ELIZABETHAN SONNET CYCLES FIVE MAJOR POETIC SEQUENCES Five Major Elizabethan Sonnet Sequences by Samuel Daniel, Michael Drayton, Sir Philip Sidney, William Shakespeare and Edmund Spenser. A collection of five major sonnet sequences from the Elizabethan era by some of the great poets of the period: Sir Philip Sidney, Edmund Spenser, Michael Drayton, Samuel Daniel and William Shakespeare. Each sonnet cycle is love poetry, and some of the finest verse in the English language: Sidney's 'Astrophel and Stella', Daniel's 'Delia', Drayton's 'Idea', Spenser's 'Amoretti', and Shakespeare's 'Sonnets'. This edition prints each poem cycle on its own, without notes or editorial intrusions. And each poem has a page to itself, rather than being crammed together. It's a useful edition for students. MICHAEL DRAYTON, SONNET 4, FROM 'IDEA': BRIGHT STAR of beauty, on whose eyelids sit - A thousand nymph-like and enamoured graces, - The goddesses of memory and wit, - Which there in order take their several places; - In whose dear bosom, sweet delicious love - Lays down his quiver which he once did bear, - Since he that blessed paradise did prove, - And leaves his mother's lap to sport him there - Let others strive to entertain with words - My soul is of a braver mettle made; - I hold that vile which vulgar wit affords; - In me's that faith which time cannot invade. - Let what I praise be still made good by you; - Be you most worthy whilst I am most true! Includes the illustrations of the poets, and notes on further reading. The book is also in a hardback edition. British Poets Series. Bibliography & illustrations. 536 pages. ISBN 9781861715661. www.crmoon.com