| Seccombe and Arber, comps. Elizabethan Sonnets. 1904. | | | | Sonnets and Poetical Translations | | XVIII. A Satyr once did run away for dread | | Sir Philip Sidney (1554–1586) |
| | [Answering Sonnet by Sir PHILIP SIDNEY]
A SATYR once did run away for dread, | |
| With sound of horn, which he himself did blow: | |
| Fearing and feared, thus from himself he fled; | |
| Deeming strange evil in that he did not know. | |
| Such causeless fears, when coward minds do take; | 5 |
| It makes them fly that which they fain would have: | |
| As this poor beast who did his rest forsake | |
| Thinking not “Why!” but how himself to save. | |
| Even thus might I, for doubts which I conceive | |
| Of mine own words, my own good hap betray: | 10 |
| And thus might I, for fear of “May be,” leave | |
| The sweet pursuit of my desirèd prey. | |
| Better like I thy Satyr, dearest DYER! | |
| Who burnt his lips to kiss fair shining fire. | | | | |
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