Song

The theme of song takes on prominent importance in this poem in terms of both content and structure. The poem is structured after a song: “Non credo giàche piu infelice amante,” or “I do not believe there is such an unhappy lover.” Originally written in Italian, this seems to have been a popular song of its day – though its full text and libretto may not have survived – and Sidney composed at least two poems in this collection which mirrored the form of “Non credo giàche piu infelice amante”. The use of this song gives Sidney a clear rhyme and rhythmic scheme to work from.

It also, however, conjures the emotion of the song into Sidney’s poem. Every lover of music – from the early modern period to the present – is surely aware of the unique capacity of song to convey emotion, even in the...