Astrophil and Stella

Sonnet 54

Because I breath not love to every one, 
   Nor do not use set colours for to wear, 
   Nor nourish special locks of vowed hair, 
Nor give each speech a full point of a groan, 
The courtly nymphs, acquainted with the moan 
   Of them which in their lips love's standard bear: 
   What, he! (say they of me): now I dare swear 
He cannot love; no,no, let him alone. 
   And think so still, so Stella know my mind; 
Profess indeed I do not Cupid's art; 
But you, fair maids, at length this true shall find, 
That his right badge is but worn in the heart: 
   Dumb swans, not chattering pies, do lovers prove; 
   They love indeed who quake to say they love.  
Sir Philip Sidney

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