dots-menu
×

Home  »  Elizabethan Sonnets  »  Madrigal 7. Youth’s wanton Spring, when in the raging Bull

Seccombe and Arber, comps. Elizabethan Sonnets. 1904.

Parthenophil and Parthenophe

Madrigal 7. Youth’s wanton Spring, when in the raging Bull

Barnabe Barnes (1569?–1609)

YOUTH’s wanton Spring, when in the raging Bull

My sun was lodged, gave store of flowers,

With leaves of pleasure, stalks of hours;

Which soon shaked off the leaves, when they were full

Of pleasures, beauty dewed, with April showers.

My Summer love, whose buds were beautiful,

Youthful desires, with heats unmerciful,

Parched; whose seeds, when harvest time was come,

Were cares, against my suits obdurate.

With sheaves of scorn bound up, which did benumb

Mine heart with grief; yet made her heart indurate.

O chaste desires, which held her heart immurate

In walls of adamant unfoiled!

My Winter spent in showers of sorrow’s tears!

Hailstones of hatred! frosts of fears!

My branches bared of pleasure, and despoiled!