Lady Mary Wroth, The dream of Venus & Cupid (Sonnet 1, from Pamphilia to Amphilanthus)

Recorded in March 2022. From "Pamphilia to Amphilanthus," a sonnet sequence first published in The Countess of Montgomery's Urania in 1621.

From Ben Jonson's "To the Lady Mary Wroth":

"For in your verse all Cupid’s armory,
His flames, his shafts, his quiver, and his bow,
His very eyes, are yours to overthrow.
But then his mother’s sweets you so apply,
Her joys, her smiles, her loves, as readers take
For Venus’ ceston every line you make."

Transcript:

When night's black mantle could most darkness prove,
And sleep, death's image, did my senses hire
From knowledge of myself, then thoughts did move
Swifter than those most swiftness need require:

In sleep, a chariot drawn by winged Desire
I saw; where sat bright Venus, Queen of love,
And at her feet her son, still adding fire
To burning hearts, which she did hold above.

But one heart, flaming more than all the rest,
The Goddess held, and put it to my breast.
'Dear son, now shoot,' said she, 'thus must we win.'

He her obeyed, and martyred my poor heart.
I waking hoped as dreams it would depart;
Yet since, O me, a lover I have been.