@lady-lord-cornbury
Lady-Lord of my love, to whom in vassalage Thy merit hath my duty strongly knit, To thee I send this written embassage, To witness duty, not to show my wit: Duty so great, which wit so poor as mine May make seem bare, in wanting words to show it, But that I hope some good conceit of thine In thy soul's thought, all naked, will bestow it: Till whatsoever star that guides my moving, Points on me graciously with fair aspect, And puts apparel on my tottered loving, To show me worthy of thy sweet respect: Then may I dare to boast how I do love thee; Till then, not show my head where thou mayst prove me.
My first poem I am sending thee, Your Lordyship, together with two portraits of me:
painted by an artist who presents me as twink at your service,
a photograph obtained by modern witchcraft showing me as mature poet at the height of his creative powers
