Esther M. Zimmer Lederberg
Henry Howard, Earl of Surrey 1546: Sonnet IX
Brittle beautie, that nature made so frail,
Whereof the gift is small, and short the season,
Flowring to day, to morrowe apt to faile,
Ticklell treasure, abhorred of reason,
Dangerous to dele with, vaine, of none availe,
Costly in keping, past not worthe two peason,
Slipper in sliding as is an eles taile,
Hard to attaine, once gotten not geason,
Jewel of jeopardie that perill doth assaile,
False and untrue, enticed oft to treason,
Enmy to youth: that most may I bewaile.
Ah bitter swete infecting as the poyson:
Thou farest as frute that with the frost is taken,
To day redy ripe, to morrowe al to shaken.
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