A man stands utterly transfixed by the beauty of his beloved. He calls it a “sovereign beauty,” a light so powerful that it kindles a heavenly fire in his frail spirit, lifting him above all that is base and ordinary. The experience leaves him dazed: he cannot bear to look at anything less than her, yet her “celestial hue” keeps him in such amazement that he can scarcely look directly either. When he tries to speak her praises aloud, his tongue is stopped cold by astonishment. When he attempts to write, his pen is ravished, overpowered by the wonder of it. All outward expression fails. But inside his heart, something different happens. There, he does speak and write—the wonder is alive, even though his conscious wit cannot put it into words. The mood is one of humble, reverent awe: being lifted beyond yourself by something so beautiful that it silences you, yet fills your heart with a silent song.
Amoretti III: The Sovereign Beauty — Summary
The sovereign beauty which I do admire, Witness the world how worthy to be praised: The light whereof hath kindled heavenly fire In my frail spirit, by her from baseness raised; That being now with her huge brightness dazed, Base thing I can no more endure to view; But looking still on her, I stand amazed At wondrous sight of so celestial hue. So when my tongue would speak her praises due, It stopped is with thought's astonishment: And when my pen would write her titles true, It ravish'd is with fancy's wonderment: Yet in my heart I then both speak and write The wonder that my wit cannot endite.