SYDNEYSSonnets——Ispeakofthebestofthem——areamongtheverybestoftheirsort.Theyfallbelowtheplainmoraldignity,thesanctity,andhighyetmodestspiritofself-approval,ofMilton,inhispositionsofasimilarstructure.TheyareintruthwhatMilton,censuringtheArcadia,saysofthatwork(towhichtheyareasortofafter-tuneorapplication),"vainandamatorious"enough,yetthethingsintheirkind(asheconfessestobetrueoftheromance)maybe"fullofworthandwit."TheysavouroftheCourtier,itmustbeallowed,andnotoftheCommonwealthsman.ButMiltonwasaCourtierwhenhewrotetheMasqueatLudlowCastle,andstillmoreaCourtierwhenheposedtheArcades.Whenthenationalstrugglewastobegin,hebeinglycastthesevanitiesbehindhim;andiftheorderoftimehadthrownSirPhilipuponthecrisiswhichprecededtheRevolution,thereisnoreasonwhyheshouldnothaveactedthesamepartinthatemergency,whichhasglorifiedthenameofalaterSydney.Hedidnotwantforplainnessorboldnessofspirit.HisletterontheFrenchmatchmaytestify,hecouldspeakhismindfreelytoPrinces.Thetimesdidnotcallhimtothescaffold.
TheSonnetswhichweoftenestcalltomindofMiltonwerethepositionsofhismaturestyears.ThoseofSydney,whichIamabouttoproduce,werewrittenintheveryhey-dayofhisblood.Theyarestuckfullofamorousfancies——far-fetchedconceits,befittinghisoccupation;forTrueLovethinksnolabourtosendoutThoughtsuponthevast,andmorethanIndianvoyages,tobringhomerichpearls,outlandishwealth,gums,jewels,spicery,tosacrificeinself-depreciatingsimilitudes,asshadowsoftrueamiabilitiesintheBeloved.WemustbeLovers——oratleastthecoolingtouchoftime,thecircumpraecordiafrigins,mustnothavesodampedourfaculties,astotakeawayourrecollectionthatwewereonceso——beforewecandulyappreciatethegloriousvanities,andgracefulhyperbolesofthepassion.Theimageswhichliebeforeourfeet(thoughbysomeaccountedtheonlynatural)areleastnaturalforthehighSydneanlovetoexpressitsfanciesby.TheymayserveforthelovesofTibullus,orthedearAuthoroftheSchoolmistress;forpassionsthatcreepandwhineinElegiesandPastoralBallads.IamsureMiltonneverlovedatthisrate.Iamafraidsomeofhisaddresses(adLeonoramImean)haverathererredonthefartherside;andthatthepoetcamenotmuchshortofareligiousindecorum,whenhecouldthusapostrophiseasinging-girl:——
Angelusunicuiquesuus(siccreditegentes)
Obtigitaetheriisalesabordinibus.
Quidmirum,Leonora,tibisigloriamajor,
NamtuapraesentemvoxsonatipsaDeum?
AutDeus,autvacuicertemenstertiacoeli,
Pertuasecretogutturaserpitagens;
Serpitagens,facilisquedocetmortaliacorda
Sensimimmortalassuescerepossesono.
QUODSICUNCTAQUIDEMDEUSEST,PERCUNCTAQUEFUSUS,
INTEUNALOQUITUR,CAETERAMUTUSHABET.
Thisislovinginastrangefashion;anditrequiressomecandourofconstruction(besidestheslightdarkeningofadeadlanguage)tocastaveilovertheuglyappearanceofsomethingverylikeblasphemyinthelasttwoverses.IthinktheLoverwouldhavebeenstaggered,ifhehadgoneabouttoexpressthesamethoughtinEnglish.Iamsure,Sydneyhasnoflightslikethis.Hisextravaganzasdonotstrikeatthesky,thoughhetakesleavetoadoptthepaleDianintoafellowshipwithhismortalpassions.
Withhowsadsteps,OMoon,thouclimbsttheskies;
Howsilently;andwithhowwanaface!
What!mayitbe,thateveninheavenlyplace
ThatbusyArcherhissharparrowstries?
Sure,ifthatlong-with-love-acquaintedeyes
Canjudgeoflove,thoufeelstaloverscase;
Ireaditinthylooks;thylanguishtgrace
Tome,thatfeelthelike,thystatedescries.
Then,evenoffellowship,OMoon,tellme,
Isconstantlovedeemdtherebutwantofwit?
