Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, ASTROPHEL AND STELLA: SECOND SONG (STELLA SLEEPING), by PHILIP SIDNEY


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

ASTROPHEL AND STELLA: SECOND SONG (STELLA SLEEPING), by                 Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography
First Line: Have I caught my heavenly jewel
Last Line: Fool, more fool, for no more taking.
Subject(s): Love; Stars


Have I caught my heavenly jewel
Teaching sleep most fair to be?
Now will I teach her that she,
When she wakes, is too too cruel.

Since sweet sleep her eyes hath charmed,
The two only darts of love:
Now will I with that boy prove
Some play, while he is disarmed.

Her tongue waking still refuseth,
Giving frankly niggard 'no';
Now will I attempt to know
What 'no' her tongue sleeping useth.

See, the hand which, waking, guardeth,
Sleeping, grants a free resort;
Now will I invade the fort;
Cowards love with loss rewardeth.

But, O fool, think of the danger
Of her just and high disdain;
Now will I, alas, refrain;
Love fears nothing else but anger.

Yet those lips so sweetly swelling
Do invite a stealing kiss:
Now will I but venture this;
Who will read, must first learn spelling.

O sweet kiss -- but ah, she is waking,
Louring beauty chastens me;
Now will I away hence flee;
Fool, more fool, for no more taking.





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