| Seccombe and Arber, comps. Elizabethan Sonnets. 1904. | | | | Laura—Part I. | | Conclusion: The Macedonian Monarch once did deign | | Robert Tofte (1561–1620) |
| | | THE MACEDONIAN Monarch once did deign, | |
| In cheerful sort, in kind and loving wise, | |
| To feast in village with a homely Swain; | |
| Who entertained him, as in country guise, | |
| With curds and creams, and such like knacks he had, | 5 |
| Whereof the courteous Prince accepted glad. | |
| |
| So, Lady, boldly I presumèd have, | |
| To invite you to a sorry banquet base; | |
| Nor to disdain the same, of you I crave! | |
| Though cates too coarse for you; too poor, the place. | 10 |
| I cannot, as I would, give curds and cream; | |
| But milk and whey: my fortune is so mean. | |
| |
| Yet (if you shall accept it graciously; | |
| And with your favour sweet, this board adorn) | |
| The virtue which is in you, presently, | 15 |
| The whey, to curds; the milk, to cream shall turn. | |
| But if your look (you angry) turn away; | |
| The milk shall still be milk; the whey, still whey. | |
| |
| Then as the sun in glorious wise doth shine | |
| As well on valley low as mountain high; | 20 |
| Vouchsafe one cheerful glimpse of favour thine | |
| On poor me, from out that heavenly eye! | |
| Unworthy I, such grace! I do confess: | |
| Yet worthy thou to do so, ne’ertheless. R. T. | | | | |
|
|
