Sonnet XXXI: With How Sad Steps, O Moon

Sir Philip Sidney 1554 (Penshurst, Kent) – 1586 (Zutphen)



With how sad steps, O Moon, thou climb'st the skies!
How silently, and with how wan a face!
What, may it be that even in heav'nly place
That busy archer his sharp arrows tries!
Sure, if that long-with love-acquainted eyes
Can judge of love, thou feel'st a lover's case,
I read it in thy looks; thy languish'd grace
To me, that feel the like, thy state descries.
Then, ev'n of fellowship, O Moon, tell me,
Is constant love deem'd there but want of wit?
Are beauties there as proud as here they be?
Do they above love to be lov'd, and yet
Those lovers scorn whom that love doth possess?
Do they call virtue there ungratefulness?

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Submitted on May 13, 2011

Modified on April 11, 2023

37 sec read
149

Quick analysis:

Scheme ABBAABBACDCEFA
Closest metre Iambic pentameter
Characters 621
Words 118
Stanzas 1
Stanza Lengths 14

Sir Philip Sidney

Sir Philip Sidney was an English poet, courtier, scholar and soldier who is remembered as one of the most prominent figures of the Elizabethan age. more…

All Sir Philip Sidney poems | Sir Philip Sidney Books

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