Caelica: Sonnet 22

Caelica: Sonnet 22

Original Text
Fulke Greville, Lord Brooke, Certaine Learned and Elegant Works (London: Seyle, 1633). AR Fisher Rare Book Library (Toronto). Also Delmar: Scholars' Facsimiles and Reprints, 1990. PR 2215 C5 1990 Robarts Library
2    I, that ware posies of her own hand-making,
4    By Myra finely wrought ere I was waking:
5        Must I look on, in hope time coming may
6        With change bring back my turn again to play?
7I, that on Sunday at the church-stile found
8    A garland sweet, with true-love knots in flowers,
9Which I to wear about mine arm was bound,
10    That each of us might know that all was ours:
11        Must I now lead an idle life in wishes,
12        And follow Cupid for his loaves and fishes?
13I, that did wear the ring her mother left,
14    I, for whose love she gloried to be blamed,
15I, with whose eyes her eyes committed theft,
16    I, who did make her blush when I was named:
17        Must I lose ring, flowers, blush, theft, and go naked,
18        Watching with sighs till dead love be awaked?
20    Like jealousy o'erwatched with desire,
21Was even warned modesty to keep,
22    While her breath, speaking, kindled Nature's fire:
23        Must I look on a-cold, while others warm them?
25Was it for this that I might Myra see
26    Washing the water with her beauties white?
27Yet would she never write her love to me.
28    Thinks wit of change, while thoughts are in delight?
29        Mad girls must safely love as they may leave;
30        No man can print a kiss: lines may deceive.

Notes

1] A cycle of 110 poems, first published in Certain Learned and Elegant Works (1633), but according to the title page "written in his youth and familiar exercise with Sir Philip Sidney," who died in 1586. Some of the poems in the cycle were certainly written much later. Back to Line
3] in the chimneys: alluding to the custom of writing a lover's name in the soot. Back to Line
19] Argus: the hundred-eyed guardian of Io, made drowsy by the notes of Hermes' flute, and then killed. Back to Line
24] Vulcan's brothers: Vulcan, the god of fire, detected an intrigue between his wife Venus, and Mars, by means of a net. Back to Line
Publication Start Year
1633
RPO poem Editors
N. J. Endicott
RPO Edition
2RP.1.178; RPO 1996-2000.
Rhyme