DIAPHENIA

Diaphenia, like the daffdowndilly,

White as the sun, fair as the lily,

Heigh ho, how I do love thee!

I do love thee as my lambs

Are belovèd of their dams—

How blest were I if thou wouldst prove me.

Diaphenia, like the spreading roses,

That in thy sweets all sweets encloses,

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 blessèd,

When all thy praises are expressèd,

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