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


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

ASTROPHEL AND STELLA: TENTH SONG, by                 Poet's Biography
First Line: O dear life, when shall it be
Last Line: At her lips my nectar drinking.
Subject(s): Love; Stars


O dear life, when shall it be
That mine eyes thine eyes may see,
And in them my mind discover,
Whether absence have had force
Thy remembrance to divorce
From the image of thy lover?

O if I myself find not
After parting aught forgot,
Nor debarred from beauty's treasure,
Let no tongue aspire to tell
In what high joys I shall dwell;
Only thought aims at the pleasure.

Thought, therefore, I will send thee
To take up the place for me
Long I will not after tarry.
There unseen thou may'st be bold
Those fair wonders to behold,
Which in them my hopes do carry.

Thought, see thou no place forbear;
Enter bravely everywhere,
Seize on all to her belonging;
But if thou would'st guarded be,
Fearing her beams, take with thee
Strength of liking, rage of longing.

Think of that most grateful time
When my leaping heart will climb
In my lips to have his biding,
There those roses for to kiss
Which do breathe a sugared bliss,
Opening rubies, pearls dividing.

Think of my most princely power,
When I, blessed, shall devour
With my greedy lickerous senses,
Beauty, music, sweetness, love,
While she doth against me prove
Her strong darts but weak defences.

Think, think of those dallyings,
When with dove-like murmurings,
With glad moaning passed anguish,
We change eyes, and heart for heart
Each to other do impart,
Joying, till joy make us languish.

O my thought, my thoughts surcease;
Thy delights my woes increase,
My life melts with too much thinking.
Think no more, but die in me,
Till thou shalt revived be
At her lips my nectar drinking.





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