Astrophel and Stella: 6

Astrophel and Stella: 6

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.
1Some Louers speake when they their Muses entertaine,
2Of hopes begot by feare, of wot not what desires:
3Of force of heau'nly beames, infusing hellish paine:
4Of liuing deaths, deare wounds, faire stormes and freshing fires.
5Someone his song in Ioue, and Ioues strange tales attires,
6Bordred with buls & swans, powdred with golden raine:
7Another humbler wit to shepheards pipe retires,
8Yet hiding royall bloud full oft in rurall vaine.
9To some a sweetest plaint, a sweetest stile affords,
10While teares powre out his inke, & sighs breath out his words:
11His paper pale dispaire, and paine his pen doth moue.
12I can speake what I feele, and feele as much as they,
13But thinke that all the Map of my state I display,
14When trembling voice brings forth that I do Stella loue.

Notes

1] they their Muses entertaine: when they engage in one of the creative or performing arts Back to Line
4] terminal period added Back to Line
5] Ioue: Jove, chief of the Roman gods Back to Line
6] bordred: embroidered
buls & swans: Jove (or Zeus) courted Europa while in the form of a bull and courted Leda while in the form of a swan
golden raine: Jove (or Zeus) fell in the form of a golden shower upon Danae, impregnating her Back to Line
Publication Start Year
1591
RPO poem Editors
Marc R. Plamondon
RPO Edition
2007
Form
sonnet