Astrophile Quotes

Astrophil and Stella," he said, taking my hand. "The name 'Astrophil' is derived from two Greek words that, when combined, mean 'star-lover.'" "So, what does that mean?" Oliver tilted his head and looked up at the sky. "That Stella is the star of his life.

When Nature made her chief work, Stella’s eyes, In colour black why wrapp’d she beams so bright? Would she in beamy black, like painter wise, Frame daintiest lustre, mix’d of shades and light? Or did she else that sober hue devise, In object best to knit and strength our sight, Lest if no veil those brave gleams did disguise, They sun-like should more dazzle than delight? Or would she her miraculous power show, That whereas black seems Beauty’s contrary, She even in black doth make all beauties flow? Both so and thus, she minding Love should be Placed ever there, gave him this mourning weed, To honour all their deaths, who for her bleed.

When I was forc’d from Stella, ever dear Stella, food of my thoughts, heart of my heart; Stella, whose eyes make all my tempests clear, By iron laws of duty to depart: Alas I found that she with me did smart; I saw that tears did in her eyes appear; I saw that sighs her sweetest lips did part, And her sad words my saddest sense did hear. For me, I wept to see pearls scatter’d so; I sigh’d her sighs, and wailed for her woe, Yet swam in joy, such love in her was seen. Thus, while th’effect most bitter was to me, And nothing than the cause more sweet could be, I had been vex’d, if vex’d I had not been.

What may words say, or what may words not say, Where truth itself must speak like flattery? Within what bounds can one his liking stay, Where Nature doth with infinite agree? What Nestor’s counsel can my flames allay, Since Reason’s self doth blow the coal in me? And ah what hope, that hope should once see day, Where Cupid is sworn page to Chastity? Honour is honour’d, that thou dost possess Him as thy slave, and now long needy Fame Doth even grow rich, naming my Stella’s name. Wit learns in thee perfection to express, Not thou by praise, but praise in thee is rais’d: It is a praise to praise, when thou art prais’d.

De toute science parenthèses (…) notre poète est monarque. Il ne se contente point en effet de montrer la voie, il offre de cette voie un aperçu d'un agrément tel que tout homme se sent tenté d'y pénétrer. Plus encore il commence, comme si votre voyage était censé vous faire traverser de beaux vignobles, par vous donner une grappe de raisin, afin qu'imprégnés de cette saveur vous soyez impatients de pousser plus avant. Il n'entre pas en matière en recourant à d'obscures définitions, qui nécessitent une pleine marge de gloses et accablent de doutes la mémoire ; il vient au contraire à vous en disposant délicieusement avec proportion, des mots qui s'accompagnent de l'art enchanteur de la musique à moins qu'ils n'y aient déjà été préparés, et c'est avec un récit qu'assurément il vient au-devant de vous, récit qui retient les enfants de jouer et les vieillards de rester au coin de leur feu.

Stella, whence doth this new assault arise, A conquer’d, yielden, ransack’d heart to win? Whereto long since through my long batter’d eyes, Whole armies of thy beauties entered in. And there long since, Love thy lieutenant lies, My forces raz’d, thy banners rais’d within: Of conquest, do not these effects suffice, But wilt now war upon thine own begin? With so sweet voice, and by sweet Nature so In sweetest strength, so sweetly skill’d withal, In all sweet stratagems sweet Art can show, That not my soul, which at thy foot did fall Long since, forc’d by thy beams, but stone nor tree By Sense’s privilege, can ‘scape from thee.

Out, traitor Absence, darest thou counsel me From my dear captainess to run away, Because in brave array here marched she That to win me, oft shows a present pay? Is faith so weak? Or is such force in thee? When sun is hid, can stars such beams display? Cannot heav’n’s food, once felt, keep stomachs free From base desire on earthly cates to prey? Tush, Absence, while thy mists eclipse that light, My orphan sense flies to th’inward sight Where memory sets forth the beams of love; That where before heart lov’d and eyes did see, In heart both sight and love now coupl’d be; United powers make each the stronger prove.