Astrophil and Stella, Sonnet 72 and Second Song

Desire, though thou my old companion art,
      And oft so clings to my pure love, that I
      One from the other scarcely can descry,
While each doth blow the fire of my heart;
Now from thy fellowship I needs must part;
      Venus is taught with Dian's wings to fly;
      I must no more in thy sweet passions lie;
Virtue's gold now must head my Cupid's dart.
      Service and honour, wonder with delight,
Fear to offend, will worthy to appear,
Care shining in mine eyes, faith in my sprite;
These things are left me by my only dear.
      But thou, Desire, because thou wouldst have all,
      Now banished art—but yet, alas, how shall?

Second Song

Have I caught my heavenly jewel,

Teaching sleep most fair to be?

Now will I teach her that she,

When she wakes, is too, too cruel.

 

Since sweet sleep her eyes hath charmed,

The two only darts of Love:

Now will I with that boy prove

Some play, while he is disarmed.

 

Her tongue waking still refuseth,

Giving frankly niggard “no”;

Now will I attempt to know

What “no” her tongue sleeping useth.

 

See, the hand which waking guardeth,

Sleeping, grants a free resort;

Now will I invade the fort;

Cowards love with loss rewardeth.

 

But, oh, fool, think of the danger

Of her just and high disdain:

Now will I, alas, refrain,

Love fears nothing else but anger.

 

Yet those lips so sweetly swelling

Do invite a stealing kiss:

Now will I but venture this,

Who will read, must first learn spelling.

 

O sweet kiss—but ah, she’s waking.

Louring beauty chastens me;

Now will I away hence flee;

Fool, more fool, for no more taking.