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TO ELIZABETH, COUNTESS OF RUTLAND, by                 Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography
First Line: That poets are far rarer births than kings
Last Line: As he would burn or better far his book.
Subject(s): Poetry & Poets; Sidney, Elizabeth. Countess Of Rutland; Sidney, Sir Philip (1554-1586)


That poets are far rarer births than kings
Your noblest father proved; like whom before,
Or then, or since, about our Muses springs,
Came not that soul exhausted so their store.
Hence was it that the destines decreed
(Save that most masculine issue of his brain)
No male unto him; who could so exceed
Nature, they thought, in all that he would fain.
At which she, happily displeased, made you,
On whom, if he were living now to look,
He should those rare and absolute numbers view,
As he would burn or better far his book.




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