Sestine 1. When I waked out of dreaming

Barnabe Barnes (1569?–1609)

WHEN I waked out of dreaming,

Looking all about the garden,

Sweet PARTHENOPHE was walking:

O what fortune brought her hither!

She much fairer than that Nymph,

Which was beat with rose and lilies.

Her cheeks exceed the rose and lilies.

I was fortunate in dreaming

Of so beautiful a Nymph.

To this happy blessèd garden,

Come, you Nymphs! come, Fairies! hither.

Wonder Nature’s Wonder walking!

So She seemèd, in her walking,

As she would make rose and lilies

Ever flourish. O, but hither

Hark! (for I beheld it dreaming)

Lilies blushed within the garden,

Stained with beauties of that Nymph.

The Rose for anger at that Nymph

Was pale! and, as She went on walking,

When She gathered in the garden,

Tears came from the Rose and Lilies!

As they sighed, their breath, in dreaming

I could well perceive hither.

When PARTHENOPHE came hither.

At the presence of that Nymph,

(That hill was heaven! where I lay dreaming)

But when I had espied her walking,

And in hand her Rose and Lilies

As sacrifice given by that garden;

(To Love, stood sacred that fair garden!)

I dared the Nymphs to hasten hither.

Make homage to the Rose and Lilies!

Which are sacred to my Nymph.

Wonder, when you see her walking!

(Might I see her, but in dreaming!)

Even the fancy of that Nymph

Would make me, night and day, come hither,

To sleep in this thrice happy garden.