| Seccombe and Arber, comps. Elizabethan Sonnets. 1904. | | | | Astrophel and Stella | | LXXXI. O kiss! which dost those ruddy gems impart | | Sir Philip Sidney (1554–1586) |
| | | O KISS! which dost those ruddy gems impart, | |
| Or gems or fruits of new-found Paradise; | |
| Breathing all bliss and sweet’ning to the heart; | |
| Teaching dumb lips a nobler exercise. | |
| O kiss! which souls, even souls together ties | 5 |
| By links of love, and only Nature’s art: | |
| How fain would I paint thee to all men’s eyes | |
| Or of thy gifts at least shade out some part? | |
| But she forbids. With blushing words, she says | |
| “She builds her fame on higher-seated praise:” | 10 |
| But my heart burns, I cannot silent be. | |
| Then since, dear life! you fain would have me peace; | |
| And I, mad with delight, want wit to cease: | |
| Stop you my mouth with still still kissing me! | | | | |
|
|
