English Poetry I: From Chaucer to Gray.
The Harvard Classics. 1909–14. |
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| 57. Loving in Truth |
| | | Sir Philip Sidney (1554–1586) |
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| LOVING in truth, and fain in verse my love to show, | |
| That She, dear She, might take some pleasure of my pain; | |
| Pleasure might cause her read, reading might make her know, | |
| Knowledge might pity win, and pity grace obtain; | |
| I sought fit words to paint the blackest face of woe, | 5 |
| Studying inventions fine, her wits to entertain; | |
| Oft turning others’ leaves, to see if thence would flow | |
| Some fresh and fruitful showers upon my sunburned brain. | |
| But words came halting forth, wanting Invention’s stay; | |
| Invention, Nature’s child, fled step-dame Study’s blows; | 10 |
| And others’ feet still seemed but strangers in my way. | |
| Thus, great with child to speak, and helpless in my throes, | |
| Biting my truant pen, beating myself for spite. | |
| “Fool,” said my Muse to me, “look in thy heart, and write!” | |
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