The Poetry Corner

Astrophel and Stella - Sonnet XXXIII

By Philip Sidney (Sir)

I might (vnhappy word!) O me, I might, And then I would not, or could not, see my blisse, Till now wrapt in a most infernall night, I find how heau'nly day, wretch! I did misse. Hart, rend thyself, thou dost thyself but right; No louely Paris made thy Hellen his; No force, no fraud robd thee of thy delight, Nor Fortune of thy fortune author is, But to my selfe my selfe did giue the blow, While too much wit, forsooth, so troubled me That I respects for both our sakes must show: And yet could not, by rysing morne fore-see How fair a day was near: O punisht eyes, That I had bene more foolish, or more wise!