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Classic and Contemporary Poetry


ASTROPHEL AND STELLA: 63 by PHILIP SIDNEY

Poet Analysis

First Line: O GRAMMAR RULES, O NOW YOUR VIRTUES SHOW
Last Line: THAT IN ONE SPEECH TWO NEGATIVES AFFIRM!
Subject(s): GRAMMAR; MNEMONICS;

O GRAMMAR-RULES. O now your virtues show;
So children still read you with awful eyes,
As my young dove may, in your precepts wise,
Her grant to me by her own virtue know:
For late, with heart most high, with eyes most low,
I craved the thing which ever she denies;
She, lightning love, displaying Venus' skies,
Lest once should not be heard, twice said No, No.
Sing then, my Muse, now Io Pacan sing;
Heavens, envy not at my high triumphing,
But grammar's force with sweet success confirm:
For grammar says,--O this, dear Stella, say,--
For grammar says,--to grammar who says nay?--
That in one speech two negatives affirm!



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