Henry Constable

Henry Constable (1562 – 9 October 1613) was an English poet. Becoming a Roman Catholic, he went to Paris, and acted as an agent for the Catholic powers. He died at Liège. In 1592 he published Diana, a collection of sonnets, and contributed to England's Helicon four poems, including "Diaphenia" and "Venus and Adonis". His style is characterised by fervour and richness of colour.

Quotes

Diaphenia like the daffadowndilly
  • I did not know that thou wert dead before;
    I did not feel the grief I did sustain;
    The greater stroke astonisheth the more;
    Astonishment takes from us sense of pain;
    I stood amazed when others' tears begun,
    And now begin to weep when they have done.
    • "To Sir Philip Sidney's Soul", l. 9; prefixed to Sidney's Apology for Poetry (1595); also in Davison's Poetical Rhapsody (1602)

England's Helicon (1592)

Set to music in Pilkington's First Book of Songs and Airs (1605)
  • Diaphenia like the daffadowndilly.
    • "Damelus' Song of His Diaphenia", l. 1
  • I do love thee as my lambs
    Are belovėd of their dams.
    • "Damelus' Song of His Diaphenia", l. 4
  • As the birds do love the spring,
    Or the bees their careful king.
    • "Damelus' Song of His Diaphenia", l. 16
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