Edmund Spenser(1552–1599)

Sonnet 15 ("Ye tradefull Merchants that with weary toyle")

Ye tradefull8 Merchants that with weary toyle,

Do seeke most pretious things to make your gain:

And both the Indias9 of their treasures spoile,despoil

What needeth you to seeke so farre in vaine

For loe my love doth in her selfe containe

All this worlds riches that may farre be found,

If Saphyres, loe her eies be Saphyres plaine,perfect

If Rubies, loe hir lips be Rubies sound:free from defect

If Pearles, hir teeth be pearles both pure and round;

If Yvorie, her forhead yvory weene;1

If Gold, her locks are finest gold on ground;Earth

If silver, her faire hands are silver sheene;bright

But that which fairest is, but few behold,

Her mind adornd with vertues manifold.