Poem of the Month

Howell, James, 1594?-1666

Howell, James, 1594?-1666 : Upon a Beutiful Valentine .A Sonnet. [from Poems On several Choice and Various Subjects (1663)]

1          Could I charm the Queen of Loves
2          To lend a Quill of her white Doves,
3          Or one of Cupids pointed wings,
4          Dipt in the fair Castalian springs:
5             Then wold I write the All-divine
6             Perfections of my Valentine .

7          As mongst all flowers the Rose excels,
8          As Amber mongst the fragrant'st smells,
9          As mongst all Minerals the Gold ,
10        As Marble mongst the finest Mold,
11        As Diamonds mongst Jewels bright,
12        As Cynthia mongst the lesser lights;
13           So mong the Northern Beauties shine,
14           So far excels my Valentine .

15        In Rome and Naples I did view
16        Faces of Coelestial hue;
17        Venetian Dames I have seen many,
18        (I onely saw them, touch'd not any)
19        Of Spanish Beauties, Dutch and French
20        I have beheld the Quintessence ;
21           Yet saw I none that could out-shine,
22           Or Parallel my Valentine .

23        Th' Italians they are coy and quaint,
24        But they grosly daub and paint;
25        The Spanish kind are apt to please,
26        But sav'ring of the same disease;
27        Of Dutch and French some few are comely,
28        The French are light , the Dutch are homely:
29           Let Tagus, Po , the Loire and Rhine
30           Then vail unto my Valentine .

31        Here may be seen pure white and red,
32        Not by feign'd Art , but Nature wed;
33        No simpering smiles, no mimic face,
34        Affected jesture, or forc'd face:
35        A fair-smooth front, free from least wrinkle,
36        Her eyes (Oy me) like Stars do twinkle.
37           Thus all perfections do combine
38           To beutifie my Valentine .

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