| Seccombe and Arber, comps. Elizabethan Sonnets. 1904. | | | | Astrophel and Stella | | IX. Queen Virtue’s Court—which some call Stella’s face | | Sir Philip Sidney (1554–1586) |
| | | QUEEN VIRTUE’s Court—which some call STELLA’s face— | |
| Prepared by Nature’s choicest furniture; | |
| Hath his front built of alabaster pure. | |
| Gold is the covering of that stately place. | |
| The door, by which sometimes comes forth her Grace, | 5 |
| Red porphyry is, which lock of pearl makes sure: | |
| Whose porches rich (which name of cheeks endure) | |
| Marble mixt red and white do interlace. | |
| The windows now—through which this heavenly guest | |
| Looks o’er the world, and can find nothing such | 10 |
| Which dare claim from those lights the name of best— | |
| Of touch they are, that without touch do touch; | |
| Which CUPID’s self, from Beauty’s mind did draw: | |
| Of touch they are, and poor I am their straw. | | | | |
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