Sonnet XXXI: Oft Do I Muse

Samuel Daniel 1562 (Taunton) – 1619



Oft do I muse whether my Delia's eyes
Are eyes, or else two fair bright stars that shine;
For how could nature ever thus devise
Of earth on earth a substance so divine.
Stars sure they are, whose motions rule desires,
And calm and tempest follow their aspects;
Their sweet appearing still such power inspires
That makes the world admire so strange effects.
Yet whether fixt or wand'ring stars are they,
Whose influence rule the Orb of my poor heart;
Fixt sure they are, but wan'ring make me stray,
In endless errors whence I cannot part.
Stars then, not eyes, move yet with milder view
Your sweet aspect on him that honors you.

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Submitted on May 13, 2011

Modified on March 05, 2023

35 sec read
105

Quick analysis:

Scheme ABABCDEDFGFGHH
Closest metre Iambic pentameter
Characters 635
Words 115
Stanzas 1
Stanza Lengths 14

Samuel Daniel

Samuel Daniel was an English poet and historian. more…

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