| Seccombe and Arber, comps. Elizabethan Sonnets. 1904. | | | | Astrophel and Stella | | LXX. My Muse may well grudge at my heavenly joy | | Sir Philip Sidney (1554–1586) |
| | | MY Muse may well grudge at my heavenly joy, | |
| If still I force her in sad rhymes to creep; | |
| She oft hath drunk my tears, now hopes t’enjoy | |
| Nectar of mirth, since I, JOVE’s cup do keep. | |
| Sonnets be not bound ’prentice to ANNOY: | 5 |
| Trebles sing high, as well as basses deep: | |
| Grief, but LOVE’s winter livery is: the boy | |
| Hath cheeks to smile as well as eyes to weep. | |
| Come then, my Muse! show thou height of delight | |
| In well-raised notes: my pen, the best it may | 10 |
| Shall paint out joy, though but in black and white. | |
| “Cease! eager Muse!” “Peace! pen! For my sake, stay!” | |
| I give you here my hand for truth of this: | |
| “Wise silence is best music unto bliss.” | | | | |
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