Herbert J.C. Grierson, ed. (1886–1960). Metaphysical Lyrics & Poems of the 17th C. 1921.

1568–1639 Sir Henry Wotton

On his Mistris, the Queen of Bohemia

YOU meaner Beauties of the Night,

That poorly satisfie our Eies

More by your number, then your light,

You Common-people of the Skies;

You Curious Chanters of the Wood,

That warble forth Dame Natures layes,

Thinking your Voyces understood

By your weake accents; what’s your praise

When Philomell her voyce shal raise?

You Violets, that first apeare,

By your pure purpel mantels knowne,

Like the proud Virgins of the yeare,

As if the Spring were all your own;

What are you when the Rose is blowne?

So, when my Mistris shal be seene

In Form and Beauty of her mind,

By Vertue first, then Choyce a Queen,

Tell me, if she were not design’d

Th’ Eclypse and Glory of her kind?

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