Damelus' Song to Diaphenia
Diaphenia, like the daffadowndilly,
White as the sun, fair as the lily,
Heigh ho, how I do love thee!
I do love thee as my lambs
Are belovėd of their dams
How blest were I if thou wouldst prove me!
Diaphenia, like the spreading roses,
That in thy sweets all sweets incloses,
Fair sweet, how I do love thee!
I do love thee as each flower
Loves the sun's life-giving power,
For, dead, thy breath to life might move me.
Diaphenia, like to all things blessed,
When all thy praises are expressėd,
Dear joy, how I do love thee!
As the birds do love the spring,
Or the bees their careful king,
Then in requite, sweet virgin, love me!
Henry Constable
