Poem by Michael Drayton

Sonnet 30. Those Priests which First the Vestal Fire Begun

   To the Vestals

Those priests which first the Vestal fire begun,
Which might be borrow'd from no earthly flame,
Devis'd a vessel to receive the Sun,
Being steadfastly opposed to the same;
Where, with sweet wood, laid curiously by art,
On which the Sun might by reflection beat,
Receiving strength from every secret part,
The fuel kindled with celestial heat.
Thy blessed eyes the sun which lights this fire,
Thy holy thoughts, they be the Vestal flame,
The precious odors be my chaste desire,
My breast's the vessel which includes the same.
    Thou art my Vesta, thou my Goddess art; 
    Thy hallow'd temple only is my Heart.

1. Sonnet 23. Love, Banish'd Heav'n
2. Sonnet 36. Thou Purblind Boy
3. Sonnet 45. Muses, which Sadly Sit about My Chair
4. Sonnet 16. Mongst all the Creatures in this Spacious Round
5. Sonnet 42. Some Men there Be which like My Method Well

Print

1248 Views

Last Poems

To Russian version