Sonnet IIII from Edmund Spenser's (1552 - 99)  Amoretti sequence
   
NEW1 yeare2 forth looking out of Ianus3 gate,4
  Doth seeme to promise hope of new delight:
  and bidding th' old Adieu5, his passed date
  bids all old thoughts to die in dumpish6 spright6a.
And calling forth out of sad Winters night,
  fresh loue7, that long hath slept in cheerlesse bower8:
  wils him awake, and soone about him dight9
  his wanton10 wings and darts of deadly power11.
For lusty11a spring now in his timely howre,
  is ready to come forth him to receiue:
  and warnes the Earth with diuers colord flowre12,
  to decke hir selfe, and her13 faire mantle14 weaue.
Then you faire flowre15, in whom fresh youth doth raine16,
  prepare your selfe new loue to entertaine.
Modern Spelling version  
Paraphrase  
 

This page last modified January 16, 2005