The Poetry Corner

Astrophel and Stella - Sonnet X

By Philip Sidney (Sir)

Reason, in faith thou art well seru'd that still Wouldst brabbling be with Sense and Loue in me; I rather wisht thee clime the Muses hill; Or reach the fruite of Natures choycest tree; Or seek heau'ns course or heau'ns inside to see: Why shouldst thou toil our thorny soile to till? Leaue Sense, and those which Senses obiects be; Deale thou with powers of thoughts, leaue Loue to Will. But thou wouldst needs fight with both Loue and Sence, With sword of wit giuing wounds of dispraise, Till downe-right blowes did foyle thy cunning fence; For, soone as they strake thee with Stellas rayes, Reason, thou kneeld'st, and offred'st straight to proue, By reason good, good reason her to loue.