Sonnet LVI

Portrait of Edmund Spenser
Edmund Spenser 1552–1599

FAyre ye be sure, but cruell and vnkind, As is a Tygre that with greedinesse hunts after bloud, when he by chance doth find a feeble beast, doth felly him oppresse. Fayre be ye sure but proud and pittilesse, as is a storme, that all things doth prostrate: finding a tree alone all comfortlesse, beats on it strongly it to ruinate. Fayre be ye sure, but hard and obstinate, as is a rocke amidst the raging floods: gaynst which a ship of succour desolate, doth suffer wreck both of her selfe and goods. That ship, that tree, and that same beast am I, whom ye doe wreck, doe ruine, and destroy.

Keep reading

Discover more of Edmund Spenser’s poetry.

Explore all poems

Readers

Reader discussion

Your turn

Shown with your comment.

Never published. Only so we can reach you.

Comments are read before they appear. See our terms.