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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

SONNET: 5 by PHILIP SIDNEY

Poet Analysis

First Line: O MY THOUGHTS' SWEET FOOD, MY ONLY OWNER
Last Line: LADY MY TREASURE.
O my thoughts' sweet food, my only owner,
O my heaven's foretaste by thy heavenly pleasure,
O the fair nymph born to do women honour,
Lady my treasure:

Where be now those joys that I lately tasted?
Where be now those eyes, ever inly piercers?
Where be now those words never idly wasted,
Wounds to rehearsers?

Where is, ah, that face, that a sun defaces?
Where be those welcomes, by no worth deserved?
Where be those movings, the delights, the graces?
How be we swerved?

O hideous absence, by thee am I thralled;
O my vain word gone, ruin of my glory!
O due allegiance, by thee am I called
Still to be sorry.

But no more words, though such a word be spoken,
Nor no more wording, with a word to spill me:
Peace, due allegiance; duty must be broken
If duty kill me.

Then come, O come; then do I come, receive me,
Slay me not, for stay; do not hide thy blisses,
But between those arms; never else do leave me;
Give me my kisses.

O my thoughts' sweet food, my my only owner
O my heaven's foretaste by thy heavenly pleasure,
O the fair nymph born to do women honour,
Lady my treasure.




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