Astrophil and Stella: 17th Sonnet

by Philip Sidney

His mother deere Cupid offended late,
Because that Mars grew slacker in her love,
With pricking shot he did not throughly move
To keepe the pace of their first loving state:
The boy refusde, for feare of Marses hate;
Who threatned stripes, if he his wrath did prove:
But she in chafe him from her lap did shove,
Brake bowe, brake shafts, where Cupid weeping sate,
Till that his Grandam Nature pittying it,
Of Stellas browes made him two better bowes:
And in her eyes of arrowes infinit.
O how for joye he leapes, รด how he crowes;
And straight therewith, like wagges new got to play:
Falls to shrewde turnes, and I was in his way.


Monadnock Valley Press > Sidney