| Seccombe and Arber, comps. Elizabethan Sonnets. 1904. | | | Astrophel and Stella
Other Songs of Variable Verse | | Third Song: If Orpheus’ voice had force to breathe such music’s love | | Sir Philip Sidney (1554–1586) |
| | | IF ORPHEUS’ voice had force to breathe such music’s love | |
| Through pores of senseless trees, as it could make them move: | |
| If stones good measure danced the Theban walls to build, | |
| To cadence of the tunes which AMPHION’s lyre did yield: | |
| More cause a like effect at least wise bringeth. | 5 |
| O stones! O trees! learn hearing! STELLA singeth! | |
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| If love might sweeten so a boy of shepherd brood, | |
| To make a lizard dull, to taste love’s dainty food: | |
| If eagle fierce could so in Grecian maid delight, | |
| As his light were her eyes, her death his endless night: | 10 |
| Earth gave that love. Heaven, I trow, love refineth. | |
| O beasts! O birds! look! love! lo, STELLA shineth! | |
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| The beasts, birds, stones and trees feel this; and feeling, love. | |
| And if the trees nor stones stir not the same to prove; | |
| Nor beasts nor birds do come unto this blessèd gaze: | 15 |
| Know that small love is quick, and great love doth amaze. | |
| They are amazed: but you, with reason armed, | |
| O eyes! O ears of men! how are you charmed! | | | | |
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