Bliss Carman, et al., eds. The World’s Best Poetry.
Volume II. Love. 1904. | | | | II. Love’s Nature | | Love’s Silence | | Sir Philip Sidney (1554–1586) |
| | | BECAUSE I breathe not love to everie one, | |
| Nor do not use set colors for to weare, | |
| Nor nourish special locks of vowèd haire, | |
| Nor give each speech a full point of a groane,— | |
| The courtlie nymphs, acquainted with the moane | 5 |
| Of them who on their lips Love’s standard beare, | |
| “What! he?” say they of me. “Now I dare sweare | |
| He cannot love: No, no! let him alone.” | |
| And think so still,—if Stella know my minde. | |
| Profess, indeed, I do not Cupid’s art; | 10 |
| But you, faire maids, at length this true shall finde,— | |
| That his right badge is but worne in the hearte. | |
| Dumb swans, not chattering pies, do lovers prove: | |
| They love indeed who quake to say they love. | | | | |
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