Sonnet 19
THE merry cuckow, messenger of Spring,
His trompet shrill hath thrise already sounded:
That warnes al louers wayt upon their king[1],
Who now is comming forth with girland crounéd.
With noyse whereof the quyre[2] of byrds resounded
Their anthemes sweet, deuizéd of Loues prayse,
That all the woods theyr ecchoes back rebounded[3],
As if they knew the meaning of their layes.
But mongst them all, which did Loues honor rayse
No word was heard of[4] her that most it ought[5],
But she his precept proudly disobayes,
And doth his ydle message set at nought.
Therefore, O loue, unlesse she turne to thee
Ere cuckow end, let her a rebell be[6].
[1] king:愛(ài)神丘比特。
[2] quire:合唱,和鳴。
[3] rebounded:婚頌的疊句。
[4] of:從,自。
[5] ought:對(duì)……負(fù)有(義務(wù)、債務(wù)等),受有……的恩惠,欠。
[6] rebell be:合法地公開(kāi)宣稱是違抗愛(ài)神丘比特之命的叛逆。