NAVIGATION:

Delia 46 ["Let others sing of knights and paladins"]

by Samuel Daniel

1-2. Let others ... untimely words: This may be an allusion to The Faerie Queene, in which Spenser deliberately uses archaic words and ideas. 3. Paint ... lines: i.e., paint idealistic portraits in lines of poetry drawn only from their imaginations. 4. Which ... records: i.e., which is a good record of how witty they can be. 4. Authentic: authenticate; i.e., show that I was sincere and realistic.

   1   Let others sing of knights and paladins
   2   In aged accents and untimely words;
   3   Paint shadows in imaginary lines
   4   Which well the reach of their high wits records:
   5   But I must sing of thee, and those fair eyes
   6   Authentic shall my verse in time to come,
   7   When yet th' unborn shall say, "Lo where she lies
   8   Whose beauty made him speak that else was dumb."
   9   These are the arks, the trophies I erect,
  10   That fortify thy name against old age;
  11   And these thy sacred virtues must protect
  12   Against the dark, and time's consuming rage.

13. Though ... discover: i.e., though they will reveal what a bad poet I was when I was young.

13 Though th' error of my youth they shall discover,
14 Suffice they show I liv'd and was thy lover.