RPO -- Sir Philip Sidney : Astrophel and Stella: 38

Sir Philip Sidney (1554-1586)

Astrophel and Stella: 38

1This night while sleepe begins with heauy wings

2To hatch mine eyes, and that vnbited thought

3Doth fall to stray, and my chiefe powers are brought

4To leaue the scepter of all subject things.

5The first that straight my fancies error brings

6Vnto my minde, is Stellas image, wrought

7By Loues owne selfe, but with so curious drought,

8That she, me thinks, not only shines but sings.

9I start, looke, harke, but what in clos'de vp sense

10Was held, in opened sense it flies away,

11Leauing me nought but wailing eloquence:

12I seeing better sights in sights decay,

13Cal'd it anew, and wooed sleepe againe:

14But him her hoast that vnkinde guest had slaine.

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Notes

2] to hatch mine eyes: to close my eyes
vnbited thought: unbitted thought, thought that has been unbridled or let loose (i.e., freed from the bit)

3] “power are bought” changed to “powers are brought”

5] my fancies error: my imagination’s wandering

7] drought: draught, drawing, outline, sketch

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: The Countesse of Pembrokes Arcadia written by Sir Philip Sidney, Knight. Now the third time published with sundry new additions of the same author. Edinburgh: Printed by Robert Walde-graue, 1599. STC 22542.
First publication date: 1591
RPO poem editor: Marc R. Plamondon
RP edition: 2007
Recent editing: 2:2007/9/30

Composition date: 1581 - 1583
Form: sonnet

Other poems by Sir Philip Sidney