| Seccombe and Arber, comps. Elizabethan Sonnets. 1904. | | | | Astrophel and Stella | | IV. Virtue! alas, now let me take some rest | | Sir Philip Sidney (1554–1586) |
| | | VIRTUE! alas, now let me take some rest. | |
| Thou sett’st a bate between my will and wit: | |
| If vain love have my simple soul opprest; | |
| Leave what thou lik’st not! deal not thou with it | |
| Thy sceptre use in some old CATO’s breast: | 5 |
| Churches or schools are for thy seat more fit. | |
| I do confess, pardon a fault confest! | |
| My mouth too tender is for thy hard bit. | |
| But if that needs thou wilt usurping be | |
| The little reason that is left in me; | 10 |
| And still th’effect of thy persuasions prove: | |
| I swear my heart, such one shall show to thee, | |
| That shrines in flesh so true a deity; | |
| That VIRTUE! thou thyself shalt be in love! | | | | |
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