Astrophil and Stella

Sonnet 96

Thought, with good cause thou likest so well the night,
   Since kind or chance gives both one livery,
   Both sadly black, both blackly darkened be;
Night barred from sun, thou from thy own sunlight;
Silence in both displays his sullen might;
   Slow heaviness in both holds one degree
   That full of doubts, thou of perplexity;
Thy tears express nights native moisture right;
   In both amazeful solitariness:
In night, of sprites, the ghastly powers do stir;
In thee or sprites or sprited ghastliness.
But, but (alas) night's side the odds hath far:
   For that, at length, yet doth invite some rest;
   Thou, though still tired, yet still dost it detest. 
Sir Philip Sidney

Back to Sonnet 95

Forward to Sonnet 97

Log in or register to write something here or to contact authors.