Complete Works of Henry Howard, Earl of Surrey by Henry Howard

Author:Henry Howard
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Publisher: Delphi Classics
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

List of poems in chronological order

List of poems in alphabetical order

The Fourth Book of Virgil’s Æneid

BUT now the wounded Queen, with heavy care,

Throughout the veins she nourished the plaie,

Surprised with blind flame; and to her mind

‘Gan eke resort the prowess of the man,

And honour of his race: while in her breast 5

Imprinted stack his words, and pictures form.

Ne to her limbs care granteth quiet rest.

The next morrow, with Phœbus’ lamp the earth

Alighted clear; and eke the dawning day

The shadows dark ‘gan from the pole remove: 10

When all unsound, her sister of like mind

Thus spake she to: ‘O! Sister Anne, what dreams

Be these, that me tormented thus affray?

What new guest this, that to our realm is come?

What one of cheer? how stout of heart in arms? 15

Truly I think (ne vain is my belief)

Of Goddish race some offspring should he be:

Cowardry notes hearts swerved out of kind.

He driven, lord! with how hard destiny!

What battles eke achieved did he recount! 20

But that my mind is fixt unmovably,

Never with wight in wedlock aye to join,

Sith my first love me left by death dissever’d;

If genial brands and bed me loathed not,

To this one guilt perchance yet might I yield. 25

Anne, for I grant, sith wretched Sychee’s death,

My spouse and house with brother’s slaughter stain’d,

This only man hath made my senses bend,

And pricked forth the mind that ‘gan to slide:

Now feelingly I taste the steps of mine old flame. 30

But first I wish the earth me swallow down,

Or with thunder the mighty Lord me send

To the pale ghosts of hell, and darkness deep;

Ere I thee stain, shamefastness, or thy laws.

He that with me first coupled, took away 35

My love with him; enjoy it in his grave.’

Thus did she say, and with surprised tears

Bained her breast. Whereto Anne thus replied:

‘O Sister, dearer beloved than the light:

Thy youth alone in plaint still wilt thou spill? 40

Ne children sweet, ne Venus’ gifts wilt know?

Cinders, thinkest thou, mind this? or graved ghosts?

Time of thy doole, thy spouse new dead, I grant,

None might thee move: no, not the Libyan king,

Nor yet of Tyre; Iarbas set to light, 45

And other princes mo’; whom the rich soil

Of Afric breeds, in honours triumphant.

Wilt thou also gainstand thy liked love?

Comes not to mind upon whose land thou dwell’st?

On this side, lo! the Getule town behold, 50

A people bold, unvanquished in war;

Eke the undaunted Numides compass thee;

Also the Sirtes unfriendly harbrough.

On th’ other hand, a desert realm for-thrust,

The Barceans, whose fury stretcheth wide. 55

What shall I touch the wars that move from Tyre?

Or yet thy brother’s threats? ——

By Gods’ purveyance it blew, and Juno’s help,

The Troiaynes ships, I think, to run this course.

Sister, what town shalt thou see this become? 60

Through such ally how shall our kingdom rise?

And by the aid of Troyan arms how great?

How many ways shall Carthages glory grow?

Thou only now beseech the Gods of grace

By sacrifice: which ended, to thy house 65

Receive him, and forge causes of abode:

Whiles winter frets the seas, and wat’ry Orion,

The ships shaken, unfriendly the season.’

Such words inflamed the kindled mind with love,

Loosed all shame, and gave the doubtful hope.

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