| Samuel Waddington, comp. The Sonnets of Europe. 1888. | | | | On His Astræa’s Arising | | By Pierre de Ronsard (1524–1585) |
| | Translated by Thomas Ashe
IN April month, whenas the new buds swell, | |
| The dawn not rises freshlier from the sea, | |
| Nor fairer shone the new-made deity | |
| Of love, a-sail for Cyprus in her shell, | |
| Than she I love above all words can tell, | 5 |
| My sainted star, at morn arose for me: | |
| How laughed the heaven! and knowing it was she, | |
| The flowers raised head to bless and greet her well! | |
| The heaven-born Graces flitted round her brow, | |
| And Youth and Love would low before her bow; | 10 |
| But—this ’twas made my slavery complete— | |
| No touch of art her beauty deigned to show: | |
| The unfair face with art may fairer grow; | |
| Fair face without is ever fair and sweet. | | | | |
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