Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, ASTROPHEL AND STELLA: 109, by PHILIP SIDNEY


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ASTROPHEL AND STELLA: 109, by         Recitation         Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography
First Line: Thou blind man's mark, thou fool's self-chosen snare
Last Line: Desiring naught but how to kill desire.
Variant Title(s): Desire
Subject(s): Desire


Thou blind man's mark, thou fool's self-chosen snare,
Fond fancy's scum, and dregs of scattered thought,
Band of all evils, cradle of causeless care,
Thou web of will, whose end is never wrought;
Desire, desire, I have too dearly bought,
With price of mangled mind, thy worthless ware;
Too long, too long, asleep thou hast me brought,
Who should my mind to higher things prepare.
But yet in vain thou hast my ruin sought:
In vain thou madest me to vain things aspire,
In vain thou kindlest all thy smoky fire;
For virtue hath this better lesson taught,
Within myself to seek my only hire,
Desiring naught but how to kill desire.





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