As anyone who has met me can attest, I have a slight thing for the Tudors! On this day in 1559 Elizabeth Tudor was crowned Queen of England and to celebrate I thought I would share some of the wonderful poetry written during (or just after) her reign!

 The Passionate Shepherd to His Love (Marlowe)

Come live with me and be my love, 
And we will all the pleasures prove 
That valleys, groves, hills, and fields 
Woods or steepy mountain yields

 

And we will sit upon the rocks, 
Seeing the shepherds feed their flocks 
By shallow rivers to whose falls 
Melodious birds sing madrigals.

 

And I will make thee beds of roses 
And a thousand fragrant posies, 
A cap of flower, and a kirtle 
Embroidered all with leaves of myrtle;

 

A gown made of the finest wool 
Which from our pretty lambs we pull; 
Fair lined slippers for the cold 
With buckles of the purest gold;

 

A belt of straw and ivy buds, 
With coral clasps and amber studs; 
And if these pleasures may thee move, 
Come live with me and be my love.

 

The shepherds’ swains shall dance and sing 
For thy delight each May morning: 
If these delights thy mind may move, 
Then live with me and be my love.

 

To The Virgins, To Make Much Of Time (Herrick)

Gather ye rose-buds while ye may,

   Old Time is still a-flying;

And this same flower that smiles today

   Tomorrow will be dying.

 

The glorious lamp of heaven, the sun,

   The higher he’s a-getting,

The sooner will his race be run,

   And nearer he’s to setting.

 

That age is best which is the first,

   When youth and blood are warmer;

But being spent, the worse, and worst

   Times still succeed the former.

 

Then be not coy, but use your time,

   And while ye may, go marry;

For having lost but once your prime,

   You may forever tarry.

 If you want to check out my other posts about the Tudors:
Shakespeareland
Hampton Court