Astrophil and Stella
Sonnet 108
When sorrow (using mine own fire's might)
Melts down his lead into my boiling breast
Through that dark furnace to my heart oppresed,
There shines a joy from thee my only light:
But soon as thought of thee breeds my delight,
And my young soul flutters to thee his nest,
Most rude despair, my daily unbidden guest,
Clips straight my wings, straight wraps me in his night,
And makes me then bow down my head, and say,
Ah, what doth Phoebus' gold that wretch avail
Whom iron doors do keep from use of day?
So strangely (alas) thy works on me prevail,
That in my woes for thee thou art my joy,
And in my joys for thee my only annoy.
Sir Philip Sidney
Back to Sonnet 107