Red Roses
The lover describes his restless state by Henry Howard, Earl of Surrey
chosen by Devon
As oft as I behold and see
The soveraigne beauty that me bound:
The nyer my comfort is to me,
Alas the fresher is my wound.
As flame doth quench by rage of fire,
And running stremes consume by raine:
So doth the sight, that I desire,
Appease my grief and deadly payne.
First when I saw those cristall streames,
Whose beauty made my mortall wound:
I little thought within her beames
So swete a venom to have found.
But wilfull will did prick me forth,
And blinde Cupide did whippe and guide:
Force made me take my grief in worth:
My fruteles hope my harme did hide.
As cruel waves full oft be found,
Against the rockes to rore and cry:
So doth my hart full oft rebound
Against my brest full bitterly.
I fall, and see mine owne decay,
As one that beares flame in his brest,
Forgets in payne to put away,
The thing that breadth mine unrest.
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