Astrophil and Stella: 9th Sonnet

by Philip Sidney

Queene Vertues Court, which some call Stellas face,
Prepar’d by Natures cheefest furniture:
Hath his front built of Alabaster pure.
Gold is the covering of that statelie place.
The doore, by which sometimes comes forth her grace
Red Porphire is, which locke of Pearle makes sure:
Whose Porches rich, with name of chekes indure,
Marble mixt red and white, doe enterlace.
The Windowes now, through which this heavenly guest
Lookes ore the world, and can finde nothing such,
Which dare claime from those lights the name of best,
Of touch they are, that without touch doe touch,
Which Cupids selfe, from beauties mine did drawe:
Of touch they are, and poore I am their strawe.


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