Sir P.S.: His Astrophel and Stella: Wherein the excellence of sweete poesie is concludedSidney, Philip
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Sir P.S.: His Astrophel and Stella: Wherein the excellence of sweete poesie is concluded
Sidney, Philip
English poetry -- Early modern, 1500-1700; Sonnets, English
_8_ Who hath the voyce which soule from senses sunders,
Whose force but yours the bolt of beautie thunders?
To _you_, to _you_ all song of praise is due,
Onely with _you_ no miracles are wonders.
_9_ Doubt you to whom my Muse these notes intendeth,
Which now my breast orechargd with Musick lendeth?
To _you_, to _you_ all song of praise is due,
Onely in _you_ my song begins and endeth.
_Second Sonnet._
Have I caught my heavenly Juel
Teaching Sleepe most faire to be:
Now will I teach her, that she
When shee wakes is too too cruell.
_2_ Since sweete Sleepe her eyes hath charmed,
The two onely darts of Love:
Now will I with that Boy prove
Some play while he is disarmed.
_3_ Her tongue waking still refuseth,
Giving franklie niggard no:
Now will I attempt to knowe,
What no her tongue sleeping useth.
_4_ See the hand that waking gardeth,
Sleeping grants a free resort:
Now I will invade the fort.
Cowards Love with losse rewardeth.
_5_ But (O foole) thinke of the danger
Of her just and high disdaine.
Now will I (alas) refraine
Love feares nothing else but anger.
_6_ Yet those lippes so sweetly swelling,
Do invite a stealing kisse;
Now but venture will I this,
Who will read must first learne spelling.
_7_ Oh sweete kisse, but ah shee is waking.
Lowring beautie chastens mee.
Now will I for feare hence flee,
Foole, more Foole for no more taking.
_The third Sonnet._
If _Orpheus_ voyce had force to breathe such musicks Love
Through pores of senseles trees, as it could make them move:
If stones good measure daunst the _Thebane_ walls to builde,
To cadens of the tunes which _Amphions_ Lyre did yeeld,
More cause a like effect at least wise bringeth.
O stones, ô trees, learne hearing, _Stella_ singeth.
_2_ If Love might sweeten so a boy of Shepheards brood,
To make a Lyzard dull to taste Loves food:
If Eagle fierce could so in _Grecian_ maide delight,
As her eyes were his light, her death his endlesse night:
Earth gave that Love, heaven (I trow) Love refineth.
O Beasts, ô Birds, looke Love; for _Stella_ shineth.
_3_ The beasts, birds, stones & trees feele this, and feeling love:
And if the trees, nor stones stirre not the same to prove.
Nor beasts, nor birds doo come unto this blessed gaze:
Know that small Love is quick, and great Love doth amaze:
They are amaz’d, but you with reason armed.
O eyes, O eares of men, how are you charmed?
_The fourth Sonnet._
Onely _Joy_, now here you are,
Fit to heare and ease my care:
Let my whispering voyce obtaine
Sweete rewards for sharpest paine:
Take me to thee, and thee to mee.
_No no no no, my Deare let bee._
_2_ Night hath closde all in her cloke,
Twinkling starres love thoughts provoke,
Danger hence good care doth keepe,
_Jelouzie_ him selfe doth sleepe:
Take me to thee, and thee to mee.
_No no no no, my Deare let bee._
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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