Queen Elizabeth I(1533—1603)
When I Was Fair
When I was fair and young and favour gracèd me,
Of many was I sought, their mistress for to be:
But I did scorn them all, and answered them therefore,
‘Go, go, go, seek some other where:
Importune me no more.’
How many weeping eyes I made to pine with woe,
How many sighing hearts, I have no skill to show:
Yet I the prouder grew, and answered them therefore,
‘Go, go, go, seek some other where:
Importune me no more.’
Then spake fair Venus' son, that proud victorious boy,
And said, ‘Fine Dame, since that you be so coy,
I will so pluck your plumes that you shall say no more,
“Go, go, go, seek some other where:
Importune me no more.”’
When he had spake these words, such change grew in my breast
That neither night nor day, since that, I could take any rest:
Then lo, I did repent that I had said before,
‘Go, go, go, seek some other where:
Importune me no more.’