Love’s Silence

Sir Philip Sidney (1554–1586)

BECAUSE I breathe not love to everie one,

Nor do not use set colors for to weare,

Nor nourish special locks of vowèd haire,

Nor give each speech a full point of a groane,—

The courtlie nymphs, acquainted with the moane

Of them who on their lips Love’s standard beare,

“What! he?” say they of me. “Now I dare sweare

He cannot love: No, no! let him alone.”

And think so still,—if Stella know my minde.

Profess, indeed, I do not Cupid’s art;

But you, faire maids, at length this true shall finde,—

That his right badge is but worne in the hearte.

Dumb swans, not chattering pies, do lovers prove:

They love indeed who quake to say they love.