To E. of D. with six holy Sonnets.
See Sir, how as the Suns hot Masculine flame
Begets strange creatures on Niles durty slime,
In me, your fatherly yet lusty Ryme
(For, these songs are their fruits) have wrought the same;
But though the ingendring force from whence they came
Bee strong enough, and nature doe admit
Seaven to be borne at once, I send as yet
But six; they say, the seaventh hath still some maime.
I choose your judgement, which the same degree
Doth with her sister, your invention, hold,
As fire these drossie Rymes to purifie,
Or as Elixar, to change them to gold;
You are that Alchimist which alwaies had
Wit, whose one spark could make good things of bad.
[Divine Poems. A18, N, TC: In 1635-69 this is the title
at head of each page, but the new section is headed Holy
Sonnets.
To E. of D. &c. so headed 1633-69 but placed among
Letters &c., and so in O'F and (but L. of D.) W:
removed hither by Grosart.]
[4 their fruits] the fruit W]
[6 doe 1633: doth 1635-69]
[8 six;] six, 1633
maime. W: maime; 1633-69]
[11 drossie] drosse 1650-54]