Emaricdulfe Sonnets written by E.C. Esquier.

EMARICDVLFE .

SONNET . I. WHen first the rage of loue assail'd my hart , And towards my thoughts his fiery forces bent : Eftsoones to shield me from his wounding dart , Arm'd with disdaine , I held him in contempt . Curld headed loue when from mount Erecine He saw this geere , so ill thereof he brookes , That thence he speedes vnwilling to be seene , Till he had tane his stand in thy faire lookes . There all inrag'd his golden bow he bent , And nockt his arrow like a pretie elfe : Which when I saw , I humbly to him went , And cri'd hold , hold , and I will yeeld my selfe . Thus Cupid conquer'd me , and made me sweare Homage to him , and dutie to my deare .

SONNET . II. HOmage to loue , dutie to thee my deare , Deare mistris of my thoughts , Queene of my ioy : Then my lifes gratious planet bright appeare , My hearts deepe griefe and sorrow to destroy . Be not ( I thee beseech ) my cares maintainer : For in thy power it lyes to saue or strike , To kill the griefe , or els the griefes retainer , With loue or hate the infant of dislike . O if that cruell loue did not command To slay my heart without remorse or pitie : Or if he did that sad doome countermand , And be a gratious Queene of gentle mercie : Sweet shew thy selfe diuine in being pitifull , For nature of the gods is to be mercifull .

SONNET . III. WHy doe I pleade for mercie vnto thee , When from offence my life & soule are cleere ? For in my heart I neere offended thee , Vnlesse the hie pitch of his flight it were . I ▪ that is it , I to too well consider , Thy sparkling beautie is the sunne that melted : My thoughts the waxe that ioyn'd his wings together , And till my very fall I neuer felt it : Despaire the Ocean is that swallowed me , Where I like Icarus continue drowned , Till with thy beautie I reuiued be , And with loues immortalitie be crowned . True loue immortall is , then loue me truly : Sweet doe , and then thy name I le honor duly .

SONNET . IIII. MY forlorne muse that neuer trode the path That leades to top of hie Pierion mount , Nor neuer washt within the liuesome bath Of learnings spring , bright Aganippe fount : Mine artles pen that neuer yet was dipt In sacred nectar of sweet Castalie , My louesicke heart that euer hath I clipt , Emaricdulfe the Queene of chastitie : Shall now learne skill my Ladies fame to raise , Shall now take paines her vertues to record , And honor her with more immortall praise , Then euer heretofore they could affoord : Both heart , and pen , and muse shall thinke it dutie , With sigheswolne words to blaze her heauenvly beutie .

SONNET . V. NAture ( Emaricdulf ) did greatly fauour , When first her pourtrait she began to pencill , And rob'd the heauens of her chiefest honour : There sacred beautie all her parts doth tincill . Heauens Hyrarkie is in her bright eyes spheered : The Graces sport in her cheekes dimpled pits : Trophies of maiestie in her face be reared , And in her lookes stately Saturnia sits . Modest Diana in her thoughts doth glorie , Loue-lacking Vesta in her heart inthroned : The quired Muses on her lips doe storie Their heauen sweet notes , as if that place they owned . But aye is me , Cupid and Venus faire Haue no degree , saue in her golden haire .

SONNET . VI. WIthin her haire Venus and Cupid sport them : Sometime they twist it Amberlike in gold , To which the whistling windes doe oft resort them , As if they stroue to haue the knots vnrold : Sometime they let their golden tresses dangle , And therewith nets and amorous gins they make , Wherewith the hearts of louers to intangle ▪ Which once inthral'd , no ransome they will take . But as to tyrants sitting in their thrones , Looke on their slaues with tyrannizing eyes : So they no whit regarding louers mones , Doome worlds of hearts to endles slaueries , Vnlesse they subiect-like sweare to adore , And serue Emaricdulf for euermore .

