Italian Artistry, English Innovation: Thomas Watson's Italian Madrigalls Englished (1590)

Abstract

The starr’s, which did at Petrarch’s byrthday raigne Were fixt againe at thy natiuity, Destening thee the Thuscan’s poesie, Who skald the skies in lofty Quatorzain, The Muses gaue to thee thy fatall vaine, The very same, that Petrarch had, whereby Madonna Laures fame is growne so hy, And that whereby his glory he did gaine. Thou hast a Laure, whom well thou doest commend, And to her praise thy passion songs do tend; Yee both such praise deserue, as naught can smother; In briefe with Petrarch and his Laure in grace Thou and thy Dame be equall, saue percase Thou passe the one, and shee excell’s the other. —G. Bucke, commendatory verse to Thomas Watson’s Hekatompathia (1582)