| Seccombe and Arber, comps. Elizabethan Sonnets. 1904. | | | | Parthenophil and Parthenophe | | Sonnet LV. Nymphs, which in beauty mortal creatures stain | | Barnabe Barnes (1569?–1609) |
| | | NYMPHS, which in beauty mortal creatures stain, | |
| And Satyrs, which none but fair Nymphs behold; | |
| They, to the Nymphs; and Nymphs to them, complain: | |
| And each, in spite, my Mistress’ beauty told. | |
| Till soundly sleeping in a myrtle grove, | 5 |
| A wanton Satyr had espied her there; | |
| Who deeming she was dead, in all haste strove | |
| To fetch the Nymphs; which in the forests were. | |
| They flocking fast, in triumph of her death, | |
| Lightly beheld: and, deeming she was dead, | 10 |
| Nymphs sang, and Satyrs dancèd out of breath. | |
| Whilst Satyrs, with the Nymphs La Voltas led; | |
| My Mistress did awake! Then, they which came | |
| To scorn her beauty, ran away for shame! | | | | |
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