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Photo of Sir Philip Sidney

Sidney, Sir Philip

Sir Philip Sidney became one of the Elizabethan Age's most prominent figures. Famous in his day in England as a poet, courtier and soldier, he remains known as the author of Astrophel and Stella (1581, pub. 1591), The Defence of Poetry and The Countess of Pembroke's Arcadia (1580, pub. 1590).. Elizabethan era English poet courtier and soldier

Email Poem - Sonnet IV: Virtue, AlasEmail Poem

Sonnet IV: Virtue, Alas

 Virtue, alas, now let me take some rest. 
Thou set'st a bate between my soul and wit. 
If vain love have my simple soul oppress'd, 
Leave what thou likest not, deal not thou with it. 

The scepter use in some old Cato's breast; 
Churches or schools are for thy seat more fit. 
I do confess, pardon a fault confess'd, 
My mouth too tender is for thy hard bit. 

But if that needs thou wilt usurping be, 
The little reason that is left in me, 
And still th'effect of thy persuasions prove: 

I swear, my heart such one shall show to thee 
That shrines in flesh so true a deity, 
That Virtue, thou thyself shalt be in love.



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