Poetry Explorer

Classic and Contemporary Poetry

I PRAY TO VENUS by ELIZABETH OF YORK

First Line: MY HEART IS SET UPON A LUSTY PIN
Last Line: THIS JOY AND I, I TRUST, SHALL NEVER TWIN.
Subject(s): CONTENTMENT; MYTHOLOGY - CLASSICAL; VENUS (GODDESS); WOMEN;
My heart is set upon a lusty pin;
I pray to Venus of good continuance,
For I rejoice the case that I am in,
Deliver'd from sorrow, annex'd to pleasance,
Of all comfort having abundance;
This joy and I, I trust, shall never twin --
My heart is set upon a lusty pin.

I pray to Venus of good continuance
Since she hath set me in the way of ease;
My hearty service with my attendance
So to continue it ever I may please;
Thus voiding from all pensful disease,
Now stand I whole far from all grievance --
I pray to Venus of good continuance.

For I rejoice the case that I am in,
My gladness is such that giveth me no pain,
And so to sorrow never shall I blynne,
And though I would I may not me refrain;
My heart and I so set 'tis certain
We shall never slake, but ever new begin --
For I rejoice the case that I am in.

Deliver'd from sorrow, annex'd to pleasance,
That all my joy I set as aught of right,
To please as after my simple suffisance
To me the goodliest, most beauteous in sight;
A very lantern to all other light,
Most to my comfort on her remembrance --
Deliver'd from sorrow, annex'd to pleasance.

Of all comfort having abundance,
As when that I think that goodlihead
Of that most feminine and meek countenance
Very mirror and star of womanhood;
Whose right good fame so large abroad doth spread,
Full glad for me to have recognisance --
Of all comfort having abundance.

This joy and I, I trust, shall never twin,
So that I am so far forth in the trace,
My joys be double where others' are but thin,
For I am stably set in such a place,
Where beauty 'creaseth and ever willeth grace,
Which is full famous and born of noble kin --
This joy and I, I trust, shall never twin.




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