Poem 23

Portrait of Edmund Spenser
Edmund Spenser 1552–1599

And ye high heauens, the temple of the gods, In which a thousand torches flaming bright Doe burne, that to vs wretched earthly clods: In dreadful darknesse lend desired light; And all ye powers which in the same remayne, More then we men can fayne, Poure out your blessing on vs plentiously, And happy influence vpon vs raine, That we may raise a large posterity, Which from the earth, which they may long possesse, With lasting happinesse, Vp to your haughty pallaces may mount, And for the guerdon of theyr glorious merit May heauenly tabernacles there inherit, Of blessed Saints for to increase the count. So let vs rest, sweet loue, in hope of this, And cease till then our tymely ioyes to sing, The woods no more vs answer, nor our eccho ring.

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