Esther M. Zimmer Lederberg
Barnabe Barnes, 1593: Madrigall XVII
Barnaby Barnes: 1593
Parthenophil means one who loves young women platonically.
Parthenophe was a siren in Homer's "Ulysses".
Banabe Barnes Parthenophil and Parthenophe (1593): Madrigall XVII
Enuious ayer, all natures publicke nurse
Lend to my life no spirite:
Not that I prosper worse
Then earst of yoare, for I the state inherite
Which goddes in Paradise, boue mans demerite,
But for I highly scorne,
Thy common vnpour should
With her sweet breath immixe, I cannot beare it:
Cold ayres infusion cannot be forborne,
O kisse, ô soule, which could
All way linges haue outworne!
Angell of blisse, which cheeres me night, and morne,
Sweet cloud, which now with my soule doest enfould,
Salue to my soule once sicke.
Let men in Inde I'borne,
Cease boasting of rich drugges, and sweet perfume,
Egyptian gummes, and odours Arabicke
I loth, and wood deare sould
From Myrre, and Cypresse torne:
Tarry sweet kisse, do not in cloudes consume,
Yet can I feele thy spirite mouing quicke,
O why should ayre praesume,
To be her spirites riuall!
What do I speake? nor am I lunaticke:
I can not liue, else would I not assume
Cold ayer, to contriue all
My sorrowes with immixion,
Then dye whilst this sweet spirite the doth prycke,
Whilst thy sweet comfortes kisses are alyueall,
And loues sweet iurisdiction
Will make the dye possessed
Of all heauens ioyes, which for most comfort striueall:
Least death to pleasure should giue interdiction
Ah let my lippes be pressed,
And with continuall kisses
Powre euerlasting spirite to my life,
So shall I all wayes liue, so still be blessed.
Kisse still, and make no misses,
Double, redouble kisses,
Murmure affections, warre in pleasing strife:
Presse lippes, lippes rest oppressed,
This passion is no fiction.
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