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Home  »  Elizabethan Sonnets  »  [Dedicatory Sonnets.] To the most virtuous, learned and beautiful Lady, Mary, Countess of Pembroke

Seccombe and Arber, comps. Elizabethan Sonnets. 1904.

Parthenophil and Parthenophe

[Dedicatory Sonnets.] To the most virtuous, learned and beautiful Lady, Mary, Countess of Pembroke

Barnabe Barnes (1569?–1609)

PRIDE of our English Ladies! never matched!

Great Favourer of PHŒBUS’ offspring!

In whom, even PHŒBUS is most flourishing!

Muse’s chief comfort! Of the Muses, hatched!

On whom, URANIA hath so long time watched

In Fame’s rich Fort, with crown triumphing

Of laurel, ever green in lusty Spring,

After thy mortal pilgrimage, despatched

Unto those planets, where thou shalt have place

With thy late sainted Brother, to give light!

And with harmonious spheres to turn in race.

Vouchsafe, sweet Lady! with a forehead bright,

To shine on this poor Muse; whose first-born fruit,

That you (of right) would take, she maketh suit!