| Seccombe and Arber, comps. Elizabethan Sonnets. 1904. | | | Astrophel and Stella
Other Songs of Variable Verse | | Seventh Song: Whose senses in so evil consort their stepdame Nature lays | | Sir Philip Sidney (1554–1586) |
| | | WHOSE senses in so evil consort their stepdame Nature lays, | |
| That ravishing delight in them most sweet tunes doth not raise: | |
| Or if they do delight therein, yet are so closed with wit; | |
| As with sententious lips to set a title vain on it. | |
| O let them hear these sacred tunes, and learn in WONDER’s schools | 5 |
| To be (in things past bounds of wit) fools, if they be not fools. | |
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| Who have so leaden eyes, as not to see sweet BEAUTY’s show; | |
| Or seeing, have so wooden wits as not that worth to know; | |
| Or knowing, have so muddy minds as not to be in love; | |
| Or loving, have so frothy thoughts as easy thence to move: | 10 |
| O let them see these heavenly beams! and in fair letters read | |
| A lesson fit, both sight and skill, love and firm love to breed. | |
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| Hear then! but then with wonder hear; see! but adoring see | |
| No mortal gifts, no earthly fruits, now here discerned be. | |
| See! do you see this face? A face! nay image of the skies; | 15 |
| Of which the two life-giving lights are figured in her eyes. | |
| Hear you this soul-invading voice! and count it but a voice? | |
| The very essence of their tunes when Angels do rejoice. | | | | |
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