The Poetry Corner

Astrophel and Stella - Sonnet LXXXIX

By Philip Sidney (Sir)

Now that of absence the most irksom night With darkest shade doth ouercome my day; Since Stellaes eyes, wont to giue me my day, Leauing my hemisphere, leaue me in night; Each day seemes long, and longs for long-staid night; The night, as tedious, wooes th' approch of day: Tired with the dusty toiles of busie day, Languisht with horrors of the silent night, Suff'ring the euils both of day and night, While no night is more darke then is my day, Nor no day hath lesse quiet then my night: With such bad-mixture of my night and day, That liuing thus in blackest Winter night, I feele the flames of hottest Sommer day.