Sonnets Sonets.

[Son. 1] I T t was the time when rest the gift of Gods Sweetely sliding into the eyes of men, Doth drowne in the forgetfulnesse of slepe, The carefull trauailes travailes of the painefull day: Then did a ghost appeare before mine eyes On that great riuers rivers banke that runnes by Rome, And calling me then by my propre name, He bade me vpwarde upwarde vnto unto heauen heaven looke. He cride to me, and loe (quod he) beholde, What vnder under this great Temple is containde, Loe all is nought but flying vanitie. So I knowing the worldes vnstedfastnesse unstedfastnesse , Sith onely God surmountes the force of tyme, In God alone do stay my confidence.

Sonets.

[Son. 2] O N n hill, a frame an hundred cubites hie I sawe, an hundred pillers eke about, All of fine Diamant decking the front, And fashiond were they all in Dorike wise. Of bricke, ne yet of marble was the wall, But shining Christall, which from top to base Out of deepe vaute threw forth a thousand rayes Vpon Upon an hundred steps of purest golde. Golde was the parget: and the sielyng eke Did shine all scaly with fine golden plates. The floore was Iaspis Jaspis , and of Emeraude. O worldes vainenesse. A sodein earthquake loe, Shaking the hill euen even from the bottome deepe, Threwe downe this building to the lowest stone. C.j.

Sonets.

[Son. 3] T Hen hen did appeare to me a sharped spire Of diamant, ten feete eche way in square, Iustly Justly proportionde vp up vnto unto his height, So hie as mought an Archer reache with sight. Vpon Upon the top therof was set a pot Made of the mettall that we honour most. And in this golden vessell couched were The ashes of a mightie Emperour. Vpon Upon foure corners of the base there lay To beare the frame, foure great Lions of golde. A worthie tombe for such a worthie corps. Alas, nought in this worlde but griefe endures. A sodaine tempest from the heauen heaven , I saw, With flushe stroke downe this noble monument. C.ij.

Sonets.

[Son. 4] I Saw saw raisde vp up on pillers of Iuorie Ivorie , Whereof the bases were of richest golde, The chapters Alabaster, Christall frises, The double front of a triumphall arke. On eche side portraide was a victorie, victorie. With golden wings in habite of a Nymph, Nymph. And set on hie vpon upon triumphing chaire, The auncient glorie of the Romane lordes. The worke did shewe it selfe not wrought by man But rather made by his owne skilfull hande That forgeth thunder dartes for Ioue Jove his sire. Let me no more see faire thing vnder under heauen heaven , Sith I haue have seene so faire a thing as this, With sodaine falling broken all to dust. C.iij.

Sonets.

[Son. 5] T Hen hen I behelde the faire Dodonian tree, Vpon Upon seuen seven hilles throw forth his gladsome shade, shadc, And Conquerers bedecked with his leaues leaves Along the bankes of the Italian streame. There many auncient Trophees were erect, Many a spoile, and many goodly signes, To shewe the greatnesse of the stately race, That erst descended from the Troian Trojan bloud. Rauisht Ravisht I was to see so rare a thing, When barbarous villaines in disordred heape, Outraged the honour of these noble bowes. I hearde the tronke to grone vnder under the wedge. And since I saw the roote in hie disdaine Sende forth againe a twinne of forked trees. C.iiij.

Sonets.

[Son. 6] I Saw saw the birde that dares beholde the Sunne, With feeble flight venture to mount to heauen heaven , By more and more she gan to trust hir wings, Still folowing th’example of hir damme: I saw hir rise, and with a larger flight Surmount the toppes euen even of the hiest hilles, And pierce the cloudes, and with hir wings to reache The place where is the temple of the Gods. Gods, There was she lost, and sodenly I saw Where tombling through the aire in lompe of fire, All flaming downe she fell vpon upon the plaine. I saw hir bodie turned all to dust, And saw the foule that shunnes the cherefull light Out of hir ashes as a worme arise. C.v.

Sonets.

[Son. 7] T Hen hen all astonned with this nightly ghost, I saw an hideous body big and strong, Long was his beard, and side did hang his hair, A grisly forehed and Saturnelike face. Leaning against the belly of a pot He shed a water, whose outgushing streame Ran flowing all along the creekie shoare Where once the Troyan Duke with Turnus fought. And at his feete a bitch Wolfe did giue give sucke To two yong babes. In his right hand he bare The tree of peace, in left the conquering Palme, His head was garnisht with the Laurel bow. Then sodenly the Palme and Oliue Olive fell, And faire greene Laurel witherd vp up and dide.

Sonets.

[Son. 8] H Ard ard by a riuers rivers side, a wailing Nimphe, Folding hir armes with thousand sighs to heauẽ heauen heavẽ heaven Did tune hir plaint to falling riuers rivers sound, Renting hir faire visage and golden haire, Where is (quod she) this whilome honored face? Where is thy glory and the auncient praise, Where all worldes hap was reposed, When erst of Gods and man I worshipt was? Alas, suffisde it not that ciuile civile bate Made me the spoile and bootie of the world, But this new Hydra mete to be assailde Euen Even by an hundred such as Hercules, With seuen seven springing heds of monstrous crimes, So many Neroes and Caligulaes Must still bring forth to rule this croked shore? shore.

