Esther M. Zimmer Lederberg
Barnabe Barnes, 1593: Sestine II
Barnaby Barnes: 1593
Parthenophil means one who loves young women platonically.
Parthenophe was a siren in Homer's "Ulysses".
Barnabe Barnes Parthenophil and Parthenophe
Pastoral Ode (1593): Sestine II
IN sweetest pride of youthfull may,
Where my poore flockes were wont to stay
About the valleys and high hilles
Which Flora with her glorie filles,
Parthenophil the gentle swayne,
Perplexed with a pleasing payne,
Dispairing how to slake his payne,
To woodes and floodes these wordes did say:
Parthenophe mine harts soueraine,
Why doest thou my delightes delay?
And with thy crosse vnkindnesse killes,
Mine hart bound martyr to thy willes?
But women will haue their owne willes,
Alas why then should I complaine?
Since what she list her hart fulfilles,
I sigh, I weepe, I kneele, I pray,
When I should kisse she runnes away:
Sighes, knees, teares, prayers spent in vayne.
My verses do not please her vayne.
Mine hart weares with continuall thrilles,
His Epilogue about to play,
My sence vnsounde, my wittes in wayne,
I still expect an happie day,
Whilest haruest growes, my winter spilles,
Parthenophe mine haruest spilles.
She robbes my store-house of his grayne:
Alas sweet wenche thy rage allay,
Behold what fountaine still distilles,
Whiles thine heates rage in me doth rayne:
Yet moysture will not his flame stay.
Parthenophe thy surie stay,
Take hence th' occasion of these Illes,
Thou art the cause, but come againe,
Returne, and Floraes pride distaine,
Her lillyes, rose, and daffadilles:
Thy cheekes, and forhead disaray
The rose and lillyes of their grayne.
What swannes can yeelde so many quilles,
As all glories can display.
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