| Seccombe and Arber, comps. Elizabethan Sonnets. 1904. | | | | Astrophel and Stella | | XVIII. With what sharp checks I in myself am shent | | Sir Philip Sidney (1554–1586) |
| | | WITH what sharp checks I in myself am shent, | |
| When into REASON’s audit I do go; | |
| And by just counts, myself a bankrupt know | |
| Of all those goods which heaven to me hath lent. | |
| Unable quite, to pay even Nature’s rent, | 5 |
| Which unto it by birthright I do owe: | |
| And which is worse, no good excuse can show, | |
| But that my wealth I have most idly spent. | |
| My youth doth waste, my knowledge brings forth toys; | |
| My wit doth strive those passions to defend, | 10 |
| Which for reward, spoil it with vain annoys. | |
| I see my course to lose myself doth bend; | |
| I see, and yet no greater sorrow take, | |
| Than that I lose no more for STELLA’s sake. | | | | |
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