Sonnet 23 The Curious Wits

The curious wits seeing dull pensiveness Bewray itself in my long settled eyes,

Whence those same fumes of melancholy rise,

With idle pains, and missing aim, do guess.

Some that know how my spring I did address,

Deem that my Muse some fruit of knowledge plies:

Others, because the Prince my service tries,

Think that I think state errors to redress.

But harder judges judge ambition's rage,

Scourge of itself, still climbing slipp'ry place,

Holds my young brain cativ'd in golden cage.

Oh Fools, or over-wise, alas the race Of all my thoughts hath neither stop nor start,

But only Stella's eyes and Stella's heart.