So Love procureth care;

As Love doth end annoy,

So Love doth cause despair;

But yet I oft heard say,

And wise men like did give, (more…)

I serve a mistress whiter than the snow,

Straighter than cedar, brighter than the glass,

Finer in trip and swifter than the roe,

More pleasant than the field of flowering grass;

More gladsome to my withering joys that fade,

Than winter’s sun or summer’s cooling shade.

Sweeter than swelling grape of ripest wine,

Softer than feathers of the fairest swan,
Smoother than jet, more stately than the pine,

Fresher than poplar, smaller than my span,

Clearer than beauty’s fiery pointed beam,

Or icy crust of crystal’s frozen stream.

LORD, in me there lieth nought But to thy search revealed lies;

For when I sit

Thou markest it;

No less thou notest when I rise;

Yea, closest closet of my thought

Hath open windows to thine eyes. (more…)

The English public takes no interest in a work of art until it is told that the work in question is immoral.

The reason that some portraits don’t look true to life is that some people make no effort to resemble their pictures.

You stay here for a moment. I’ll go upstairs and fetch the etchings. (more…)

So,forth issued the Seasons of the year;

First, lusty Spring, all dight in leaves of flowers

That freshly budded and new blooms did bear

(In which a thousand birds had built their bowers

That sweetly sung, to call forth paramours); (more…)

It was an hill placed in an open plain,

That round about was bordered with a wood

Of matchless height, that seemed th’earth to disdain,

In which all trees of honour stately stood, (more…)

Come come, little babe, come, silly soul, father’s shame,

Thy mother’s grief, Born as I doubt to all our dole,

And to thyself unhappy chief:

Sing lullaby and lap it warm, (more…)

It would thou wert not fair, or I were wise;

I would thou hadst no face, or I no eyes;

I would thou wert not wise, or I not fond;

Or thou not free, or I not so in bond. (more…)

Shall we go dance the hay, the hay?

Never pipe could ever play

Better shepherd’s roundelay. (more…)

Say that I should say I love ye,

Would you say ’tis but a saying?

But if love in prayers move ye, (more…)