Esther M. Zimmer Lederberg
Astrophel and Stella Sonnet 24: Philip Sidney
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Penelope (Lady Rich) and Robert Rich, First Earl of Warwick (mercer)
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Philip Sidney's sonnets in "Astrophel and Stella" are basically in
Petrarchan form, using the scheme ABBA·ABBA CDE·CDE
"Astro" means "stars", "phil" means love, "Stella"
means star; thus "Astrophel and Stella" means He who loves
stars (Philip Sidney) that loves the star Stella, or in short:
Philip Sidney: he who loves Stella.
Rich fools there be whose base and filthy heart
Lies hatching still the goods wherein they flow,
And damning their own selves to Tantal's smart,
Wealth breeding want, more rich, more wretched grow.
Yet to those fools Heaven doth such wit impart
As what their hands do hold, their heads do know,
And knowing love, and loving lay apart
As sacred things, far from all danger's show.
But that rich fool who by blind Fortune's lot
The richest gem of love and life enjoys,
And with foul abuse such beauties blot,
Let him, depriv'd of sweet but unfelt joys,
Exil'd for aye from those high treasures which
He knows not, grow in only folly rich!
Commentary:
Stella refers to Penelope Devereux, the wife of Lord Robert Rich.
Lord Rich was important as he was wealthy, deriving his wealth as
a London mercer. While he was wealthy, the poem points out that
was not cultured, viewed as a fool, of low class. As he gained
wealth, he is likened to Tantal (to stand in water up to his chin,
but unable to drink when the water level recedes, the fruit above
his head always out of reach): thus as his wealth increased, he
only grew in thirst (ever low class). The sonnet (second quatrain)
points out that Lord Rich has been favored by heaven with Penelope,
who he guards carefully. The beginning of the closing sestet points
out that just as Fortune is blind, Lord Rich abuses the beauty of
his greatest gem, Penelope. The sestet ends by pointng out that Lord
Rich knows not how to value Penelope, all he does in folly, is gain
ever more wealth (all he is capable of valuing)!
+Robert.jpg)
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