Poems by William Shakespeare

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1804 Excerpt: ...as in pomp and pride of gait they pass, Scarce with their weight they bend the tops of grass. Amaz'd I start, and endlong stands my hair, When Maia's son thus soys; Abandon fear, Thou courteous swain, that to these groves repairest, And freely judge which of these three is fairest. And lest I should this curious sentence shun, He tells me by Jove's sentence all is done; And to be judge, I no way can eschew. This having said, up thro' the air he flew. I strait took heart-a-grace, and grew more bold j And there their beauties one by one behold. AMOROUS EPISTLE OF PARIS TO HELEN. Why am I made the judge to give this doom? Methinks all three are worthy to o'ercome. To injure two such beauties what tongue dare? Or prefer one, where they be all so fair? Now this seems fairest, now again that other; Now would I speak, and now my thoughts I smother: And yet at length the praise of one most sounded, And from that one my present love is grounded. The goddesses, out of their earnest care, And pride of beauty to be held most fair, Seek, with large alms, and gifts of wond'rous price, To their own thoughts my censure to entice. Juno the wife of Jove doth first enchant me; To judge her fairest, she a crown will grant me. Pallas, her daughter, next doth undertake me; Give her the prize, and valiant she will make me. I strait devise which can most pleasure bring, To be a valiant soldier, or a king. Last Venus smiling, came with such a grace As if she sway'd an empire in her face: Let not (said she) these gifts the conquest bear, Combats and kingdoms are both fraught with fear. I'll give thee what thou lov'stbest (lovely swain) The fairest saint that doth on earth remain Shall be thine own: make thou the conquest mine, Fair Lceda's fairest daughter shall be thine. This said,...