Seccombe and Arber, comps. Elizabethan Sonnets. 1904.
DiellaSonnet XXI. As winters rage, young plants unkindly spilleth
Richard Linche (fl. 15961601)A
as hail, green corn; and lightnings, flowers perish;
So man’s decay is Love! whose heart it killeth,
if in his soul, he carefully it cherish.
O how alluringly he offers grace;
and breathes new hope of life into our thought.
With cheerful, pleasant (yet deceitful) face
he creeps and fawns, till, in his net w’ are caught;
Then, when he sees us captives by him led,
and sees us prostrate, humbly craving help,
So fierce a lion, Lybia never bred!
nor adder’s sting! nor any tigress’ whelp!
O blest be they that never felt his force!
L