Henry Constable (1562–1613)

DIAPHENIA like the daffadowndilly,

White as the sun, fair as the lily,

Heigh ho, how I do love thee!

I do love thee as my lambs

Are belovèd of their dams—

How blest were I if thou wouldst prove me!

Diaphenia like the spreading roses,

That in thy sweets all sweets encloses,

Fair sweet, how I do love thee!

I do love thee as each flower

Love’s the sun’s life-giving power,

For death, thy breath to life might move me.

Diaphenia, like to all things blessèd

When all thy praises are expressèd,

Dear joy, how I do love thee!

As the birds do love the spring,

Or the bees their careful king:

Then in requite, sweet virgin, love me!