Sonnet 22

THIS holy season, fit to fast and pray,

Men to deuotion ought to be inclynd:

Therefore, I likewise, on so holy day^[1],

For my sweet saynt some seruice fit will find,

Her temple fayre is built within my mind,

In which her glorious ymage placéd is,

On which my thoughts doo day and night attend

Lyke sacred priests that neuer thinke amisse.

There I to her, as th'author of my blisse,

Will builde an altar to appease her yre:

And on the same my hart will sacrifise,

Burning in flames of pure and chast desyre:

The which vouchsafe, O goddesse, to accept,

Amongst thy deerest relicks to be kept.

[1] holy day:圣灰星期三，四旬斋期的第一天。圣灰星期三，也称圣灰节，大斋首日，或次日，是基督教的教会年历节期大斋期之始。大斋首日一定是礼拜三，因为耶稣是在礼拜三被出卖的。圣灰星期三当天，教会会举行涂灰礼，要把去年棕枝主日祝圣过的棕技烧成灰，再涂在教友的额头上，作为悔改的象征。