These sonnets were part of a sonnet sequence published in the 1580s under the title Astrophil and Stella by Sir Philip Sydney. You will notice that many of the poems address Stella, the beloved, and that they do not follow a set rhyme scheme or meter. Sidney was among the first to help establish the genre of the sonnet. Notice the difference between his sonnets and those of Shakespeare (and those of Spenser, Wyatt, and Howard in the "Paring Poems" section).
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Sonnet 1 (ca. 1580s)
Sir Philip Sidney
Loving in truth, and fain* in verse my love to show,
That the 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,-- (5) I sought fit words to paint the blackest face of woe, 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: (10) Invention, Nature’s child, fled step-dame Study’s blows, 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.” "No Fear" Translation
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*“Fain” means to be pleased or willing to do something. (RC33)
*“Truant” meaning a student who stays away from school without leave or explanation. (JM44) *“Fond-wares” foolish trinkets. (HG30) *“Marred” means spoiled, impaired, or damaged in some way. (RG33) *“Pretense” means an attempt to make something that is not the case appear true. (KT3) |