Esther M. Zimmer Lederberg
Thomas Watson Hekatompathia 1592: Sonnet VII
Harke you that list to heare what sainte I serve:
Her yellow lockes exceede the beaten goulde;
Her sparkeling eies in heau'n a place deserue;
Her forehead high and faire of comely moulde;
Her wordes are musicke all of siluer sounde;
Her wit so sharpe as like can scarce be founde;
Each eybrowe hanges like Iris in the skies;
"Her Eagles nose is straight of stately frame;
On either cheeke a Rose and Lillie lies;
Her breath is sweete perfume, or hollie flame;
Her lips more red then any Corall stone;
Her necke more white, than aged Swans yt mone;
Her breast transparent is, like Christall rocke;
Her fingers long, fit for Apolloes Lute;
Her slipper such as Momus dare not mocke;
Her vertues all so great as make me mute:
What other partes she hath I neede not say,
Whose face alone is cause of my decaye.
Commentary:
A blazon!
Object
Description
Locks of hair
Yellow like gold
Eyes
Sparkling
Forehead
Comely
Language/words
Musical, silvery
Eyebrows
Iris of the skies 1
Nose
Aquiline straight
Breath
Perfume
Lips
Coral red
Neck
White swan
Breast
Crystal pure transparency
Fingers
Long (to play Apollo's Lute)
Slipper 2
Momus' satires
1
The goddess Iris of the rainbow carried water through
the skies from the river Styx to the gods at Olympus.
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