LXXI. Who will in fairest book of Nature know

Sir Philip Sidney (1554–1586)

WHO will in fairest book of Nature know

How virtue may best lodged in beauty be;

Let him but learn of love to read in thee!

STELLA! those fair lines which true goodness show.

There, shall he find all vices’ overthrow;

Not by rude force, but sweetest sovereignty

Of REASON: from whose light those night birds fly.

That inward sun in thine eyes shineth so.

And not content to be perfection’s heir,

Thyself dost strive all minds that way to move;

Who mark in thee, what is in thee most fair:

So while thy beauty draws the heart to love,

As fast thy virtue bends that love to good.

But ah! DESIRE still cries, “Give me some food!”