Esther M. Zimmer Lederberg
Barnabe Barnes, 1593: Sonnet IIII
Barnaby Barnes: 1593
Parthenophil means one who loves young women platonically.
Parthenophe was a siren in Homer's "Ulysses".
Barnabe Barnes Parthenophil and Parthenophe (1593): Sonnet IIII
Laya soone sounding out his nature throughly,
Found that he was, a Louely Virgin Boy:
Causelesse why did thou then, deale with him roughly,
Nor yet content with him, sometime to toy.
But iealouse kept, least he should runne from thee,
Whome if thou kindely meant to Loue, 'twas needelesse:
Doubting least that he should runne backe to mee,
If of him any deale, thou didst stand heedelesse.
Thou coop'st him in thy Clossets secret Corners,
And then thy heartes deere play-fellow didst make him,
Whome thou in person guardedst least suborners
Should worke his freelidge, or in secrete take him,
And to this instant, neuer would forsake him:
Since for softe seruice, slauish bondes bee change,
Why didst thou from, thy iealouse maister range?