The Sonnet

Fulk Greville, 1554 –1628, started school in Shrewsbury the same day as Philip Sidney. They became life-long friends and personal favorites of Elizabeth I. Such favorites, in fact, that she personally instructed Drake not to allow either of them to go on any of his military / piracy adventures. Fulk Greville died at his house here in London, in the Holborn area. He had been stabbed by a servant who had been taken with the notion that no provision had been made for him in Greville’s will. Here’s his sonnet about how Love transcends the passions: Fie, foolish earth, think you the heaven wants glory Because your shadows do yourself benight? All's dark unto the blind, let them be sorry; But love still in herself finds her delight. Fie, fond desire, think you that love wants glory Because your shadows do yourself benight? The hopes and fears of lust may make men sorry, The heavens in themselves are ever bright. Then earth, stand fast, the sky that you benight Will turn again and so restore your glory; Desire, be steady, hope is your delight, An orb wherein no creature can be sorry, Love being placed above these middle regions Where every passion wars itself with legions. Very little of his verse has survived, which is a shame as that is a rather clever sonnet. Peregrinus