[VALENTINE SIMMES.]
[Illustration]
_Alla bellissima sua Signora._
_E. C._
[The Lady's name was E. CARIL: see Book II., Poem XXXIII.,
at page 313.]
THROUGH thee, not of thee, Lady fair I write;
Through power of Beauty, not of Virtues, thine:
With zealous will, though slender be my might,
I, weakling, seek an eagle's nest to climb.
Then guide my feet! and if to slip I chance,
Uphold me by the favour of thy glance!
Accept in gree these verses rudely penned;
A sign of duty which to thee I owe:
And deign with sweet regard them to defend;
Which as condemnèd else are like to go.
In thee, it rests the stamp on them to set:
If current, Pass! Suppressed! if counterfeit.
[Sidenote: R and T stand here, and elsewhere, for the initials of the
Author. E.A.]
And though the note, thy praises only fit,
Of sweetest bird, the dulcet nightingale:
Disdain not little Robin RedbreasT yet!
[_A line wanting._]
What he doth want in learning or in skill;
He doth supply with zeal of his good will
For only Thee, they were devised alone:
And unto Thee, they dedicated are.
Who knows? Perhaps this kindness, by thee shown,
Shall make this glimpse shine like a glittering star.
Such is thy virtue in the World his sight;
Thy crow though black, may go for swan most white.
Then doubt me not, though parted we remain:
In England thou; and I in Italy.
As I did part, I will return again,
Loyal to thee; or else with shame I'll die!
True Lovers, when they travel countries strange,
The air, and not their constant minds, do change.
_Coelum, non animum, mutant, qui trans mare currunt._
_Affettionatissimo servid, della
divina Bellezza sua_.