Sonnet Iv: Virtue, Alas

Sir Philip Sidney

Virtue, alas, now let me take some rest.
Thou set'st a bate between my soul and wit.
If vain love have my simple soul oppress'd,
Leave what thou likest not, deal not thou with it.

The scepter use in some old Cato's breast;
Churches or schools are for thy seat more fit.
I do confess, pardon a fault confess'd,
My mouth too tender is for thy hard bit.

But if that needs thou wilt usurping be,
The little reason that is left in me,
And still th'effect of thy persuasions prove:

I swear, my heart such one shall show to thee
That shrines in flesh so true a deity,
That Virtue, thou thyself shalt be in love. 

Next 10 Poems

• Sir Philip Sidney : Sonnet Ix: Queen Virtue's Court
• Sir Philip Sidney : Sonnet Lxiv: No More, My Dear
• Sir Philip Sidney : Sonnet Lxxi: Who Will In Fairest Book
• Sir Philip Sidney : Sonnet Lxxxiv: Highway
• Sir Philip Sidney : Sonnet V: It Is Most True
• Sir Philip Sidney : Sonnet Vi: Some Lovers Speak
• Sir Philip Sidney : Sonnet Vii: When Nature
• Sir Philip Sidney : Sonnet Viii: Love, Born In Greece
• Sir Philip Sidney : Sonnet X: Reason
• Sir Philip Sidney : Sonnet Xcii: Be Your Words Made

Previous 10 Poems

• Sir Philip Sidney : Sonnet Iii: With How Sad Steps
• Sir Philip Sidney : Sonnet Ii: Not At First Sight
• Sir Philip Sidney : Sonnet I: Loving In Truth
• Sir Philip Sidney : Song To The Tune Of 'non Credo Gia Che Piu Infelice Amante.'
• Sir Philip Sidney : Song To The Tune Of 'basciami Vita Mia.'
• Sir Philip Sidney : Song From Arcadia
• Sir Philip Sidney : Song
• Sir Philip Sidney : Sleep
• Sir Philip Sidney : Sir Philip Sidney's Sonnet In Reply To A Sonnet By Sir Edward Dyer
• Sir Philip Sidney : Since Shunning Pain, I Ease Can Never Find