A Praise of His Love

Wherein He Reproveth Them That Compare Their Ladies With His

Original Text

Songes and Sonettes (London: R. Tottel, 1557). Facs. edn. (Leeds: Scolar, 1966). PR 1205 T6 1966 Victoria College Library

1Give place, ye lovers, here before

2That spent your boasts and brags in vain;

3My lady's beauty passeth more

4The best of yours, I dare well sayn,

5Than doth the sun the candle-light,

6Or brightest day the darkest night.

9For what she saith, ye may it trust,

10As it by writing sealed were;

12Than I with pen have skill to show.

13I could rehearse, if that I wold,

14The whole effect of Nature's plaint,

15When she had lost the perfit mould,

16The like to whom she could not paint;

17With wringing hands, how she did cry,

18And what she said, I know it, I.

19I know she swore with raging mind,

20Her kingdom only set apart,

22That could have gone so near her heart;

23And this was chiefly all her pain;

24She could not make the like again.

25Sith Nature thus gave her the praise,

26To be the chiefest work she wrought;

27In faith, methink, some better ways

28On your behalf might well be sought,

29Than to compare, as ye have done,

30To match the candle with the sun.

7] troth: truth, honour, trustworthiness. Back to Line

8] Penelope: wife of Ulysses and classic illustration of domestic faithfulness. Back to Line

11] mo: more. Back to Line

21] kind: nature. Back to Line

Publication Start Year

1557

RPO poem Editors

N. J. Endicott

RPO Edition

2RP 1.89.

Rhyme