The Elizabethan Poets

By John Donne

Queen Elizabeth the First reigned from 1558 until 1603 and this first Elizabethan age is seen as a golden age not only of commerce, ambitions of empire but also of culture. Of poetry, painting and drama. In this volume of poetry we have collected together some of the finest examples from its illustrious creators spanning this important time in British history. From Shakespeare and Marlowe to Donne, Jonson and Spenser our wordsmiths muse and clarify their thoughts into beautiful, evocative verse.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Copyright Group
• Release date: Jan 27, 2014
• ISBN: 9781783947843

Book preview

The Elizabethan Poets

Queen Elizabeth the First reigned from 1558 until 1603 and this first Elizabethan age is seen as a golden age not only of commerce, ambitions of empire but also of culture. Of poetry, painting and drama.

In this volume of poetry we have collected together some of the finest examples from its illustrious creators spanning this important time in British history. 

From Shakespeare and Marlowe to Donne, Jonson and Spenser our wordsmiths muse and clarify their thoughts into beautiful, evocative verse.

Index Of Poems

The Life of Man by Sir Francis Bacon

Sing a New Song by Sir Francis Bacon

Guiltless Heart by Sir Francis Bacon

On The Tombs In Westminster Abbey by Francis Beaumont

Lay A Garland On My Hearse by Francis Beaumont

The Author To The Reader by Francis Beaumont

Pretty Twinkling Starry Eyes by Nicholas Breton 

A Sweet Lullaby by Nicholas Breton

Humility by Richard Brome

The Merry Beggars by Richard Brome

Follow Thy Fair Sun by Thomas Campion

Amaryllis  by Thomas Campion

Opinion by George Chapman

Courage by George Chapman

Beauty, Time, and Love. Sonnets by Samuel Daniel.

Musophilus Containing A General Defence Of All Learning

by Samuel Daniel

The Dignity of Man by Sir John Davies

Patience by Thomas Dekker

Art Thou Poor by Thomas Dekker

The Noble Spanish Soldier by Thomas Dekker

A Valediction: Forbidding Mourning by John Donne

The Flea by John Dunne

Go and Catch a Falling Star by John Donne

The Sun Rising by John Donne

The Primrose by John Donne

Good Morrow by John Donne

The Expiration by John Donne

Holy Sonnet X: Death, Be Not Proud by John Donne

Nativity by John Donne

The Storme by John Donne

The Relic by John Donne

Witchcraft By A Picture by John Donne

That Time And Absence Proves Rather Helps Than Hurts To Loves

by John Donne

The Ballad Of Agincourt by Michael Drayton

How Many Paltry Foolish Painted Things by Michael Drayton

Sonnet III: Taking My Pen by Michael Drayton

To A Lady Asking Him How Long He Would Love her by George Etherege

Heaven by Edward Fairfax

Orpheus I Am, Come From The Deeps Below by John Fletcher

Care-charming Sleep by John Fletcher

Love's Emblems by John Fletcher

A Bridal Song by John Ford

Dawn by John Ford

And If I Did, What Then? By George Gascoigne

At Beauty's Bar As I Did Stand by George Gascoigne

Fawnia by Robert Greene

Samela by Robert Greene

The World That All Contains by Fulke Greville

Mustapha by Fulke Greville

Caelica: Sonnet 22 by Fulke Greville

Beauty by Sir John Harrington

Slander by Sir John Harrington

Ingratitude by Sir John Harrington

Epigrams: On My First Son by Ben Jonson

Song To Celia by Ben Jonson

A Farewell To The World by Ben Jonson

Of Life And Death by Ben Jonson

Queen And Huntress by Ben Jonson

Yet Might She Love Me by Thomas Kyd

Vulcan’s Song by John Lyly

Cards And Kisses by John Lyly

The Face That Launch'd A Thousand Ships by Christopher Marlowe

The Passionate Shepherd To His Love by Christopher Marlowe

Who Ever Loved That Loved Not at First Sight? By Christopher Marlowe

I Must Have Wanton Poets by Christopher Marlowe

Accurs'd Be He That First Invented War by Christopher Marlowe

Death Invoked by Philip Massinger

The Forest’s Queen by Philip Massinger

How Near Am I To Happiness by Thomas Middleton

A Litany in Time of Plague by Thomas Nashe

Spring, The Sweet Spring by Thomas Nashe

Adieu, Farewell Earth’s Bliss by Thomas Nashe

Bethsabe Bathing by George Peele

Oenone’s Complaint by George Peele

Ah, Silly Pug, Wert Thou So Sore Afraid by Queen Elizabeth I

In Defiance of Fortune by Queen Elizabeth I

Oh, Fortune! by Queen Elizabeth I

On Monsieur's Departure by Queen Elizabeth I

The Doubt Of Future Foes by Queen Elizabeth I

When I Was Fair And Young by Queen Elizabeth I

Written In Her French Psalter by Queen Elizabeth I

Written On A Wall At Woodstock by Queen Elizabeth I

Written With A Diamond On Her Window At Woodstock by Queen Elizabeth I

Life by Sir Walter Raleigh

Farewell To The Court by Sir Walter Raleigh

The Passionate Man's Pilgrimage by Sir Walter Raleigh

Full Fathom Five by William Shakespeare

Carpe Diem by Willaim Shakespeare

A Lover's Complaint by Willaim Shakespeare

Blow, Blow, Thou Winter Wind by William Shakespeare

Sonnet 123: No, Time, Thou Shalt Not Boast That I do Change by William Shakespeare

Sonnet 138: When My Love Swears That She Is Made Of Truth by William Shakespeare

Death’s Subtle Ways by James Shirley

The Fair Felon by James Shirley

Come Sleep, O Sleep! The Certain Knot Of Peace by Sir Philip Sidney

Leave Me, O Love Which Reachest But To Dust by Sir Philip Sidney

Sonnet 35: What May Words Say by Sir Philip Sidney

Sonnet 100: Oh Tears, No Tears by Sir Philip Sidney

Ice and Fire by Edmund Spenser

So Let Us Love by Edmund Spenser

Visions Of The Worlds Vanitie by Edmund Spenser

A Dirge by John Webster

The Madman's Song by John Webster

Honourable Employment by John Webster

The Life of Man by Sir Francis Bacon

The world's a bubble; and the life of man less than a span.

In his conception wretched; from the womb so to the tomb:

Curst from the cradle, and brought up to years, with cares and fears.

Who then to frail mortality shall trust,

But limns the water, or but writes in dust.

Yet, since with sorrow here we live oppress'd, what life is best?

Courts are but only superficial schools to dandle fools:

The rural parts are turn'd into a den of savage men:

And where's a city from all vice so free,

But may be term'd the worst of all the three?

Domestic cares afflict the husband's bed, or pains his head:

Those that live single, take it for a curse, or do things worse:

Some would have children; those that have them none; or wish them gone.

What is it then to have no wife, but single thralldom or