Discovering poetry: Philip Sidney’s rising star

Astrophil and Stella 1

Loving in truth, and fain my love in verse to show,
That she, dear she, might take some pleasure of my pain:
Pleasure might cause her read, reading might make her know,
Knowledge might pity win, and pity grace obtain;
I sought fit words to paint the blackest face of woe,
Studying inventions fine her wits to entertain,
Oft turning others’ leaves to see if thence would flow
Some fresh and fruitful shower upon my sunburnt brain.
But words came halting out, wanting inventions stay;
Invention (Nature’s child) fled step-dame study’s blows:
And others’ feet still seemed but strangers in my way.
Thus great with child to speak, and helpless in my throes,
Biting my tongue and pen, beating myself for spite:
‘Fool’ said my muse to me, ‘look in thy heart and write.’

This is the first poem from Sidney’s sonnet-cycle Astrophil and Stella. The whole thing tells the story of Astrophil’s passion for Stella.