Re: Edmund Spencer Sonnet XVI
Posted by:
Pam Adams (---.bus.csupomona.edu)
Date: June 16, 2022 07:28PM
ONE day as I unwarily did gaze
on those fair eyes my love's immortal light:
the whiles my 'stonish'd heart stood in amaze,
through sweet illusion of her looks delight.
'I looked into this woman's eyes.'
I mote perceive how in her glancing sight,
legions of loves with little wings did fly:
darting their deadly arrowes fiery bright,
at every rash beholder passing by.
'There I saw little Cupids. ' (If Cupid shoots you with his arrow, you fall in love)
One of those archers closely I did spy,
aiming his arrow at my very heart:
when suddenly with twinkle of her eye,
the Damsel broke his misintended dart.
'One of those Cupids aimed at me! However, she prevented him from shooting me.'
Had she not so done, sure I had been slain,
yet as it was, I hardly scap'd with pain.
' If she hadn't prevented it, I would have fallen in love with her. As it is, her memory still lingers.'
pam