Sir Philip Sidney

[LitNetIsGreat]

Anyone read much of Sidney's work? What do you think? From the pieces I have read I am a big fan, and I rate him as a very strong poet, in particular the sonnet sequence Astrophil and Stella which I spoke about elsewhere. Here is one of the best in that sequence from what I have read:


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

I have just ordered his major works which I am going to read when I have the time. For more information on Sidney and to read his collected works visit this site which is quite good:

http://www.luminarium.org/renlit/sidney.htm

Anyone else rate Sidney highly?

[kasie]

I particularly like the wry last line of sonnet XVII (sorry I'm no good at cut and paste!)

'....and I was in his way.'

It seems to me to sum up that feeling of hopeless, inescapable love that you know will never be requited!

[Lokasenna]

Though I am not generally a sonnet-fan, the genre has its moments - John Donne's Death be not proud will be carved in full on my tombstone.

I do like Sidney though - Sonnet I from Astrophil and Stella always resonates with me; there are times you have so much to say, and no idea how to express it:

Loving in truth, and fain in verse my love to show,
That she, dear she, might take some pleasure of my pain,
Pleasure might cause her read, reading might make her know,
Knowledge might pity win, and pity grace obtain,—
I sought fit words to paint the blackest face of woe ;
Studying inventions fine, her wits to entertain,
Oft turning others' leaves to see if thence would flow
Some fresh and fruitful showers upon my sun-burned brain.
But words came halting forth, wanting invention's stay ;
Invention, nature's child, fled step-dame Study's blows,
And others' feet still seemed but strangers in my way.
Thus, great with child to speak, and helpless in my throes,
Biting my truant pen, beating myself for spite,
Fool, said my muse to me, look in thy heart and write.

[LitNetIsGreat]

Yes I like the agony which Astrophil goes through over Stella, I know it was the convention at the time (1590's) but still, the anguish he suffers is expressed wonderfully throughout the sonnet cycle.

[Wilde woman]

Yes, I think Astrophil and Stella is one amazing sonnet sequence too. When I first ran across it, I was tickled to death by the title - it's so clever. But Lokasenna beat me to posting my favorite stanza!

[kasie]

[QUOTE=Neely;706163]...I know it was the convention at the time (1590's) ....QUOTE]

I expect you know, Neely, that there was probably a 'real' Stella? It's thought she was Penelope Devereux who married Lord Rich. Her brother was Robert Devereux, Earl of Essex, Elizabeth I's 'sweet Robin', her last favourite. The exact nature of the relationship between 'Stella' and Sidney has never been established - she was probably unhappy in her marriage but the Riches were a powerful family and it was unwise to cause them anger, so it was most likely a platonic affair. Also, Sidney's father-in-law was Sir Francis Wlasingham, Elizabeth's 'spymaster', so if anything untoward was going on, he would have undoubtedly known about it and a possible 'word to the wise' may have put an end to the relationship: perhaps that's why the sequence ends somewhat abruptly.

[wessexgirl]

I remember studying Sidney many moons ago in my degree, and he is wonderful. I particularly like this:

from ARCADIA

My True-Love Hath My Heart


My true-love hath my heart, and I have his,
By just exchange one for the other given.
I hold his dear, and mine he cannot miss:
There never was a bargain better driven.
His heart in me keeps me and him in one;
My heart in him his thoughts and senses guides:
He loves my heart, for once it was his own;
I cherish his because in me it bides.
His heart his wound received from my sight;
My heart was wounded with his wounded heart;
For as from me on him his hurt did light,
So still, methought, in me his hurt did smart:
Both equal hurt, in this change sought our bliss,
My true love hath my heart and I have his.

[quasimodo1]

Sir Philip Sidney

FROM

The Countess of Pembroke's Arcadia, 1593


[O sweet woods]

O sweet woods, the delight of solitariness!
Oh, how much I do like your solitariness!
Where man's mind hath a freed consideration,
Of goodness to receive lovely direction.
Where senses do behold th' order of heav'nly host,
And wise thoughts do behold what the creator is;
Contemplation here holdeth his only seat,
Bounded with no limits, born with a wing of hope,
Climbs even unto the stars, nature is under it.
Nought disturbs thy quiet, all to thy service yields,
Each sight draws on a thought (thought, mother of science)
Sweet birds kindly do grant harmony unto thee,
Fair trees' shade is enough fortification,
Nor danger to thyself if 't be not in thyself.

O sweet woods, the delight of solitariness!
Oh, how much I do like your solitariness!
Here nor treason is hid, veilëd in innocence,
Nor envy's snaky eye finds any harbor here,
Nor flatterers' venomous insinuations,
Nor coming humorists' puddled opinions,
Nor courteous ruin of proffered usury,
Nor time prattled away, cradle of ignorance,
Nor causeless duty, nor cumber of arrogance,
Nor trifling title of vanity dazzleth us,
Nor golden manacles stand for a paradise,
Here wrong's name is unheard, slander a monster is;
Keep thy sprite from abuse, here no abuse doth haunt.
What man grafts in a tree dissimulation?

O sweet woods, the delight of solitariness!
Oh, how well I do like your solitariness!
Yet, dear soil, if a soul closed in a mansion
As sweet as violets, fair as lily is,
Straight as cedar, a voice stains the canary birds,
Whose shade safety doth hold, danger avoideth her;
Such wisdom that in her lives speculation;
Such goodness that in her simplicity triumphs;
Where envy's snaky eye winketh or else dieth;
Slander wants a pretext, flattery gone beyond;
Oh! if such a one have bent to a lonely life,
Her steps glad we receive, glad we receive her eyes,
And think not she doth hurt our solitariness,
For such company decks such solitariness.





