring with you all the Nymphes that you can heare

Both of the rivers and the forrests greene:

And of the sea that neighbours to her neare,

Al with gay girlands goodly wel beseene.

And let them also with them bring in hand

Another gay girland

 

4 Wake, now my love, awake; for it is time,

The Rosy Morne long since left Tithones bed,

All ready to her silver coche to clyme,

And Phoebus gins to shew his glorious hed.

Hark how the cheerefull birds do chaunt theyr laies

And carroll of loves praise.

 

 

Like as a ship, that through the ocean wide,

By conduct of some star, doth make her way,
Whenas a storm hath dimmed her trusty guide,
Out of her course doth wander far astray:
So I, whose star, that wont with her bright ray
Me to direct, with clouds is overcast,
Do wander now, in darkness and dismay,

 

 

Like as a huntsman after weary chase,

Seeing the game from him escap'd away,

Sits down to rest him in some shady place,

With panting hounds beguiled of their prey:

So after long pursuit and vain assay

 

Exceeding sweet, yet voyd of sinfull vice,

    That many sought yet none could ever taste,
    sweet fruit of pleasure brought from paradice
    By love himselfe and in his garden plaste.

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