Love

Astrophel to Stella, his third Song

by Sir Philip Sidney 1554–1586

From England's Helicon (1600), ed. A. H. Bullen (1887)

Love

If Orpheus' voice had force to breathe such music's love
Through pores of senseless trees, as it could make them move;
If stones good measure danced, the Theban walls to build
To cadence of the tunes, which Amphion's lyre did yield;
More cause a like effect at leastwise bringeth;
O stones, O trees, learn hearing! Stella singeth.

If Love might sweeten so a boy of shepherd's brood,
To make a lizard dull to taste Love's dainty food;
If eagle fierce could so in Grecian maid delight,
As his light was her eyes, her death his endless night;
Earth gave that love; heaven, I trow. Love refineth;
O beasts, O birds, look! Love, lo! Stella shineth.

The birds, stones and trees, feel this, and feeling, love;
And if the trees nor stones stir not the same to prove,
Nor beasts nor birds do come unto this blessed gaze.
Know, that small love is quick, and great love doth amaze.
They are amazed, but you with reason armed,
O eyes, O ears of men, how are you charmed?

✦ ✦ ✦

Signed "Sir Phil. Sidney" in England's Helicon.

MLA

Sidney, Philip. “Astrophel to Stella, his third Song.” Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/sidney/158/.

Chicago

Sidney, Philip. “Astrophel to Stella, his third Song.” Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/sidney/158/.

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