Seccombe and Arber, comps. Elizabethan Sonnets. 1904.
ChlorisSonnet XVIII. My Love, I cannot thy rare beauties place
William Smith (fl. 1596)M
Under those forms which many Writers use.
Some like to stones, compare their Mistress’ face.
Some in the name of flowers do love abuse.
Some make their love a goldsmith’s shop to be,
Where orient pearls and precious stones abound.
In my conceit these far do disagree
The prefect praise of beauty forth to sound.
O C
Self’s imitating passeth precious stones
Or all the Eastern Indian golden pelf,
Thy red and white, with purest fair atones,
Matchless for beauty Nature hath thee framed:
Only “unkind” and “cruel” thou art named.