| Seccombe and Arber, comps. Elizabethan Sonnets. 1904. | | | | Diana | The Fifth Decade
Sonnet V. His shadow to Narcissus well presented | | Henry Constable (1562–1613) |
| | | HIS shadow to Narcissus well presented; | |
| How fair he was, by such attractive love! | |
| So if thou would’st thyself thy beauty prove, | |
| Vulgar breath-mirrors might have well contented, | |
| And to their prayers eternally consented, | 5 |
| Oaths, vows and sighs, if they belief might move: | |
| But more thou forc’st, making my pen approve | |
| Thy praise to all, least any had dissented. | |
| When this hath wrought, thou which before wert known | |
| But unto some, of all art now required; | 10 |
| And thine eyes’ wonders wronged; because not shown | |
| The world, with daily orisons desired. | |
| Thy chaste fair gifts, with learning’s breath is blown. | |
| And thus my pen hath made thy sweets admired. | | | | |
|
|