SONNET . VII . I Will perseuer euer for to loue thee , O cease diuinest sweetnes to disdaine mee : Albeit my loues true types can neuer moue thee , Yet from affection let not pride detaine thee . Although my heart once purchast thy displeasure With ouerbold presumption on thy fauour : Yet now I le sacrifice my richest treasure Vnto thy name and much admired honour : Teares are the treasure of my griefe-gal'd hart , Which on ( thy loue ) my altar I haue dropped To thee , that my thoughts temples goddesse art , Hoping thy anger would thereby be stopped . If these to get thy grace may not suffice , My heart is slaine , accept that sacrifice .

SONNET . VIII . EMaricdulf , thou grace to euery grace , Thou perfect life of my vnperfect liuing : My thoughts sole heauen , my harts sweet resting place , Cause of my woe and comfort of my grieuing . O giue me leaue and I will tell thee how The haples place and the vnhappie time , Wherein and when my selfe I did auow To honour thee , and giue my heart to thine . Wearie with labour , labour that did like me , I gaue my bodie to a sweet repose : A golden slumber suddenly did strike me , That in deaths cabbin euery sense did close : And either in a heauenly trance or vision , I then beheld this pleasing apparition .

SONNET . IX . A Wight was clad most Foster-like in greene , With loyal horne and hunting pole in hand : Whose chanting hounds were heard in woods & seene The deere amasde before the rider stand : The keeper bids goe choose the best in heard : The huntsman sayd , my choise is not to change : And drawing neere the deere was sore affeard , Into the woods the rider spurd to range : There did he view a faire young barren doe Within the hey fast by the purley side , And woodman-like did take the winde then soe , Whereby the deere might better him abide . At length he shot , and hit the very same Where he best likte and lou'd of all the game .

SONNET . X. BVt stay conceit where he best likt to loue , Yea better he if better best might bee : The Rider thought the best of better proue , Till fortune sign'd his fortune for to see . Now wearie he betooke himselfe to rest , Deuised where he might good harbour finde : Emaricdulf ( quoth he ) I am her guest , And thither went : she greeted him most kinde : Welcome sayd she , three welcomes more she gaue : His hand she tooke , and talking with him then , What wine or beere to drinke wilt please you haue , Sixe welcomes more , and so she made them ten . He dranke his fill , and fed to his desire , Refresht himselfe , and then did home retire .

SONNET . XI . FOrthwith I saw , and with the sight was blest , A beautious issue of a beautious mother , A young Emaricdulf , whose sight increast Millions of ioyes each one exceeding other : Faire springing branch sprong of a hopefull stocke , On thee more beauties nature had bestowde , Then in her heauenly storehouse she doth locke , Or may be seene disperst on earth abrode . Thrise had the Sunne the world encompassed , Before this blossome with deaths winter nipt : O cruell death that thus hast withered So faire a branch before it halfe was ripte ! Halfe glad with ioyes , and halfe appal'd with feares , I wak't , and found my cheekes bedew'd with teares .

SONNET . XII . MY cheeks bedew'd , my eies euen drown'd with teares O fearfull storme that causde so great a showre ▪ Griefe ty'd my tongue , sorrow did stop my eares , Because earth lost her sweetest paramoure . O cruell heauens and regardlesse fates ! If the worlds beautie had compassion'd you , You might by powre haue shut deaths ebongates , And been remorsefull at her heauenly view . O foolish nature why didst thou create A thing so faire , if fairenes be neglected ? But fairest things be subiect vnto fate , And in the end are by the fates reiected . Yong Emaric yet thou crost the destinie , For thou suruiu'st in faine , that nere shall die .

SONNET . XIII . THat I did loue and once was lou'd of thee , Witnesse the fauours that I haue receiued : That golden ring , pledge of thy constancie : That bracelet , that my libertie bereaued : Those gloues , that once adorn'd thy lillie hands : That handkercher , whose maze inthral'd me so : Those thousand gifts , that like a thousand bands Bound both my heart and soule to weale and woe . All which I weare , and wearing them sigh forth You instancies of her true loyaltie : I doe not keepe you for your soueraigne worth , But for her sake that sent you vnto me : T is she , not you , that doth compell my eyes , My lifes sole light , my hearts sole paradice .

