Astrophel and Stella: 96

Astrophel and Stella: 96

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.
1Thought with good cause thou likest so well the night,
2Since kind or chance giues both one liuerie,
3Both sadly black, both blackly darkned be,
4Night bard from Sun, thou from thy owne Sun light;
5Silence in both displaies his sullen might,
6Slow heauinesse in both holds one degree,
7That full of doubts, thou of perplexitie;
8Thy teares expresse nights natiue moisture right.
9In both a mazefull solitarinesse:
10In night of sprites the gastlye powers to stur,
11In thee or spirites or spired gastlinesse:
12But but (alas) nights side the ods hath fur,
13For that at length yet doth invite some rest,
14Thou thought still tired, yet still doest it detest.

Notes

4] bard: barred Back to Line
9] mazefull: confusing Back to Line
10] to stur: to stir Back to Line
11] spirites or spired: this should possibly be “sprites or sprited” Back to Line
12] the ods hath fur: the odds hath far; i.e. the odds are very much in favour of night Back to Line
Publication Start Year
1591
RPO poem Editors
Marc R. Plamondon
RPO Edition
2007
Form
sonnet