Contents -BIBLIOGRAPHIC RECORD

Seccombe and Arber, comps. Elizabethan Sonnets. 1904.

Astrophel and Stella

LXXX. Sweet swelling lip! well mayest thou swell in pride

Sir Philip Sidney (1554–1586)

SWEET swelling lip! well mayest thou swell in pride;

Since best wits think it wit, thee to admire:

Nature’s praise! Virtue’s stall! CUPID’s cold fire!

Whence words, not words but heavenly graces slide.

The new Parnassus! where the Muses bide.

Sweet’ner of music! wisdom’s beautifier!

Breather of life! and fast’ner of Desire!

Where Beauty’s blush in Honour’s grain is dyed.

Thus much my heart compelled my mouth to say,

But now spite of my heart, my mouth will stay;

Loathing all lies, doubting this flattery is:

And no spur can his resty race renew;

Without how far this praise is short of you,

Sweet lip! you teach my mouth with one sweet kiss!