Arebeautiesthereasproudasheretheybe
Dotheyabovelovetobeloved,andyet
Thoseloversscorn,whomthatlovedothpossess?
Dotheycallvirtuethere——ungratefulness?
Thelastlineofthispoemisalittleobscuredbytransposition.Hemeans,Dotheycallungratefulnessthereavirtue?
Come,Sleep,OSleep,thecertainknotofpeace,
Thebaitingplaceofwit,thebalmofwoe,
Thepoormanswealth,theprisonersrelease,
Theindifferentjudgebetweenthehighandlow,
Withshieldofproofshieldmefromouttheprease
Ofthosefiercedartsdespairatmedoththrow,
Omakeinmethosecivilwarstocease:
Iwillgoodtributepay,ifthoudoso.
Takethouofmesweetpillows,sweetestbed,
Achamberdeaftonoise,andblindtolight,
Arosygarland,andawearyhead.
Andifthesethings,asbeingthinebyright,
Movenotthyheavygrace,thoushaltinme,
Livelierthanelsewhere,Stellasimagesee.
III
Thecuriouswits,seeingdullpensiveness
Bewrayitselfinmylong-settledeyes,
Whencethosesamefumesofmelancholyrise,
Withidlepains,andmissingaim,doguess.
Some,thatknowhowmyspringIdidaddress,
Deemthatmymusesomefruitofknowledgeplies,
Others,becausetheprincemyservicetries
Think,thatIthinkstateerrorstoredress,
Butharderjudgesjudge,ambitionsrage,
Scourgeofitself,stillclimbingslipperyplace
Holdsmyyoungbraincaptivdingoldcage.
Ofools,orover-wise!alas,therace
Ofallmythoughtshathneitherstopnorstart,
ButonlyStellaseyes,andStellasheart.
IV
BecauseIoftindarkabstractedguise
Seemmostaloneingreatestpany,
Withdearthofwords,oranswersquiteawry,
Tothemthatwouldmakespeechofspeecharise,
Theydeem,andoftheirdoomtherumourflies,
ThatpoisonfoulofbubblingPridedothlie
Soinmyswellingbreast,thatonlyI
Fawnonmyself,andothersdodespise,
YetPride,Ithink,dothnotmysoulpossess,
Whichlookstoooftinhisunflatteringglass:
Butoneworsefault——Ambition——Iconfess,
Thatmakesmeoftmybestfriendsoverpass,
Unseen,unheard,——whilethoughttohighestplace
Bendsallhispowers,evenuntoStellasgrace.
V
Havingthisday,myhorse,myhand,mylance,
GuidedsowellthatIobtainedtheprize,
BothbythejudgmentoftheEnglisheyes
Andofsomesentfromthatsweetenemy——France,
Horsemenmyskillinhorsemanshipadvance,
Townsfolkmystrength,adaintierjudgeapplies
Hispraisetosleight,whichfromgoodusedothrise;
Someluckywitsimputeitbuttochance;
Others,becauseofbothsidesIdotake
Mybloodfromthem,whodidexcelinthis,
ThinkNaturemeamanofarmsdidmake.
Howfartheyshotawry!thetruecauseis,
STELLAlookdon,andfromherheavenlyface
Sentforththebeamswhichmadesofairmyrace.
VI
InmartialsportsIhadmycunningtried,
Andyettobreakmorestavesdidmeaddress,
Whilewiththepeoplesshouts(Imustconfess)
Youth,luck,andpraise,evenfilldmyveinswithpride——
WhenCupid,havingme(hisslave)descried
InMarsslivery,prancinginthepress,
"Whatnow,SirFool!"saidhe;"Iwouldnoless:
Lookhere,Isay."Ilookd,andSTELLAspied,
Whohardbymadeawindowsendforthlight.
Myheartthenquakd,thendazzledweremineeyes;
Onehandforgottorule,thothertofight;
NortrumpetssoundIheard,norfriendlycries.
Myfoecameon,andbeattheairforme——
Tillthatherblushmadememyshametosee.
VII
Nomore,mydear,nomorethesecounselstry;
Ogivemypassionsleavetoruntheirrace;
LetFortunelayonmeherworstdisgrace;
Letfolkoer-chargedwithbrainagainstmecry;
Letcloudsbedimmyface,breakinmineeye;
Letmenosteps,butoflostlabour,trace;
Letalltheearthwithscornrecountmycase——
Butdonotwillmefrommylovetofly.
