The Poetry Corner

Astrophel and Stella - Sonnet XCVI

By Philip Sidney (Sir)

Thought, with good cause thou lik'st so well the night, Since kind or chance giues both one liuerie, Both sadly blacke, both blackly darkned be; Night bard from Sunne, thou from thy owne sunlight; Silence in both displaies his sullen might; Slow heauinesse in both holds one degree That full of doubts, thou of perplexity; Thy teares expresse Nights natiue moisture right; In both amazeful solitarinesse: In night, of sprites, the gastly powers do stur; In thee or sprites or sprited gastlinesse. But, but (alas) Nights side the ods hath fur: For that, at length, yet doth inuite some rest; Thou, though still tired, yet still doost it detest.