| Seccombe and Arber, comps. Elizabethan Sonnets. 1904. | | | | Sonnets and Poetical Translations | | VII. The scourge of life, and death’s extreme disgrace | | Sir Philip Sidney (1554–1586) |
| | These four following Sonnets were made, when his Lady had pain in her face.
[These four sonnets were first printed in Constable’s Diana, 1594.] |
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THE SCOURGE of life, and death’s extreme disgrace, | |
| The smoke of hell, the monster callèd PAIN; | |
| Long shamed to be accurst in every place, | |
| By them who of his rude resort complain; | |
| Like crafty wretch, by time and travail taught, | 5 |
| His ugly evil in others’ good to hide; | |
| Late harbours in her face, whom Nature wrought | |
| As Treasure House where her best gifts do bide. | |
| And so, by privilege of sacred seat— | |
| A seat where beauty shines, and virtue reigns— | 10 |
| He hopes for some small praise, since she hath great; | |
| Within her beams, wrapping his cruel stains. | |
| Ah, saucy PAIN! Let not thy error last. | |
| More loving eyes she draws, more hate thou hast! | | | |
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