IdonotenvyAristotleswit,
NordoaspiretoCaesarsbleedingfame;
Noraughtdocare,thoughsomeabovemesit;
Norhope,norwish,anothercoursetoframe,
Butthatwhichoncemaywinthycruelheart:
Thouartmywit,andthoumyvirtueart.
VIII
Lovestillaboy,andoftawanton,is,
Schooldonlybyhismotherstendereye;
Whatwonderthen,ifhehislessonmiss,
Whenforsosoftaroddearplayhetry?
AndyetmySTAR,becauseasugardkiss
InsportIsuckd,whilesheasleepdidlie,
Dothlour,naychide,naythreat,foronlythis.
Sweet,itwassaucyLove,nothumbleI.
Butno`scuseserves;shemakesherwrathappear
Inbeautysthrone——seenow,whodaresenear
Thosescarletjudges,threatningbloodypain?
OheavnlyFool,thymostkiss-worthyface
Angerinvestswithsuchalovelygrace,
ThatangersselfIneedsmustkissagain.
IX
IneverdrankofAganippewell,
NoreverdidinshadeofTempesit,
AndMusesscornwithvulgarbrainstodwell;
Poorlay-manI,forsacredritesunfit.
SomedoIhearofPoetsfurytell,
But(Godwot)wotnotwhattheymeanbyit;
AndthisIswearbyblackestbrookofhell,
Iamnopickpurseofanotherswit.
Howfallsitthen,thatwithsosmoothanease
MythoughtsIspeak,andwhatIspeakdothflow
Inverse,andthatmyversebestwitsdothplease?
Guessmethecause——whatisitthus?——fye,no.
Orso?——muchless.Howthen?surethusitis,
Mylipsaresweet,inspiredwithSTELLAskiss.
X
Ofallthekingsthateverheredidreign,
Edward,namedFourth,asfirstinpraiseIname,
Notforhisfairoutside,norwell-linedbrain——
AlthoughlessgiftsimpfeathersoftonFame.
Northathecould,young-wise,wise-valiant,frame
Hissiresrevenge,joindwithakingdomsgain;
And,andbyMarscouldyetmadMarssotame,
ThatbalanceweighdwhatSworddidlateobtain.
NorthathemadetheFloure-de-luceso`fraid,
ThoughstronglyhedgedofbloodyLionspaws
ThatwittyLewistohimatributepaid.
Northis,northat,noranysuchsmallcause——
Butonly,forthisworthyknightdurstprove
Tolosehiscrownratherthanfailhislove.
XI
OhappyThames,thatdidstmySTELLAbear,
Isawthyself,withmanyasmilingline
Uponthycheerfulface,Joysliverywear,
Whilethosefairplanetsonthystreamsdidshine;
Theboatforjoycouldnottodanceforbear,
Whilewantonwinds,withbeautysodivine
Ravishd,staydnot,tillinhergoldenhair
Theydidthemselves(Osweetestprison)twine.
AndfainthoseAeolsyouththerewouldtheirstay
Havemade;but,forcedbynaturestilltofly,
Firstdidwithpuffingkissthoselocksdisplay.
She,sodishevelld,blushd;fromwindowI
Withsightthereofcriedout,Ofairdisgrace,
Lethonoursselftotheegranthighestplace!
XII
Highway,sinceyoumychiefParnassusbe;
AndthatmyMuse,tosomeearsnotunsweet,
Tempersherwordstotramplinghorsesfeet,
Moresoftthantoachambermelody,——
NowblessedYoubearonwardblessedMe
ToHer,whereImyheartsafeleftshallmeet,
MyMuseandImustyouofdutygreet
Withthanksandwishes,wishingthankfully.
Beyoustillfair,honourdbypublicheed,
Bynoencroachmentwrongd,nortimeforgot;
Norblamdforblood,norshamedforsinfuldeed.
Andthatyouknow,Ienvyyounolot
Ofhighestwish,Iwishyousomuchbliss,
HundredsofyearsyouSTELLASfeetmaykiss.
