Edmund Spenser (1552?–1599)

LYKE as a ship that through the Ocean wyde,

By conduct of some star doth make her way,

Whenas a storme hath dimd her trusty guyde,

Out of her course doth wander far astray.

So I whose star, that wont with her bright ray,

Me to direct, with cloudes is ouercast,

Doe wander now in darknesse and dismay,

Through hidden perils round about me plast.

Yet hope I well, that when this storme is past

My Helice the lodestar of my lyfe

Will shine again, and looke on me at last,

With louely light to cleare my cloudy grief.

Till then I wander carefull comfortlesse,

In secret sorow and sad pensiuenesse.