Quote#Children
....But words came halting forth, wanting Invention's stay
Quote byPhilip Sidney · 1554–1586
Commonly attributed — not confirmed in an authoritative edition. Cited on Wikiquote to: Astrophel and Stella (1591), Sonnet 1,Concluding couplet from Loving in truth,and fain in verse my love to show Compare: "Look, then, into thine heart and write", Henry W. Longfellow, Voices of the Night, Prelude..
English (original)
....But words came halting forth, wanting Invention's stay, Invention, Nature's child, fled step-dame Study's blows, And others' feet still seemed but strangers in my way. Thus great with child to speak, and helpless in my throes, Biting my truant pen, beating myself for spite: "Fool," said my Muse to me, "look in thy heart and write."
— Philip Sidney
More from Philip Sidney
Thy necessity is yet greater than mine
High-erected thoughts seated in the heart of courtesy.
And thou my minde aspire to higher things; Grow rich in that which never taketh rust.
My true love hath my heart, and I have his, By just exchange, one for the other given.
As in geometry, the oblique must be known, as well as the right; and in arithmetic, the odd as well as the even; so in actions of life, who seeth not the filthiness of evil, wanteth a great foil to perceive the beauty of virtue.
They are never alone that are accompanied with noble thoughts.