SONNET . XIIII . ONe day , ô ten times happie was that day , Emaricdulf was in her garden walking , Where Floras imps ioy'd with her feete to play , And I to see them thitherward ran stalking , Behind the hedge ( not daring to be seene ) I saw the sweet sent Roses blush for shame , The Violets stain'd , and pale the Lillies beene : Whereat to smile my Ladie had good game . Sometimes she pleasde to sport vpon the grasse , That chang'd his hew to see her heauenly presence : But when she was imasked , then ( alas ) They as my selfe wail'd for her beauties absence : They mourn'd for that their mistris went away , And I for end of such a blessed day .

SONNET . XV. WHat meane our Merchants so with eger minds To plough the seas to finde rich iuels forth ? Sith in Emaricdulf a thousand kinds Are heap'd , exceeding wealthie Indias worth : Then India doth her haire affoord more gold , And thousands siluer mines her forhead showes , More Diamonds then th' Egyptian surges folde , Within her eyes rich treasurie nature stowes : Her hony breath , but more then hony sweete , Exceeds the odours of Arabia : Those pretious rankes continually that meete , Are pearles more worth then all America . Her other parts ( proud Cupids countermate ) Exceed the world for worth , the heauens for state .

SONNET . XVI . LOoke when dame Tellus clad in Floras pride , Her summer vaile with faire imbroderie , And fragrant hearbs sweet blossom'd hauing dide . And spred abrode her spangled tapistrie : Then shalt thou see a thousand of her flowers ( For their faire hew and life delighting sauours ) Gathered to deck and beautifie the bowers Of Ladies faire , grac'd with their louers fauours . But when rough winter nips them with his rage , They are disdain'd and not at all respected : Then loue ( Emaricdulf ) in thy yong age , Lest being old , like flowers thou be reiected : Nature made nothing that doth euer flourish , And euen as beautie fades , so loue doth perish .

SONNET . XVII . I Am inchanted with thy snow-white hands , That mase me with their quaint dexteritie , And with their touch , tye in a thousand bands My yeelding heart euer to honour thee : Thought of thy daintie fingers long and small , For pretie action that exceed compare , Sufficient is to blesse me , and withall To free my chained thoughts from sorrowes snare But that which crownes my soule with heauenly blis , And giues my heart fruition of all ioyes , Their daintie concord and sweet musick is , That poysons griefe and cureth all annoyes , Those eyes that see , those eares are blest that heare These heauenly gifts of nature in my deare .

SONNET . XVIII . EMaricdulf , if thou this riddle reade , This darke AEnigma that I will demand thee , Then for thy wisedomes well deseruing meede , In loues pure dutie thou shalt ay command mee . A Turtle that had chose his louing mate , Sate seemly percht vpon a red-rose breere : Yet saw a bird ( ayres paragon for state ) That farre surpast his late espoused deere : He chang'd himselfe into that lustfull bird That Iuno loues , and to his loue resorted : And thought with amorous speeches to haue firde Her constant heart : but her in vaine he courted . When bootles he had woo'd her to his paine , He tooke his leaue and turn'd his shape againe .

SONNET . XIX . THe Heauens and Nature when my Loue was borne , Stroue which of both shuld most adorne & grace her : The sacred heauens in wealthie natures scorne With wisedomes pure infusion did imbrace her : Nature lent wings to wisedome for her flight , And deckt my Ladie with such heauenly features , As nere before appear'd in humane sight , Ne euer fithence in terrestriall creatures . ( Quoth Wisedome ) I will guide her constant hart At all assaies with policie to relieue her : ( Quoth Nature ) I will cast those gifts apart , With outward graces that I meane to giue her . Yet were they reconcil'd , and swore withall To make her more then halfe celestiall .

SONNET . XX. THat thou art faire exceeding all compare , Witnes thy eyes that gaze vpon thy beautie , Witnes the hearts thou daily dost insnare , And draw to honour thee with louers dutie : That thou art wise witnes the worlds report , Witnes the thoughts that do so much admire thee , Witnes the heauen-borne Muses that resort , And for their mistris meekly do desire thee : That thou art both exceeding faire and wise , Witnes the anguish of my sillie hart : Thy heauenly shape hath caught me by my eyes , Thy secret wisedome that giues art to art , So circumuents me and procures my paine , That I must dye , vnles thou true remaine .

