SEARCH TEXTS  

Plays  +  Sonnets  +  Poems  +  Concordance  +  Advanced Search  +  About OSS

The Passionate Pilgrim

print/save print/save view

---
       

Act I, Scene 16

Sonnet to sundry notes of music

       
---
  • Shakespeare. It was a lording's daughter, the fairest one of three,
    That liked of her master as well as well might be,
    Till looking on an Englishman, the fair'st that eye could see,
    Her fancy fell a-turning. 215
  • Shakespeare. Long was the combat doubtful that love with love did fight,
    To leave the master loveless, or kill the gallant knight:
    To put in practise either, alas, it was a spite
    Unto the silly damsel!
  • Shakespeare. But one must be refused; more mickle was the pain 220
    That nothing could be used to turn them both to gain,
    For of the two the trusty knight was wounded with disdain:
    Alas, she could not help it!
  • Shakespeare. Thus art with arms contending was victor of the day,
    Which by a gift of learning did bear the maid away: 225
    Then, lullaby, the learned man hath got the lady gay;
    For now my song is ended.