Sonnet 51

A Strife is growne betweene Vertue and Loue,
While each pretends, that Stella may be his:
Her eyes, her lips, Loue saith that he owes this,
Since they doe weare his badge, most firmely proue;
But Vertue thus, that title doth disproue.
That Stella, (ô deere name) that Stella is,
That vertuous Soule, sure heyre of heauenly Blisse:
Not this faire outside, which our hart doth moue;
And therefore, though her beauty and her grace,
Be Loues indeede, in Stellas selfe he may
By no pretence claime any manner place.
VVell Loue, since this Demurre our sute doth staie,
Let Vertue haue that Stellas selfe, yet thus,
That Vertue but that body graunt to vs.