IDEA

MICHAEL DRAYTON: IDEA: ELIZABETHAN SONNET CYCLE Michael Drayton's 'Idea' is one of the major Elizabethan sonnet sequences, reprinted here in an attractive new edition. 'Idea' is a sonnet cycle of love poetry, and some of the finest verse in the English language. The book includes a note on Michael Drayton, illustrations, and suggestions for further reading. Each poem has a page to itself. It's a useful edition for students. Michael Drayton was born in 1563 in Warwickshire. He worked as a page (for Sir Henry Goodyere, an early patron, and later for Lucy, Countess of Bedford), and esquire (for Sir Walter Aston). As well as poems he wrote plays (1597-1602). He died in 1631 and is buried in Westminster Abbey. Michael Drayton's 'Idea In Sixtie Three Sonnets' was revised a number of times by the author. It was published first in 1594, and was republished in 1599, 1600, 1602, 1605 and 1619. Anne Goodyere (the daughter of Sir Philip Sidney's friend Sir Henry Goodyere), is assumed to be the object of affection in the sonnet sequence (though it's not certain if they were romantically involved; Drayton remained a passionate admirer for most of his life, and hers. She was married to Sir Henry Rainsford from 1595 until Rainsford's death in 1622, after which Drayton continued as Anne's devotee). The name Idea also has Platonic associations. MICHAEL DRAYTON, SONNET 4, FROM 'IDEA': BRIGHT STAR of beauty, on whose eyelids sit