Astrophel and Stella: 77

Astrophel and Stella: 77

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.
1Those lookes, whose beames be joy, whose motion is delight,
2That face, whose lecture shewes what perfect beautie is:
3That presence, which doth giue darke hearts a liuing light:
4That grace, which Venus weepes that she her selfe doth misse:
5That hand, which without touch holds more then Atlas might;
6Those lips, which makes deaths pay a meane price for a kisse:
7That skin, whose passe-praise hue scornes this poore terme of white:
8Those words, which do sublime the quintessence of blisse:
9That voyce, which makes the soule plant himselfe in the eares:
10That conuersation sweet, where such high comforts be,
11As constered in true speech, the name of heau'n it beares,
12Makes me in my best thoughts and quietst judgement see,
13That in no more but these I might be fully blest:
14Yet ah, my Mayd'n Muse doth blush to tell the best.

Notes

2] lecture: perusal Back to Line
4] Venus: Roman goddess of love and beauty Back to Line
5] Atlas might: Atlas’s might. Atlas was the Titan from Greek mythology who was condemned to carry the sky on his shoulders. Back to Line
8] which do sublime the quintessence of blisse: which do produce the essential characteristic of bliss. Sublimation is a process of applying heat to a substance to extract its pure elements, often as a gas. Back to Line
11] constered: construed, explained or interpreted Back to Line
Publication Start Year
1591
RPO poem Editors
Marc R. Plamondon
RPO Edition
2007
Form
sonnet