He draws a curtaine and discovers Bethsabe with her maid, bathing over a spring. She sings, and David sits above, viewing her. Hot sun, cool fire, tempered with sweet air, Black shade, fair nurse, shadow my white hair. Shine, sun; burn, fire; breathe, air, and ease me; Black shade, fair nurse, shroud me and please me. Shadow, my sweet nurse, keep...Learn More

Not Iris in her pride and bravery Adorns her arch with such variety; Nor doth the Milk-white Way in frosty night Appear so fair and beautiful in sight, As do these fields and groves and sweetest bowers Bestrewed and decked with parti-coloured flowers. Along the bubbling brooks and silver glide, That at the bottom doth in silence slide, The...Learn More

His golden locks time hath to silver turn'd; O time too swift, O swiftness never ceasing! His youth 'gainst time and age hath ever spurn'd, But spurn'd in vain; youth waneth by increasing: Beauty, strength, youth, are flowers but fading seen; Duty, faith, love, are roots, and ever green. His helmet now shall make a hive for bees; And lovers'...Learn More

[Polyhymnia: Describing, The honourable Triumph at Tylt, before her Maiestie, on the 17. of Nouember, last past, being the first day of the three and thirtith yeare of her Highnesse raigne. With Sir Henrie Lea, his resignation of honour at Tylt, to her Maiestie, and receiued by the right honourable, the Earle of Cumberland.] [Polyhimnia....Learn More

Oenone: Fair and fair, and twice so fair, As fair as any may be; The fairest shepherd on our green, A love for any lady. Paris: Fair and fair, and twice so fair, As fair as any may be; Thy love is fair for thee alone And for no other lady. Oenone: My love is fair, my love is gay, As fresh as bin the flowers in May And of my love my...Learn More

His golden locks Time hath to silver turned.  O Time too swift! Oh swiftness never ceasing! His youth 'gainst Time and Age hath ever spurned,  But spurned in vain; youth waneth by increasing. Beauty, strength, youth are flowers but fading seen; Duty, faith, love are roots and ever green. His helmet now shall make a hive for bees,  And...Learn More

His golden locks Time hath to silver turn'd;          O Time too swift, O swiftness never ceasing! His youth 'gainst time and age hath ever spurn'd,          But spurn'd in vain; youth waneth by increasing: Beauty, strength, youth, are flowers but fading seen; Duty, faith, love, are...Learn More

O Gentle Love, ungentle for thy deed, Thou makest my heart A bloody mark With piercing shot to bleed. Shoot soft, sweet Love, for fear thou shoot amiss, For fear too keen Thy arrows been, And hist the heart where my beloved is. Too fair that fortune were, nor never I Shall be so blest, Among the rest, That Love shall seize on her by sympathy. Then...Learn More

Melpomene, the muse of tragic songs, With mournful tunes, in stole of dismal hue, Assist a silly nymph to wail her woe, And leave thy lusty company behind. Thou luckless wreath! becomes not me to wear The poplar tree for triumph of my love: Then as my joy, my pride of love, is left, Be thou unclothed of thy lovely green; And in thy leaves my...Learn More

Hot sun, cool fire, tempered with sweet air, Black shade, fair nurse, shadow my white hair. Shine, sun; burn fire; breathe, air, and ease me; Black shade, fair nurse, shroud me and please me; Shadow, my sweet nurse, keep me from burning, Make not my glad cause cause of mourning. Let not my beauty's fire Inflame unstaid desire, Nor pierce any bright...Learn More