The Poetry Corner

Astrophel and Stella - Sonnet XLII

By Philip Sidney (Sir)

O eyes, which do the spheres of beauty moue; Whose beames be ioyes, whose ioyes all vertues be, Who, while they make Loue conquer, conquer Loue; The schooles where Venus hath learnd chastitie: O eyes, where humble lookes most glorious proue, Onely lou'd Tyrans, iust in cruelty, Do not, O doe not, from poore me remoue: Keep still my zenith, euer shine on me; For though I neuer see them, but straightwayes My life forgets to nourish languisht sprites, Yet still on me, O eyes, dart down your rayes! And if from majestie of sacred lights Oppressing mortal sense my death proceed, Wraceks triumphs be which Loue hie set doth breed.