Oftheforegoing,thefirst,thesecond,andthelastsonnet,aremyfavourites.Butthegeneralbeautyofthemallis,thattheyaresoperfectlycharacteristical.Thespiritof"learningandofchivalry,——"ofwhichunion,SpenserhasentitledSydneytohavebeenthe"president,"——shinesthroughthem.Iconfess,Icanseenothingofthe"jejune"or"frigid"inthem;muchlessofthe"stiff"and"cumbrous"——whichIhavesometimesheardobjectedtotheArcadia.Theverserunsoffswiftlyandgallantly.Itmighthavebeentunedtothetrumpet;ortempered(ashimself:expressesit)to"tramplinghorsesfeet."Theyaboundinfelicitousphrases——
OheavnlyFool,thymostkiss-worthylips
8thSonnet——
Sweetpillows,sweetestbed;
Achamberdeaftonoise,andblindtolight;
Arosygarland,andawearyhead.
2ndSonnet——
Thatsweetenemy,——France——
5thSonnet,
Buttheyarenotrichinwordsonly,invagueandunlocalisedfeelings——thefailingtoomuchofsomepoetryofthepresentdaytheyarefull,material,andcircumstantiated.Timeandplaceappropriateseveryoneofthem.Itisnotafeverofpassionwastingitselfuponathindietofdaintywords,butatranscendentpassionpervadingandilluminatingaction,pursuits,studies,featsofarms,theopinionsofcontemporariesandhisjudgmentofthem.Anhistoricalthreadrunsthroughthem,whichalmostaffixesadatetothem;marksthewhenandwheretheywerewritten.
IhavedweltthelongeruponwhatIconceivethemeritofthesepoems,becauseIhavebeenhurtbythewantonness(IwishIcouldtreatitbyagentlername)withwhichW.H.takeseveryoccasionofinsultingthememoryofSirPhilipSydney.ButthedecisionsoftheAuthorofTableTalk,&c.,(mostprofoundandsubtlewheretheyare,asforthemostpart,just)aremoresafelytobereliedupon,onsubjectsandauthorshehasapartialityfor,thanonsuchashehasconceivedanaccidentalprejudiceagainst.MiltonwroteSonnets,andwasakinghater;anditwascongenialperhapstosacrificeacourtiertoapatriot.ButIwasunwillingtoloseafineideafrommymind.Thenobleimages,passions,sentiments,andpoeticaldelicaciesofcharacter,scatteredallovertheArcadia(spiteofsomestiffnessandencumberment),justifytomethecharacterwhichhiscontemporarieshaveleftusofthewriter.IcannotthinkwiththeCritic,thatSirPhilipSydneywasthatopprobriousthingwhichafoolishnoblemaninhisinsolenthostilitychosetotermhim.Icalltomindtheepitaphmadeonhim,toguidemetojusterthoughtsofhim;andIreposeuponthebeautifullinesinthe"FriendsPassionforhisAstrophel,"printedwiththeElegiesofSpenserandothers.
Youknew——whoknewnotAstrophel?
(ThatIshouldlivetosayIknew,
Andhavenotinpossessionstill!)——
Thingsknownpermitmetorenew——
Ofhimyouknowhismeritsuch,
IcannotSay——youhear——toomuch.
WithinthesewoodsofArcady
Hechiefdelightandpleasuretook;
AndonthemountainPartheny,
Uponthecrystalliquidbrook,
TheMusesmethimeveryday,
Thattaughthimsing,towrite,andsay.
Whenhedescendeddownthemount,
Hispersonageseemedmostdivine:
Athousandgracesonemightcount
Uponhislovelychearfuleyne.
Tohearhimspeak,andsweetlysmile,
YouwereinParadisethewhile,
Asweetattractivekindofgrace;
Afullassurancegivenbylooks;
Continualfortinaface,
ThelineamentsofGospelbooks——
Itrowthatcountnancecannotlye,
Whosethoughtsarelegibleintheeye.
*****
Aboveallothersthisishe,
Whicherstapprovedinhissong,
Thatloveandhonourmightagree,
Andthatpurelovewilldonowrong.
SweetSaints,itisnoSinorblame
Toloveamanofvirtuousname.
DidneverLovesosweetlybreathe
Inanymortalbreastbefore:
DidneverMuseinspirebeneath
APoetsbrainwithfinerstore.
HewroteofLovewithhighconceit,
Andbeautyreardaboveherheight.
Orletanyonereadthedeepersorrows(griefrunningintorage)inthePoem,——thelastinthecollectionacpanyingtheabove,——whichfrominternaltestimonyIbelievetobeLordBrookes,——beginningwith"Silenceaugmentethgrief,"andthenseriouslyaskhimself,whetherthesubjectofsuchabsorbingandconfoundregretscouldhavebeenthatthingwhichLordOxfordtermedhim.
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