WHEN AS IN SILKS MY JULIA GOES.
WHENAS in silks my Julia goes Then, then (methinks) how sweetly flows That liquefaction of her clothes.
Next, when I cast mine eyes and see That brave vibration each way free; O, how that glittering taketh me!
A third, nor red nor white, had stol'n of both, And to this robbery had annexed thy breath; But, for his theft, in pride of all his growth A vengeful canker eat him up to death. More flowers I noted, yet I none could see, But sweet or color it had stolen from thee.
I DO NOT LOVE THEE FOR THAT FAIR.
I Do not love thee for that fair Rich fan of thy most curious hair, Though the wires thereof be drawn Finer than the threads of lawn, And are softer than the leaves On which the subtle spider weaves.
I do not love thee for those flowers Growing on thy cheeks, -loye's bowers, Though such cunning them hath spread, None can paint them white and red. Love's golden arrows thence are shot, Yet for them I love thee not.
I do not love thee for those soft Red coral lips I 've kissed so oft; Nor teeth of pearl, the double guard To speech whence music still is heard, Though from those lips a kiss being taken Might tyrants melt, and death awaken.
I do not love thee, O my fairest, For that richest, for that rarest
Silver pillar, which stands under
Thy sound head, that globe of wonder;
Though that neck be whiter far Than towers of polished ivory are.
'THE FORWARD VIOLET THUS DID I
GIVE place, ye lovers, here before
That spent your boasts and brags in vain ; My lady's beauty passeth more
The best of yours, I dare well sayen, Than doth the sun the candle-light,
Or brightest day the darkest night.
And thereto hath a troth as just As had Penelope the fair; For what she saith, ye may it trust,
As it by writing sealed were: And virtues hath she many mo' Than I with pen have skill to show.
I could rehearse, if that I would,
The whole effect of Nature's plaint, When she had lost the perfect mould,
The like to whom she could not paint: With wringing hands, how she did cry, And what she said, I know it aye.
I know she swore with raging mind, Her kingdom only set apart, There was no loss by law of kind
That could have gone so near her heart;
And this was chiefly all her pain; "She could not make the like again."
Sith Nature thus gave her the praise, To be the chiefest work she wrought, In faith, methink, some better ways On your behalf might well be sought, Than to compare, as ye have done, To match the candle with the sun.
WHEN IN THE CHRONICLE OF WASTED But 't is easy to be seen in the coldness of your
WHEN in the chronicle of wasted time I see descriptions of the fairest wights, And beauty making beautiful old rhyme,
In praise of ladies dead, and lovely knights ; Then, in the blazon of sweet beauty's best Of hand, of foot, of lip, of eye, of brow, I see their antique pen would have expressed Even such a beauty as you master now. So all their praises are but prophecies Of this our time, all you prefiguring; And, for they looked but with divining eyes, They had not skill enough your worth to sing; For we, which now behold these present days, Have eyes to wonder, but lack tongues to praise.
That you doubt my affection or scorn it.
Not a single grain of sense is in the whole of these pretences
For rejecting your lover's petitions ; Had I windows in my bosom, O how gladly I'd
To undo your fantastic suspicions.
You repeat I've known you long, and you hint I do you wrong,
In beginning so late to pursue ye; But 't is folly to look glum because people did not
In a grapery one walks without looking at the stalks,
While the bunches are green that they're bearing:
All the pretty little leaves that are dangling at the
Scarce attract e'en a moment of staring.
But when time has swelled the grapes to a richer | Her lively looks a sprightly mind disclose,
SHE was a phantom of delight When first she gleamed upon my sight; A lovely apparition, sent
To be a moment's ornament; Her eyes as stars of twilight fair; Like Twilight's, too, her dusky hair; But all things else about her drawn From May-time and the cheerful dawn; A dancing shape, an image gay, To haunt, to startle, and waylay.
I saw her upon nearer view, A spirit, yet a woman too!
Her household motions light and free, And steps of virgin-liberty;
A countenance in which did meet Sweet records, promises as sweet; A creature not too bright or good For human nature's daily food, For transient sorrows, simple wiles,
Praise, blame, love, kisses, tears, and smiles.
And now I see with eye serene The very pulse of the machine ;
A being breathing thoughtful breath, A traveller between life and death: The reason firm, the temperate will, Endurance, foresight, strength, and skill; A perfect woman, nobly planned To warn, to comfort, and command; And yet a spirit still, and bright With something of an angel-light.
On her white breast a sparkling cross she wore, Which Jews might kiss, and Infidels adore,
Quick as her eyes, and as unfixed as those : Favors to none, to all she smiles extends : Oft she rejects, but never once offends. Bright as the sun, her eyes the gazers strike, And, like the sun, they shine on all alike. Yet, graceful ease, and sweetness void of pride, Might hide her faults, if belles had faults te hide;
If to her share some female errors fall, Look on her face, and you 'll forget them all.
IF IT BE TRUE THAT ANY BEAUTEOUS THING.
IF it be true that any beauteous thing Raises the pure and just desire of man From earth to God, the eternal fount of all, Such I believe my love; for as in her So fair, in whom I all besides forget, I view the gentle work of her Creator, I have no care for any other thing, Whilst thus I love. Nor is it marvellous, Since the effect is not of my own power, If the soul doth, by nature tempted forth, Enamored through the eyes,
Repose upon the eyes which it resembleth, And through them riseth to the Primal Love, As to its end, and honors in admiring;
For who adores the Maker needs must love his work.
MICHAEL ANGELO (Italian). Translation of J. E. TAYLOR.
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