Seccombe and Arber, comps. Elizabethan Sonnets. 1904. | | | | Laura by Robert Tofte (1561–1620) |
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| | Front Matter |
| | Alia bellissima sua Signora |
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| Part I. |
| I. | Fortune, cross-friend to ever-conquering Love |
| II. | Though I do part, my heart yet doth not part |
| III. | Like to the blacksome Night, I may compare |
| IV. | In the Egean dangerous Sea of Love |
| V. | Great was the strife between the sun on high |
| VI. | Turned to a stone was he that did bewray |
| VII. | Down from the neck unto that dainty Breast |
| VIII. | To give that life, which had not breath before |
| IX. | Love, being blind, hath wrought me damage sore |
| X. | If, Laura, thou dost turn ’gainst me in hate |
| XI. | Upon triumphant chariot, ’passing rare |
| XII. | The beauty, that in Paradise doth grow |
| XIII. | Whilst angry Juno, from the scowling skies |
| XIV. | The swift Meander, turning, winds so fast |
| XV. | Thou stranger, who with wand’ring steps dost wend |
| XVI. | If lovely Lass, for Fairing thine, of me |
| XVII. | Rocked in a cradle, like as infants be |
| XVIII. | If Sea, no other thing doth shew to be |
| XIX. | Lady, the sun was in Aquarius |
| XX. | What time, with brow, the Loveliest ’gins to scowl |
| XXI. | Rankle the wound did in my head apace |
| XXII. | If in the midst of kindling burning fire |
| XXIII. | The Gentiles used, in sign of sacrifice |
| XXIV. | For to behold my Sun, I from the sun |
| XXV. | White was the orient pearl which, on a day |
| XXVI. | When you appear, appears the Break of Day |
| XXVII. | Justly of thee, Love partial, I complain |
| XXVIII. | Diana shineth in the heavens clear |
| XXIX. | As burnished gold, such are my Sovereign’s Hairs |
| XXX. | Unto thy favour (which when Nature formed |
| XXXI. | Lady, thou seemest like Fortune unto me |
| XXXII. | Thou, merry, laugh’st, and pleasantly dost smile |
| XXXIII. | Since thou hast changed thy gown and thine attire |
| XXXIV. | Changed is my nature in me; where before |
| XXXV. | Far better had it been, I had been dead |
| XXXVI. | Sweet sang thy bird, in ebon cage shut fast |
| XXXVII. | If white ’s the Moon, thou Laura seem’st as white |
| XXXVIII. | Even as the lamp goeth out, that oil doth want |
| XXXIX. | Seated on marble was my Lady blithe |
| XL. | No more a man, as once I was, am I |
| Conclusion: | The Macedonian Monarch once did deign |
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| Part II. |
| I. | If I somewhile look up into the Skies |
| II. | Marvel I do not, though thou dost not see |
| III. | If whilom, in times past, that Spartan Lass |
| IV. | Shoot forth no more those darts from lightning eyes! |
| V. | If what is heavy craves the Centre base |
| VI. | Lady, what time I seek in mournful note |
| VII. | As rocks become, exposed ’gainst waves and wind |
| VIII. | Hark, Lovers! Hark, a strange miracle |
| IX. | When I did part from thee the other night |
| X. | My mourning Mistress’s garments, black doth bear |
| XI. | If April fresh doth kindly give us flowers |
| XII. | Drawn, cunning Painter, hast thou with great art |
| XIII. | When first the cruel Fair deigned graciously |
| XIV. | When first the sun did shine upon her eyes |
| XV. | The dusky cloud in sky, with shadow dark |
| XVI. | From milk of Juno, as the Poets feign |
| XVII. | Of constant love, I am the wasted fire |
| XVIII. | My Laura wonders that, in visage pale |
| XIX. | Whilst foaming steed I spur unto the quick |
| XX. | Rich is the diamond, a gem of price |
| XXI. | The Grecians used to offer up their hair |
| XXII. | One lovely glance, which from the eyes did pass |
| XXIII. | Two winds, one calm, another fierce, to see |
| XXIV. | No sooner do I earnest fix mine eyes |
| XXV. | O that I were sly Proteus! for to take |
| XXVI. | Say, gentle friend, tell me in courtesy |
| XXVII. | The Blazing Star foretells the hapless fall |
| XXVIII. | The Crow makes war with the Chameleon |
| XXIX. | Amongst the Parthians is a kind of ground |
| XXX. | Love, ope my heart! Hot fire thou forth shall take |
| XXXI. | Unto an Image may I right compare |
| XXXII. | Both gems, and pearls, their proper value have |
| XXXIII. | If love, wherein I burn, were but a fire |
| XXXIV. | Rivers unto the Sea do tribute pay |
| XXXV. | Such is the virtue of the sunny heat |
| XXXVI. | The blood of fair Adonis, Venus changed |
| XXXVII. | An ocean Sea of water calm am I |
| XXXVIII. | Rich Damask Roses in fair cheeks do bide |
| XXXIX. | Th’ immortal Parcæ, fatal Sisters three |
| XL. | The heavens, their restless sphere do always move |
| Conclusion: | Thus is the Second Course now servèd in |
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| Part III. |
| I. | Who joys in love? The Heart alone, to see |
| II. | What crimson gown, with drops of blood ywrought |
| III. | The flaming torch, a shadow of the light |
| IV. | Pardoned of every wicked fact was he |
| V. | If thou art cold, as is the Winter’s snow |
| VI. | The cruel Nero used on golden hook |
| VII. | When She was born; She came, with smiling eye |
| VIII. | In Love his kingdom great, two Fools there be |
| IX. | No sooner Laura mine appears to me |
| X. | Phœbus had once a bird, his chief delight |
| XI. | In silver stream, on shallow fountain’s shelf |
| XII. | Joy of my soul! My blindfold eyes’ clear light! |
| XIII. | Painter, in lively colours draw Disdain! |
| XIV. | With gold and rubies glistereth her small hand |
| XV. | A gentle tame deer am I, called a Hart |
| XVI. | The golden tresses of a Lady fair |
| XVII. | Sweet Laura, in the water look no more |
| XVIII. | If, cruel, thou desirous art of blood |
| XIX. | That ivory hand, a fan most white doth hold |
| XX. | The snakes, amongst themselves, so carefully |
| XXI. | Laura is fair and cruel both in one |
| XXII. | The snow-white Swan betokens brightsome Day |
| XXIII. | Say, Cupid, since thou wings so swift dost bear |
| XXIV. | On quicksedge wrought with lovely eglantine |
| XXV. | Gold upon gold, mine only Joy did plate |
| XXVI. | The heavens begin, with thunder, for to break |
| XXVII. | “Love this fair Lass!” said Love once unto me |
| XXVIII. | My Mistress writing, as her hand did shake |
| XXIX. | None dares now look more on my Laura’s face |
| XXX. | Unbare that ivory Hand! Hide it no more! |
| XXXI. | “My Mistress seems but brown,” say you to me |
| XXXII. | White art thou, like the mountain-snow to see |
| XXXIII. | As sacrifice unto a goddess bright |
| XXXIV. | Strange is this thing! My horse I cannot make |
| XXXV. | When I, of my sweet Laura leave did take |
| XXXVI. | With thousand bands of furious inward heat |
| XXXVII. | If scalding sighs, my faith may testify |
| XXXVIII. | The hapless Argus, happy in this same |
| XXXIX. | In vasty sea, fain would my slender Muse |
| XL. | When I did part, my soul did part from me |
| Conclusion: | Timantes, when he saw he could not paint
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| | A Friend’s just Excuse about the Book and [the] Author; in his absence |
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