| Seccombe and Arber, comps. Elizabethan Sonnets. 1904. | | | | Astrophel and Stella | | CVI. O absent presence! Stella is not here! | | Sir Philip Sidney (1554–1586) |
| | | O ABSENT presence! STELLA is not here! | |
| False flattering hope! that with so fair a face | |
| Bare me in hand that in this orphan place | |
| STELLA, I say, my STELLA! should appear. | |
| What sayest thou now? Where is that dainty cheer | 5 |
| Thou told’st mine eyes should help their famished case? | |
| But thou art gone now; that self-felt disgrace | |
| Doth make me most to wish thy comfort near. | |
| But here I do store of fair ladies meet; | |
| Who may with charm of conversation sweet, | 10 |
| Make in my heavy mould, new thoughts to grow. | |
| Sure they prevail as much with me, as he | |
| That bade his friend, but then new-maimed, to be | |
| Merry with him and not think of his woe. | | | | |
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