Sonets.

[Son. 9] VP UP Vp Up a hill I saw a kindled flame, Mounting like waues waves with triple point to heauen heaven , Which of incense of precious Ceder tree With Balmelike odor did perfume the aire. A bird all white, well fetherd on hir winges Hereout did flie vp up to the throne of Gods, And singing with most plesant melodie She climbed vp up to heauen heaven in the smoke. Of this faire fire the faire dispersed rayes Threw forth abrode a thousand shining leames, When sodain dropping of a golden shoure Gan quench the glystering flame. O greuous grevous chaunge! That which erstwhile so pleasaunt scent did yelde, Of Sulphure now did breathe corrupted smel.

Sonets.

[Son. 10] I Saw saw a fresh spring rise out of a rocke, Clere as Christall against the Sunny beames, The bottome yellow like the shining sh ning sand, land, That golden Pactol driues drives vpon upon the plaine. It seemed that arte and nature striued strived to ioyne joyne There in one place all pleasures of the eye. There was to heare a noise alluring slepe Of many accordes more swete than Mermaids song, The seates and benches shone as Iuorie Ivorie , An hundred Nymphes sate side by side about, When from nie hilles a naked rout of Faunes With hideous cry assembled on the place, Which with their feete vncleane uncleane the water fouled, Threw down the seats, & and droue drove the Nimphs to flight. D.j.

Sonets.

[Son. 11] A T t length, euen even at the time when Morpheus Most truely doth appeare vnto unto our eyes, Wearie to see th’inconstance of the heauens heavens : I saw the great Typhæus sister come, Hir head full brauely bravely with a morian armed, In maiestie majestie she seemde to matche the Gods. And on the shore, harde by a violent streame, She raisde a Trophee ouer over all the worlde. An hundred vanquisht kings gronde at hir feete, Their armes in shamefull wise bounde at their backes. While I was with so dreadfull sight afrayde, I saw the heauens heavens warre against hir tho, And seing hir striken fall with clap of thunder, With so great noyse I start in sodaine wonder. D.ij.

Sonets.

[Son. 12] I Saw saw an vgly ugly beast come from the sea, That seuen seven heads, ten crounes, ten hornes did beare, Hauing Having theron the vile blaspheming name. The cruell Leopard she resembled much: Feete of a beare, a Lions throte she had. The mightie Dragon gaue gave to hir his power. One of hir heads yet there I did espie, Still freshly bleeding of a grieuous grievous wounde. One cride aloude: aloude. What one is like (quod he) This honoured Dragon, or may him withstande? And then came from the sea a sauage savage beast, With Dragons speche, and shewde his force by fire, With wondrous signes to make all wights adore The beast, in setting of hir image vp up . D.iij.

Sonets.

[Son. 13] I Saw saw a Woman sitting on a beast Before mine eyes, of Orenge colour hew: Horrour and dreadfull name of blasphemie Filde hir with pride. And seuen seven heads I saw, Ten hornes also the stately beast did beare. She seemde with glorie of the scarlet faire, And with fine perle and golde puft vp up in heart. The wine of hooredome in a cup she bare. The name of Mysterie writ in hir face. The bloud of Martyrs dere were hir delite. Most fierce and fell this woman seemde to me. An Angell then descending downe from Heauen, Heaven, With thondring voice cride out aloude, and sayd, Now for a truth great Babylon is fallen. D.iiij.

Sonets.

[Son. 14] T hen Hen might I see vpon upon a white horse set The faithfull man with flaming countenaunce, His head did shine with crounes set therupon. The worde of God made him a noble name. His precious robe I saw embrued with bloud. Then saw I from the heauen heaven on horses white, A puissant armie come the selfe same way. Then cried a shining Angell as me thought, That birdes from aire descending downe on earth Should warre vpon upon the kings, and eate their flesh. Then did I see the beast and Kings also Ioinyng Joinyng their force to slea the faithfull man. But this fierce hatefull beast and all hir traine traine. Is pitilesse throwne downe in pit of fire. D.v.

[Son. 15] I Saw saw new Earth, new Heauen Heaven , sayde Saint Iohn John . And loe, the sea (quod he) is now no more. The holy Citie of the Lorde, from hye Descendeth garnisht as a loued loved spouse. A voice then sayde, beholde the bright abode Of God and men. For he shall be their God, And all their teares he shall wipe cleane away. Hir brightnesse greater was than can be founde, Square was this Citie, and twelue twelve gates it had. Eche gate was of an orient perfect pearle, The houses golde, the pauement pavement precious stone. A liuely lively streame, more cleere than Christall is, Ranne through the mid, sprong from triumphant seat. There growes lifes fruite vnto unto the Churches good.