| Seccombe and Arber, comps. Elizabethan Sonnets. 1904. | | | | Idea | | Sonnet 58. In former times, such as had store of coin | | Michael Drayton (1563–1631) |
| | [First printed in 1605 (No. 58), and in all later editions.] |
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IN former times, such as had store of coin, | |
| In wars at home, or when for conquests bound, | |
| For fear that some their treasure should purloin, | |
| Gave it, to keep, to Spirits within the ground: | |
| And to attend it, them as strongly tied, | 5 |
| Till they returned. Home when they never came, | |
| Such as by Art to get the same have tried, | |
| From the strong Spirit, by no means force the same. | |
| Nearer men come, that further flies away! | |
| Striving to hold it strongly in the deep. | 10 |
| Even as this Spirit, so you alone do play | |
| With those rich beauties, Heaven gives you to keep, | |
| Pity so left to the coldness of your blood, | |
| Not to avail you, nor do others good. | | | |
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