SONNET . XXI . AL those that write of heauen and heauenly ioyes , Describe the way with narrow crooked bendings , Beset with griefe , paine , horror and annoyes , That till all end haue neuer perfect endings . The heauen wherein my thoughts are resident , The paradice wherein my heart is sainted , Through street-like straight hie-waies I did attempt , Nor with rough care nor rigorous crosse attainted I must confesse faith was the only meane , For that with some for want thereof did misse , Only thereby at length I did obtaine , And by that faith am now instal'd in blisse : There sleepe my thoughts , my heart there set thy rest , Both heart & thoughts thinke that her heauen is best .

SONNET . XXII . YE subiects of her partiall painted praise , Pen , paper , inke , you feeble instruments : Vnto a higher straine I now must raise Your mistris beautious faire abiliments . Thou author of our hic Mconian verse , That checks the proud Castalians eloquence : With humble spirit if I now reherse Her seuerall graces natures excellence : Smile on these rough-hewd lines , these ragged words That neuer stil'd from the Castalian spring : Nor that one true Apologie affoords , Nor neuer learn'd with pleasant tune to sing : So shall they liue , and liuing still perseuer To deifie her sacred name for euer .

SONNET . XXIII . YE moderne Laureats of this later age , That liue the worlds admirement for your writ ; And seeme infused with a diuine rage , To shew the heauenly quintessence of wit : You on whose weltun'd verse sits princely beautie , Deckt and adorn'd with heauens eternitie , See I presume to cote ( and all is duetie ) Her graces with my learnings scarsitie . But if my pen ( Marcias harsh-writing quill ) Could feede the feeling of my thoughts desire , And shew my wit coequall with my will , Then with you men diuine I would conspire , In learned poems and sweet poesie , To send to heauen my Ladies dignitie .

SONNET . XXIIII . OFthaue I heard hony-tong'd Ladies speake , Striuing their amorous courtiers to inchant , And from their nectar lips such sweet words breake , As neither art nor heauenly skill did want . But when Emaricdulf gins to discourse , Her words are more then wel-tun'd harmonie , And euery sentence of a greater force Then Mermaids song , or Syrens sorcerie : And if to heare her speake , Laertes heire The wise Vlisses liu'd vs now among , From her sweet words he could not stop his eare , As from the Syrens and the Mermaids song : And had she in the Syrens place but stood , Her heauenly voyce had drown'd him in the flood .

SONNET . XXV . LEt gorgeous Tytan blush : for of her haire Each trannel checks his brightest summers shine : The cleerest Comets drop within the aire To see them dim'd with those her glorious eine : Iuno for state she matchles doth disgrace , Surpassing eke for stature Dyan tall , Venus for faire , faire Venus for her face , In whose sweet lookes are heap't the graces all : For wisedome may she make comparison With Pallas , yet I wrong her ouer-much : For who so sounds her policies each one , Will sweare Trytontas wit was neuer such : Her she exceeds , though she exceed all other , Being Ioues great daughter borne without a mother .

SONNET . XXVI . EMaricdulf reade here , but reading marke As in a mirror my true constancie : The golden Sunne shall first be turn'd to darke , And darknes claime the Sunnes bright dignitie : The starres that spangle heauen with glistring light , In number more then ten times numberlesse , Shall sooner leaue to beautifie the night , And thereby make the world seeme comfortlesse : First shall the Sea become the continent , And red-gild Dolphins dance vpon the shore : First wearie Atlas from his paine exempt , Shall leaue the heauens to tremble euermore , Before I change my thoughts and leaue to loue thee , And plead with words and direful sighs to moue thee .

SONNET . XXVII . SWeet are the thoughts of pleasures we haue vsde , Sweete are the thoughts that thinke of that same sweet , Whose sweetnes is too sweet to be refusde , That vertuous loue-tast for my faith was meet : The taste whereof is sweeter vnto me , Then sweetest sweet that euer nature made . No odours sweetnes may compared be To this true sweetnes that will neuer fade . This Sonnet sweet with cheerefull voyces sing , And tune the same so pleasing to mine eare , That Emaricdulf thy praises so may ring , As all the world thy honors fame may heare . Once didst thou vow , that vow to me obserue , Whose faith and truth from thee shall neuer swerue .

