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Sidney’s Sonnet 31
“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 heavenly 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; your languished grace
To me that feel the like, your state descries.
Then, even 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?”
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* Wan- pale
* wit – intelligence
* scorn - disrespect
Sidney’s Sonnet 39
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.
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Analysis of Sidney Sonnets
Sidney’s Sonnet 31
 Rhyme Scheme: ABBA ABBA CDCD EE
 Type: Shakespearean / English
 Speaker: Poet to moon (Apostrophe)
 Paraphrase: O moon, you are so sad, pale, and silent in the sky as if you were
lovesick. Does Cupid even try to aim in your heavenly place? Yes, your “longing
for love” eyes have felt it. Your sickly grace – I feel the same way! Tell me – Is
love known there? Are beauties too proud? Do they love to be loved, yet scorn
those who love them? Do they call virtue there ungratefulness?
 Questions: What is the cause of the moon’s sadness? How can we relate how the
poet might be feeling to what is going on in his life?
Sidney’s Sonnet 39
 Rhyme Scheme: ABAB ABAB CDCD EE
 Type: Shakespearean / English or Petrarchan
 Speaker: Poet to sleep (apostrophe)
 Paraphrase: Come sleep! Rescue me from my woes. It allows prisoners to be free
and poor men to wealthy. Sleep is indifferent to all! Shield me from the darts
thrown by Despair! Stop my internal civil wars – I’ll pay you well! Take from me
pillows, bed; away from the noise and light. If this doesn’t convince you, you
will see my Stella livelier than ever in my dreams!
 Question: Why does the poet seek sleep?
Sidney’s Astrophel and Stella about his love for Devreux who dumped him for another
man, he married but is still in love with her
31. Frustrated lover sees his own lovesickness mirrored in the pale moon
39. Lover seeks a release from his suffering in sleep
What could a possible title be for these sonnets? _________________________
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Guide for Responding
Answer the following questions in COMPLETE SENTENCES on a SEPARATE sheet of paper.
Reader Response Do you agree with the speaker’s views of love and sleep in the sonnets?
Thematic Focus Do you think the speaker in the sonnets expresses timeless and universal
moods that people in love experience? Why or why not?
Check Your Comprehension
1. To whom is Sonnet 31 addressed?
2. (a) In Sonnet 31, how does the moon appear to the speaker? (b) What does the speaker think
is the cause of the moon’s sadness?
3. What six benefits does the speaker attribute to sleep in lines 1-4 of Sonnet 39?
4. In Sonnet 39, why does the speaker want to sleep?
Critical Thinking
Interpret
1. In Sonnet 31, what is the connection between the appearance of the moon and the thoughts
the speaker utters?
2. From what do you think the speaker in Sonnet 39 is seeking to escape through sleep?
3. Judging by what is said in each sonnet, what conclusion can you draw about each speaker’s
relationship with his lady?
Apply
4. What might the speaker’s lover in Sonnet 31 say to the moon about men?
5. How well does Sonnet 39 work as a persuasive plea to Sleep?
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