Sonnet XX

Portrait of Edmund Spenser
Edmund Spenser 1552–1599

IN vaine I seeke and sew to her for grace, and doe myne humbled hart before her poure: the whiles her foot she in my necke doth place, and tread my life downe in the lowly floure. And yet the Lyon that is Lord of power, and reigneth ouer euery beast in field: in his most pride disdeigneth to deuoure the silly lambe that to his might doth yield. But she more cruell and more saluage wylde, then either Lyon or the Lyonesse: shames not to be with guiltlesse bloud defylde, but taketh glory in her cruelnesse. Fayrer then fayrest let none euer say, that ye were blooded in a yeelded pray.

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