Astrophil and Stella
Sonnet 8
Love, born in Greece, of late fled from his native place,
Forced by a tedious proof, that Turkish hardened heart
Is no fit mark to pierce with his fine pointed dart;
And pleased with our soft peace, stayed here his flying race.
But finding these North climes too coldly him embrace,
Not used to frozen clips, he strave to find some part
Where with most ease and warmth he might employ his art.
At length he perched himself in Stella's joyful face,
Whose fair skin, beamy eyes, like morning sun on snow,
Deceived the quaking boy, who thought from so pure light
Effects of lively heart must needs in nature grow.
But she, most fair, most cold, made him thence take his flight
To my close heart, where, while some firebrands he did lay,
He burnt unwares his wings, and cannot fly away.
Sir Philip Sidney
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