Esther M. Zimmer Lederberg
Thomas Lodge Phillis Sonnet sequence: XXII
Fair art thou, Phillis, ay, so fair sweet maid,
As nor the sun, nor I have seen more fair;
For in thy cheeks sweet roses are embayed,
And gold more pure than gold doth gild thy hair.
Sweet bees have hived their honey on thy tongue,
And Hebe spiced her nectar with thy breath;
About thy neck do all the graces throng,
And lay such baits as might entangle death.
In such a breast what heart would not be thrall?
From such sweet arms who would not wish embraces?
At thy fair hands who wonders not at all,
Wonder itself through ignorance embases?
Yet natheless though wondrous gifts you call these,
My faith is far more wonderful than all these.
Commentary:
A blazon! Phillis (Countess of Shrewsbury) is inventoried for a future auction.
Object
Description
Phillis
A maid as uniquely fair as the Sun
Cheeks
Roses
Hair
Gold
Tongue
Honey
Breath
Like Hebe's spicy nectar
Neck
All graces
Breast
To enslave all hearts
Arms
Wish only to embrace
Hands
Fair
Thomas Lodge
Thomas Lodge's faith in Phillis exceeds anything about her
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