| Seccombe and Arber, comps. Elizabethan Sonnets. 1904. | | | | Astrophel and Stella | | XCIX. When far-spent night persuades each mortal eye | | Sir Philip Sidney (1554–1586) |
| | | WHEN far-spent night persuades each mortal eye, | |
| To whom nor art nor nature granteth light; | |
| To lay his then mark-wanting shafts of sight, | |
| Closed with their quivers, in sleep’s armoury: | |
| With windows ope then most my mind doth lie, | 5 |
| Viewing the shape of darkness and delight; | |
| Takes in that sad hue, which with th’inward night | |
| Of his mazed powers keeps perfect harmony. | |
| But when birds charm, and that sweet air which is | |
| Morn’s messenger, with rose-enamelled skies, | 10 |
| Call each wight to salute the hour of bliss; | |
| In tomb of lids, then buried are mine eyes: | |
| Forced by their lord; who is ashamed to find | |
| Such light in sense, with such a darkened mind. | | | | |
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