Astrophil and Stella
Sonnet 38
This night, while sleep begins with heavy wings
To hatch mine eyes, and that unbitted thought
Doth fall to stray, and my chief powers are brought
To leave the scepter of all subject things;
The first that straight my fancy's error brings
Unto my mind is Stella's image, wrought
By love's own self, but with so curious draught
That she, methinks, not only shines but sings.
I start, look, hark: but in what closed-up sense
Was held, in opened sense it flies away,
Leaving me nought but wailing eloquence.
I, seeing better sights in sights decay,
Called it anew, and wooed sleep again;
But him, her host, that unkind guest had slain.
Sir Philip Sidney
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