XXV. The wisest scholar of the wight most wise

Sir Philip Sidney (1554–1586)

THE WISEST scholar of the wight most wise,

By PHŒBUS’ doom, with sugared sentence says:

“That virtue, if it once met with our eyes,

Strange flames of love it in our souls would raise:

But for that man, with pain this truth descries,

Whiles he each thing in sense’s balance weighs:

And so nor will, nor can behold those skies,

Which inward sun to heroic minds displays.”

Virtue, of late, with virtuous care to stir

Love of herself, takes STELLA’s shape; that she

To mortal eyes might sweetly shine in her.

It is most true. For since I her did see,

Virtue’s great beauty in that face I prove,

And find th’effect: for I do burn in love.