SONNET . XXVIII . IF euer tongue with heauen inticing cries , If euer words blowne from a rented hart , If euer teares shed from a Louers eyes , If euer sighes issue of griefe and smart , If euer trembling pen with more then skill , If euer paper , witnes of true loue , If euer inke , cheefe harbenger of will , If euer sentence made with art to moue , If all of these combinde by Cupids power , My long-borne liking to anatomise : Had but the art , with art for to discouer What loue in me doth by his art comprise . Then might the heauens , the earth , water and ayre , Be witnes that I thinke thee onely fayre .

SONNET . XXIX . MY hart is like a ship on Neptunes backe , Thy beautie is the sea where my ship sayleth , Thy frownes the surges are that threat my wracke Thy smiles the windes that on my sailes soft gaileth Long tost betwixt faire hope and foule despaire , My sea sick hart , arriued on thy shore : Thy loue I meane , begges that he may repaire His broken vessell with thy bounteous store . Dido relieu'd AEneas in distresse , And lent him loue , and gaue to him her heart ▪ If halfe such bountie thou to me expresse , From thy faire shore I neuer will depart : But thanke kinde fortune that my course did sorte , To suffer shipwrack on so sweete a porte .

SONNET . XXX . ON Tellus bosome spring two fragrant flowers , The milkwhite Lilly , and the blushing Rose , Which daintie Flora for to decke her bowers Aboue all other colours chiefly chose . These in my mistris cheekes both empire holding In emulation of each others hew , Continually may be discerned folding Beautie in lookes , and maiestie in view . Sometime they meet , and in a skarlet field Warre with rebellious hearts neglecting dutie , And neuer cease , vntill they force to yeeld Them coward captiues conquered by beautie . Emaricdulf thus didst thou play the foe , And I the rebell , and was conquer'd so .

SONNET . XXXI . IN tedious volumes I doe not intend To write my woes , my woes by loue procured , Nor by my infant muse implore the end Of loues true life , this ( loue ) I haue abiured : Only my face ( faire deare ) shall be the booke Wherein my daily care shall be rehearsed : Whereby thou shalt perceiue when thou doest looke , How by thy beauties darts my heart was piersed . My eyes shall witnes with distilling teares , And heart with deepe fetcht sighes shall manifest My painfull torments causde by griefes and feares , And hourely labours mixt with deepe vnrest : Both heart , and eyes , and face shall all expresse , That only thou art cause of my distresse .

SONNET . XXXII . THy image is plaine porturde in my thought , Thy constant minde is written in my heart , Thy seemely grace and pleasing speech haue wrought To vow me thine , till death a sunder part : Thy fauours forst me subiect vnto thee , Thy onely care extended to my good , Ty louely lookes , commaunded all in me For thy deare sake to spend my dearest blood : My ioy consists in keeping of thy loue , My bale doth breede if I inioy it not : My seruice true , from thee none can remoue , Vnlesse both life and loue I shall forgot . Though life and loue in time must haue an end , Yet euer I haue vowde to be thy frend .

SONNET . XXXIII . EMaricdulf my Orphan muses mother , Pure map of vertue , Honors onely daughter : Bright gemme of bewtie , fayre aboue all other , True badge of faith , foule ignominies slaughter , Ensigne of loue , soure enemie to lust , The graces grace , faire Ere●ines disgrace : Wrongs cheefe reprouer , cause of what is iust , Aduices patron , councels resting place : Wisdomes chiefe fort , wits onely pure refiner , Graue of deceite , the life of policie , Fates best beloued , natures true diuiner , Nurce of inuention , hould of constancie , Poyson of paine , Phisition of anoyes , Eliziums pride , and paradice of ioyes .

