Second Song: Have I caught my heavenly jewel

Sir Philip Sidney (1554–1586)

HAVE I caught my heavenly jewel,

Teaching sleep most fair to be?

Now will I teach her, that she,

When she wakes, is too too cruel.

Since sweet sleep her eyes hath charmèd,

The two only darts of LOVE;

Now will I with that boy prove

Some play, while he is disarmèd.

Her tongue, waking, still refuseth;

Giving frankly, niggard “No:”

Now will I attempt to know

What “No” her tongue sleeping, useth.

See the hand that waking, guardeth;

Sleeping, grants a free resort:

Now will I invade the fort;

Cowards, LOVE with loss rewardeth.

But, O fool! think of the danger

Of her just and high disdain;

Now will I, alas, refrain,

LOVE fears nothing else but anger.

Yet those lips, so sweetly swelling,

Do invite a stealing kiss:

Now will I but venture this,

Who will read must first learn spelling.

O sweet kiss! but ah! she is waking.

Low’ring beauty chastens me:

Now will I away hence flee;

Fool! more fool! for no more taking.