| Seccombe and Arber, comps. Elizabethan Sonnets. 1904. | | | | Astrophel and Stella | | LIII. In martial sports I had my cunning tried | | Sir Philip Sidney (1554–1586) |
| | | IN martial sports I had my cunning tried; | |
| And yet to break more staves did me address: | |
| While with the people’s shouts, I must confess, | |
| Youth, luck and praise even filled my veins with pride. | |
| When CUPID having me, his slave, descried | 5 |
| In MARS’ livery, prancing in the press. | |
| “What now, Sir Fool!” said he (I would no less) | |
| “Look here, I say!” I looked, and STELLA spied; | |
| Who, hard by, made a window send forth light: | |
| My heart then quaked, then dazzled were mine eyes, | 10 |
| One hand forgot to rule, th’other to fight. | |
| Nor trumpets’ sound I heard; nor friendly cries; | |
| My foe came on, and beat the air for me: | |
| Till that her blush taught me my shame to see. | | | | |
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