Astrophil and Stella
Sonnet 27
Because I oft in dark abstracted guise
Seem most alone in greatest company,
With dearth of words, or answers quite awry,
To them that would make speech of speech arise;
They deem, and of their doom the rumour flies,
That poison foul of bubbling pride doth lie
So in my swelling breast, that only I
Fawn on my self, and other do despise.
Yet pride I think doth not my soul possess
(Which looks too oft in his unflatt'ring glass):
But one worse fault, ambition, I confess,
That makes me oft my best friends overpass,
Unseen, unheard, while thought to highest place
Bends all his powers, even unto Stella's grace.
Sir Philip Sidney
Back to Sonnet 26
Forward to Sonnet 28