SONNET . XXXIIII . EMaricdulf , loue is a holy fire That burnes vnseene , and yet not burning seene : Free of himselfe , yet chain'd with strong desire : Conquerd by thee , yet triumphs in thy eine : An eye-bewitching vision thee in seeming , That shadow-like flyes from a louers eyes : An heauen aspiring spirit voyd of seeing : A gentle god , yet loues to tyrannize : Bond-slaue to honour , burthen of conceit , The only god of thine eyes Hyrarkie , Decay of friendship , grandsire of deceit , More then a god , yet wants a monarkie : Bastard of nature that to heauen did clime , To seeme the misbegotten heire of time .

SONNET . XXXV . O Faith , thou sacred Phoenix of this age , Into another world from hence exiled Diuorc'd from honor by vnheedfull rage , Pure vertues nest by hatefull vice defiled : Thou faith that cal'st thy firname Constancie , Christned aboue the nine-fold glorious sphere , And from the heauens deriues thy pedegree , Planting the roote of thy faire linage there : Let this thy glorie be aboue the rest , That banisht earth where thou didst once remaine , Thou yet maist harbour in my mistris brest , So a pure chest pure treasure may containe , And in her liuing beautie neuer old , Seem like a pretious Diamond set in gold .

SONNET . XXXVI . WHen I behould heauens all behoulding starres , I doe compare them to my woes and smart , Causde by the many wounds and mightie scarres That loue hath trenched in my bleeding hart : And when I thinke vpon the Ocean sands , Me thinkes they number but my ladies bewties , And represent the infinites of bandes Wherein my heart is bound to endles duties : And when I see natures faire children thriue , Nurst in the bosome of the fruitefull earth , From my chast vowes they their increase deriue ; And as they spring , so haue my vowes their birth : And as the starres and sands haue endles date , So is my loue subiect to naught but fate .

SONNET . XXXVII . O Lust of sacred loue the foule corrupter , Vsurper of her heauenly dignitie , Follies first childe , good councels interrupter Fostered by sloth , first step to infamie , Thou hel-borne monster that affrights the wise , Loue-choking lust , vertues disdainefull foe : Wisdomes contemner spurner of aduise , Swift to forsweare , to faithfull promise slow , Be thou as far from her chast-thoughted breast , Her true loue kindled heart , her vertuous minde , As is al-seeing Tytan from the west , When from Auroras armes he doth vntwinde . Nature did make her of a heauenly mould , Onely true heauenly vertues to infould .

SONNET . XXXVIII . MY thoughts ascending the hie house of fame , Found in records of vertuous monuments A map of honours in a noble frame , Shining in spight of deaths oft banishments : A thousand colours Loue sate suted in , Guarded with honour and immortall time , Lust led with enuie , feare , and deadly sin , Opposde against faire Loues out-liuing line . True Constancie kneeld at the feet of Loue , And begg'd for seruice , but could not procure it : Which seene , my heart stept forth & thought to moue Kind Loue for fauour , but did not allure it : Yet when my heart swore Constancie was true , Loue welcom'd it , and gaue them both their due .

SONNET . XXXIX . IMage of honour , Vertues first borne childe , Natures faire painted stage , Fames brightest face , Syren that neuer with thy tongue beguild , Sibill more wise then Cumas Sibill was , When learnings sun with more resplendent gleames , Shall with immortall flowres of poesie , Bred by the vertue of Bram bigning beames Deck my inuention for thy dignities With heauenly hymnes thy more than heauenly parts I le deifie , thy name commands such dutie , Though many heads of poisest poets arts Are insufficient to expresse thy beautie , Thy name , thy honour , and loues puritie , With Stanzas , Layes and Hymnes I le stellifie .

SONNET . XXXX . SOme bewties make a god of flatterie , And scorne Eliziums eternall types , Nathes , I abhorre such faithles prophesie , Least I be beaten with thy vertues stripes , Wilt thou suruie another world to see ? Delias sweete Prophet shall the praises singe Of bewties worth exemplified in thee , And thy names honour in his sweete tunes ring : Thy vertues Collin shall immortalize , Collin chast vertues organ sweetst esteem'd , When for Elizas name he did comprise Such matter as inuentions wonder seem'd . Thy vertues hee , thy bewties shall the other . Christen a new , whiles I sit by and wonder .

Mea fortuna tua Vt hodie sic eras , & semper . qd. E. C. FINIS .