Sir Philip Sidney(1554–1586)

Sonnet 39: "Come sleep, Oh sleep, the certain knot of peace"

Come sleep, Oh sleep, the certain knot of peace,

The baiting place5 of wit, the balm of woe,

The poor man's wealth, the prisoner's release,

Th'indifferent 0 judge between the high and low;impartial

With shield of proof6 shield me from out the prease 0press, multitude

Of those fierce darts Despair at me doth throw;

Oh make in me7 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 0 than elsewhere, Stella's image see.more lifelike