The Fulke Greville Symposium


 Away with these self-louing Lads,
 Whom Cupid's arrow never glads:
 Away poor souls, that sigh and weep,
 In loue of those that lie asleep:
 For Cupid is a meadow-God,
 And forceth none to kiss the rod.

 Sweet Cupid's shafts like Destiny
 Do causeless good or ill decree;
 Desert is born out of his bow,
 Reward upon his wing doth go;
 What fools are they that have not known,
 That Love likes no Laws but his own.

 My songs they be of Cynthia's praise,
 I wear her Rings on Holy days,
 In every Tree I write her name,
 And every Day I read the same.
 Where Honour Cupids rival is
 There miracles are seene of his.

 If Cynthia crave her Ring of me,
 I blot her name out of the Tree,
 If doubt do darken things held dear,
 Then well-fare Nothing once a year
 For many run, but one must win,
 Fools only hedge the Cuckoo in.

 The worth that worthiness should move,
 Is Love, that is the bow of love,
 And Love as well thee foster can,
 As can the mighty Noble-man.
 Sweet Saint 'tis true, you worthy be,
 Yet without Love nought worth to me.

Fulke Greville, Caelica 52
 


Fulke Greville (1554-1628), poet, playwright and statesman, is perhaps most widely known for his friendship with Sir Philip Sidney, and for his account of Sidney's life.  The website of the Fulke Greville Symposium seeks to offer a focus for anyone interested in the life and works of this most enigmatic of Renaissance writers.


 

Previous activities of the Fulke Greville Symposium:

Etexts of Greville:

Fulke Greville research resources:

Unclassifiable things:

 

 


These pages are maintained by Matthew Steggle. Please mail him with any additions, suggestions, or enquiries.