RPO -- Sir Philip Sidney : Astrophel and Stella XCII

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Sir Philip Sidney (1554-1586)

Astrophel and Stella XCII

1Be your words made, good sir, of Indian ware,

2That you allow me them by so small rate?

3Or do you cutted Spartans imitate?

4Or do you mean my tender ears to spare,

5That to my questions you so total are?

6When I demand of Phœnix Stella's state,

7You say, forsooth, you left her well of late:

8O God, think you that satisfies my care?

9I would know whether she did sit or walk;

10How cloth'd, how waited on; sigh'd she, or smil'd;

11Whereof, with whom, how often did she talk;

12With what pastime time's journey she beguiled;

13If her lips deign'd to sweeten my poor name.

14Say all; and all well said, still say the same.

Notes

1] Indian: i.e., costly.

3] cutted: curt, churlishly brief.

5] total: summary, concise.

6] Phœnix: used as an adjective to indicate Stella's uniqueness.

Online text copyright © 2009, Ian Lancashire (the Department of English) and the University of Toronto.
Published by the Web Development Group, Information Technology Services, University of Toronto Libraries.

Original text: Sir Philip Sidney, Sir P. S. his Astrophel and Stella ([J. Charlewood] for T. Newman, 1591). STC 22536. Facs. edn.: Menston: Scolar Press, 1970. PR 2342 A7 1591A ROBA.
First publication date: 1591
RPO poem editor: F. D. Hoeniger
RP edition: 3RP 1:122.
Recent editing: 2:2002/4/11

Form: sonnet
Rhyme: abbaabbacdcdee

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