The Poetry Corner

Astrophel and Stella - Sonnet LXVII

By Philip Sidney (Sir)

Hope, art thou true, or doest thou flatter me? Doth Stella now beginne with piteous eye The ruines of her conquest to espie? Will she take time before all wracked be? Her eyes-speech is translated thus by thee, But failst thou not in phrases so heau'nly hye? Looke on againe, the faire text better prie; What blushing notes dost thou in Margent see? What sighes stolne out, or kild before full-borne? Hast thou found such and such-like arguments, Or art thou else to comfort me forsworne? Well, how-so thou interpret the contents, I am resolu'd thy errour to maintaine, Rather then by more truth to get more paine.