Sonnet 1 - The Humble Bard

One need not brighten a woman's delights,

or with caresses soften the dove's plume;

so why add to the Sun's glorious sights,

or double leafy Gaia's budding bloom?

Simply say what mild nature confesses,

without tincture of pride from disguised eyes:

man as man is, without moral stresses,

such vain excesses belie nought but lies.

Shun gross gilders of the fair world, for one

who held but the mirror to its fair form,

revealed more beauty through many a pun

than all sages dreamt in harmonic law.

  Of this humble bard what can this one say:

  look on his works and make merry this day.