Sonnet LIV. If great Apollo offered as a dower

Bartholomew Griffin (d. 1602)

IF great Apollo offered as a dower,

His burning throne to Beauty’s excellence;

If JOVE himself came in a golden shower,

Down to the earth, to fetch fair IO thence;

If VENUS, in the curlèd locks was tied

Of proud ADONIS, not of gentle kind;

If TELLUS, for a shepherd’s favour died,

(The favour cruel Love to her assigned);

If Heaven’s-winged herald HERMES had

His heart enchanted with a country maid;

If poor PYGMALION was for beauty mad:

If gods and men have all for beauty strayed:

I am not then ashamed to be included

’Mongst those that love, and be with love deluded.