| Seccombe and Arber, comps. Elizabethan Sonnets. 1904. | | | | Idea | | Sonnet 18. To this our World, to Learning, and to Heaven | | Michael Drayton (1563–1631) |
| | [First printed in 1594 (No. 8), and in all later editions.]
To the Celestial Numbers |
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TO this our World, to Learning, and to Heaven; | |
| Three Nines there are, to every one a Nine: | |
| One number of the earth, the other both Divine, | |
| One Woman now makes three odd numbers even. | |
| Nine Orders first, of Angels be in heaven; | 5 |
| Nine Muses do, with Learning still frequent; | |
| These with the gods are ever resident. | |
| Nine worthy Women, to the World were given. | |
| My worthy One, to these Nine Worthies addeth! | |
| And my fair Muse, one Muse unto the Nine! | 10 |
| And my good Angel (in my soul, divine!), | |
| With one more Order, these nine Orders gladdeth! | |
| My Muse, my Worthy, and my Angel then | |
| Makes every One of these three Nines, a Ten. | | | |
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