--------------------------------------------------------------------------------How can anyone read Sidney today and place themselves in that class-ridden, flowery and and disconnected mindset? Yet, there is a strange kind of sincerity that's undeniable.

[LitNetIsGreat]

Nor golden manacles stand for a paradise

That's quite an insightful line I think, it could be read as quite a criticism of modern society too, or perhaps the unchanging nature of the human condition. The whole of it is great though.

Thanks for posting that, my copy arrived today which is pretty cool, (just in time for my birthday) I think I'll read a bit more of that before bed. :)

[Michael T]

You should read about his life and death. Amazing person...hollywood couldn't create a better hero. awesome!

[Pecksie]

There's a wonderful biography of Sidney by Katherine Duncan-Jones. He was an interesting character in many ways --- not mysoginistic or bloodthirsty like many Elizabethans, but mild and compassionate --- a 'spirit without spot' I think Shelley calls him in 'Adonais'. With great looks thrown in as well :)

As Kasie pointed out, his relationship with Penelope Devereux is something of a mystery, although he seems to have managed to kiss her while she slept (see Sonnet 73 of AS) ;)

But my absolute fav is the sonnet beginning 'Leave me, O love which reachest but to dust...' I find it extremely beautiful and moving. I'd love to hear your opinion of it.

[LitNetIsGreat]

But my absolute fav is the sonnet beginning 'Leave me, O love which reachest but to dust...' I find it extremely beautiful and moving. I'd love to hear your opinion of it.

Yes I would agree it's a powerful piece (here if anyone wants to read: http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/leave-me-o-love-which-reachest-but-to-dust/). Sidney seems to have a wonderful lyric quality about his work. I'm looking forward to reading more.

[PSRemeshChandra]

Sir. Philip Sidney is considered one of the five Silver Poets of the Sixteenth Century, the others being Sir. Thomas Wyatt, Henry Howard- The Earl of Surrey, Sir. Walter Raleigh and Sir. John Davies. He indeed had a silver-tongued eloquence as is evidenced by his immortal creations Astrophel and Stella and Poems From Arcadia. His other songs and sonnets also reflect the same quality. A Shepherd's Tale from the Poems from Arcadia is a fine piece. In the poem Echo from the same collection, he even experimented with beautiful and maddening echo-endings to each line in the poem which is a very rare and exceptional achievement not only then but till now also. What exhilaration he created with this unique poetic technique can only be enjoyed by reading and singing this poem. A Tale For Husbands also is a very fine creation. Also this poem may give an insight into the poet's loving another man's wife. Really it was love from a respectable distance. Sidney's most biographers and criticizers failed in viewing him against the brilliant, violent background of his times. It was from mortal wounds he suffered from a battle with the Spaniards at Zutphen that he died after days of suffering at the very early age of Thirty two. He was a man of action, a scolar, a poet and a man of letters; a man of noble breed and culture.

[PSRemeshChandra]

Sir. Philip Sidney is considered one of the five Silver Poets of the Sixteenth Century, the others being Sir. Thomas Wyatt, Henry Howard- The Earl of Surrey, Sir. Walter Raleigh and Sir. John Davies. He indeed had a silver-tongued eloquence as is evidenced by his immortal creations Astrophel and Stella and Poems From Arcadia. His other songs and sonnets also reflect the same quality. A Shepherd's Tale from the Poems from Arcadia is a fine piece. In the poem Echo from the same collection, he even experimented with beautiful and maddening echo-endings to each line in the poem which is a very rare and exceptional achievement not only then but till now also. What exhilaration he created with this unique poetic technique can only be enjoyed by reading and singing this poem. A Tale For Husbands also is a very fine creation. Also this poem may give an insight into the poet's loving another man's wife. Really it was love from a respectable distance. Sidney's most biographers and criticizers failed in viewing him against the brilliant, violent background of his times. It was from mortal wounds he suffered from a battle with the Spaniards at Zutphen that he died after days of suffering at the very early age of Thirty two. He was a man of action, a scolar, a poet and a man of letters; a man of noble breed and culture.

[jajdude]

An outstanding poet. Read some of his stuff back in the day. Even did a paper once on the following:

Come, Sleep, O Sleep!

By Sir Philip Sidney

Come, Sleep! O Sleep! the certain knot of peace,
The baiting place of wit, the balm of woe,
The poor man’s wealth, the prisoner’s release,
Th’ indifferent judge between the high and low;
With shield of proof shield me from out the prease
Of those fierce darts despair at me doth throw:
O make in me those civil wars to cease;
I will good tribute pay, if thou do so.
Take thou of me smooth pillows, sweetest bed,
A chamber deaf to noise and blind to light,
A rosy garland, and a weary head:
And if these things, as being thine by right,
Move not thy heavy grace, thou shalt in me,
Livelier than elsewhere, Stella’s image see.

[LitNetIsGreat]

Great stuff, I do like old Sidney, nice piece jajdude.

[Alexander III]

Has anyone read the Countess of Pembrokes Arcadia? I have been meaning to give it a look, is it good? I have heard it described as a rival to Spenser's Faery Queen, though it is written in both prose and verse. And also, which is better the Old or New Arcadia ?