Bliss Carman, et al., eds. The World’s Best Poetry.
Volume II. Love. 1904. | | | | II. Love’s Nature | | Sonnet: “Muses, that sing Love’s sensual empirie” | | George Chapman (1559?–1634) |
| | | MUSES, that sing Love’s sensual empirie, | |
| And lovers kindling your enragèd fires | |
| At Cupid’s bonfires burning in the eye, | |
| Blown with the empty breath of vain desires; | |
| You, that prefer the painted cabinet | 5 |
| Before the wealthy jewels it doth store ye, | |
| That all your joys in dying figures set, | |
| And stain the living substance of your glory; | |
| Abjure those joys, abhor their memory; | |
| And let my love the honored subject be | 10 |
| Of love and honor’s complete history! | |
| Your eyes were never yet let in to see | |
| The majesty and riches of the mind, | |
| That dwell in darkness; for your god is blind. | | | | |
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