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Shilpa KarhikElizabeth I - When I was Young and Fair
May 22nd 2006 07:00
Here is another poem by Elizabeth I, written fairly late in her life. Throughout her youth, Elizabeth was known to be proud, distant and fickle, and this poem expresses her regret for having behaved this way. If you'd like to read more about her life, click here for an earlier post I made on the subject, as well as another of Elizabeth's poem on the same topic.
WHEN I WAS YOUNG AND FAIR
by Elizabeth I
When I was fair and young, and favor graced me,
Of many was I sought their mistress for to be.
But I did scorn them all, and said to them therefore,
"Go, go, go, seek some otherwhere; importune me no more."
How many weeping eyes I made to pine in woe;
How many sighing hearts I have not skill to show,
But I the prouder grew, and still this spake therefore:
"Go, go, go, seek some otherwhere, importune me no more."
Then spake fair Venus' son, that brave victorious boy,
Saying: You dainty dame, for that you be so coy,
I will so pluck your plumes as you shall say no more:
"Go, go, go, seek some otherwhere, importune me no more."
As soon as he had said, such change grew in my breast
That neither night nor day I could take any rest.
Wherefore I did repent that I had said before:
"Go, go, go, seek some otherwhere, importune me no more."
WHEN I WAS YOUNG AND FAIR
by Elizabeth I
When I was fair and young, and favor graced me,
Of many was I sought their mistress for to be.
But I did scorn them all, and said to them therefore,
"Go, go, go, seek some otherwhere; importune me no more."
How many weeping eyes I made to pine in woe;
How many sighing hearts I have not skill to show,
But I the prouder grew, and still this spake therefore:
"Go, go, go, seek some otherwhere, importune me no more."
Then spake fair Venus' son, that brave victorious boy,
Saying: You dainty dame, for that you be so coy,
I will so pluck your plumes as you shall say no more:
"Go, go, go, seek some otherwhere, importune me no more."
As soon as he had said, such change grew in my breast
That neither night nor day I could take any rest.
Wherefore I did repent that I had said before:
"Go, go, go, seek some otherwhere, importune me no more."
An aged Elizabeth I, artist unknown. From Wikipedia
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