Astrophil and Stella
Song 10
O dear life, when shall it be
That mine eyes thine eyes shall see,
And in them thy mind discover
Whether absence have had force
Thy remembrance to divorce
From the image of thy lover?
Or if I myself find not,
After parting aught forgot,
Nor debarred from beauty's treasure,
Let not 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 tary,
There unseen, thou mayst 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 wouldst 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 thy lips to have his biding,
There those roses for to kiss,
Which do breath a sugared bliss,
Opening rubies, pearls dividing.
Thinke of my most princely power,
Which 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 depart,
Joying till joy makes us languish.
O my thoughts, 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.
Sir Philip Sidney
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