| Arthur Quiller-Couch, ed. 1919. The Oxford Book of English Verse: 1250–1900. |
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| Sir Philip Sidney. 1554–86 |
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| 91. Philomela |
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| THE Nightingale, as soon as April bringeth | |
| Unto her rested sense a perfect waking, | |
| While late-bare Earth, proud of new clothing, springeth, | |
| Sings out her woes, a thorn her song-book making; | |
| And mournfully bewailing, | 5 |
| Her throat in tunes expresseth | |
| What grief her breast oppresseth, | |
| For Tereus' force on her chaste will prevailing. | |
| O Philomela fair, O take some gladness | |
| That here is juster cause of plaintful sadness! | 10 |
| Thine earth now springs, mine fadeth; | |
| Thy thorn without, my thorn my heart invadeth. | |
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| Alas! she hath no other cause of anguish | |
| But Tereus' love, on her by strong hand wroken; | |
| Wherein she suffering, all her spirits languish, | 15 |
| Full womanlike complains her will was broken | |
| But I, who, daily craving, | |
| Cannot have to content me, | |
| Have more cause to lament me, | |
| Since wanting is more woe than too much having. | 20 |
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| O Philomela fair, O take some gladness | |
| That here is juster cause of plaintful sadness! | |
| Thine earth now springs, mine fadeth; | |
| Thy thorn without, my thorn my heart invadeth. | |
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